UNDIP, Semarang (23/4) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) hosted the Taiwan–Indonesia education collaboration program, the INTENSE (International Industrial Talents Education) Programs Education Fair 2026. The event was held at the Muladi Dome, UNDIP Semarang, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 09:30 AM.
The Rector of Universitas Diponegoro, Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., accompanied by Vice Rector IV Wijayanto, S.I.P., M.Si., Ph.D., and Secretary of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Ir. Agus Indarjo, M.Phil., warmly welcomed representatives from Taiwan and partner university rectors from Indonesia.
Also in attendance were the Director of the Education Division of TETO Indonesia, Mei-Chi Shih; Co-Principal Investigator of the INTENSE Office, Prof. Chin-Chung Shen; and Head of Quality Assurance Subdirectorate from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Kevin Leonard Michael Marbun, S.E., M.A.
In his remarks, Rector Prof. Suharnomo emphasized the importance of preparing students to step beyond their comfort zones and gain international exposure. “Together, we prepare our students to build confidence, explore international experiences, and develop concrete collaborations as solutions to global challenges,” he stated.
A virtual address from the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China (Taiwan), delivered by Mr. Chun-Chang Chu, highlighted that this collaboration serves as a valuable opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, Mei-Chi Shih from TETO Indonesia noted that collaboration between higher education institutions and industry strengthens the development of globally competitive human resources.
Prof. Chin-Chung Shen added that the program offers students financial support of up to NT$100,000 over two years, along with opportunities to apply their knowledge directly in industry settings in Taiwan. He continued, “The knowledge learned can also be directly applied in the workplace, as Indonesian graduates in Taiwan have a great opportunity to be recruited by partner companies in Taiwan. During their graduate studies, students are also equipped with Mandarin language lessons to help them adapt to life in Taiwan.”
The INTENSE Program is a scholarship initiative from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education that offers opportunities for further study, internships, and careers for Southeast Asian students, particularly from Indonesia, in industrial sectors such as science, technology, engineering, semiconductors, mathematics, and finance.
Students from diploma (D3/D4) to doctoral levels have access to international programs such as student exchanges, internships, and double degree programs. Benefits include tuition coverage, living allowances, internships, and flight tickets.
Furthermore, Kevin Leonard Michael Marbun, S.E., M.A., a representative from the Ministry of Education and Technology, stated that this inter-institutional collaboration is a good start for long-term international collaboration. “Thank you and appreciation to UNDIP as the host. We hope this commitment will continue and have a real impact with applicable results for the community,” he concluded.
Present on behalf of the Deputy Governor of Central Java, H. Taj Yasin Maimoen, was the Governor’s Expert Staff for Community and Human Resources, dr. Ikhwan Hamzah, M.Si., who delivered remarks in which he fully supported higher education institutions that design inclusive education ecosystems integrated with industry-based practical training.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Education designs the curriculum in collaboration with industry and academia, supported by the INTACT Base in Jakarta, Bangka Belitung, and Surabaya. In the INTENSE program, students require a TOCFL A2 certificate for first-year entry and a TOCFL B1 certificate for second-year graduation.
During the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between several universities from Taiwan—Cheng Shiu University, Hsing Wu University, and Chaoyang University of Technology—and Indonesian partner institutions, including Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang, Universitas Budi Luhur, Politeknik Industri ATMI, and Universitas Esa Unggul. This session was followed by a booth visit, the Indonesia-Taiwan Rectors’ High-Level Meeting, and a Campus Tour attended by the leaders of the relevant universities.
An educational exhibition was also held on this occasion, featuring booths from 14 partner universities in Taiwan. Students from various universities in Semarang City who attended received information about each university during the “Introduction to Taiwan Universities” session and a question-and-answer session.
This event was enlivened by a lucky draw session that drew the students’ enthusiasm. Through the INTENSE Programs Education Fair 2026, students gained comprehensive information and valuable global networking opportunities, which are expected to encourage greater interest in pursuing higher education abroad. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Titis)
