NCKU Semiconductor Summer School Celebrates Five Successful Years Bringing Together Five Leading Companies and 72 Students from 14 Countries to Strengthen the Global Semiconductor Ecosystem
Written & Image credit to Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing
Opening Ceremony of the 22026 NCKU AISSM Semiconductor Summer School
The Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing (AISSM) at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) continues to advance the internationalization of semiconductor education through its flagship summer program. The 5th NCKU All-English Semiconductor Summer School is being held from July 28 to August 7, 2026, bringing together 72 international students from partner universities across 14 countries, including the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Czechia, to study and exchange ideas in Taiwan.
Responding to the growing global demand for semiconductor talent, this year's program introduces an expanded Enterprise Day, specially designed for international students. Representatives from United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), Micron Taiwan, Himax Technologies, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will engage directly with participants through face-to-face discussions.
In addition to gaining a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan's semiconductor technologies through professional courses, international students will learn about recruitment processes for international professionals, language and cultural adaptation, and practical experiences of working in Taiwan. At the same time, participating companies will have the opportunity to connect directly with promising young talents from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, creating a stronger bridge between universities, international students, and the semiconductor industry. The program further extends beyond short-term education to become a platform for talent networking and career exploration.
This year's Summer School is jointly organized by NCKU's three degree programs in IC Design, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, and Semiconductor Packaging and Testing. Designed for students with diverse academic backgrounds, the curriculum covers key areas including integrated circuit design, semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and testing technologies, enabling participants to systematically build a comprehensive understanding of the semiconductor industry.
Beyond classroom instruction in semiconductor theories and technologies, students participate in software-based laboratory exercises, case studies, group projects, and final presentations. These learning activities encourage participants to integrate their existing academic knowledge while examining the technological and talent challenges facing the global semiconductor industry from diverse cultural and disciplinary perspectives.
Dean Wei-Chou Hsu welcomes participants to Taiwan and encourages them to make the most of the program
The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Wei-Chou Hsu, Dean of the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing, with welcoming remarks delivered by Professor Ching-Lung Yang, Associate Vice President for International Affairs at NCKU, who welcomed students from around the world to Taiwan for academic exchange and learning.
Dean Hsu noted that Taiwan is home to one of the world's leading semiconductor industrial clusters, supported by a comprehensive supply chain and extensive university-industry collaboration. Located at the heart of southern Taiwan's technology corridor and adjacent to the Shalun Smart Green Energy Science City, NCKU offers outstanding advantages in semiconductor research, talent cultivation, and industrial collaboration.
He encouraged participants not only to learn the latest semiconductor technologies during the program, but also to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem—from research and manufacturing to the global supply chain—through enterprise engagement, cultural experiences, and multinational teamwork. He also expressed his hope that students will build lasting friendships and international partnerships while strengthening future connections between Taiwan's semiconductor industry and those of partner countries.
Associate Vice President for International Affairs Ching-Lung Yang encouraged the students to make the most of their time in Taiwan by actively engaging with NCKU faculty members, industry representatives, and peers from around the world, thereby expanding their global perspectives and international networks. He also encouraged the students to immerse themselves in Taiwanese culture. As Taiwan's oldest city, Tainan is renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage. He expressed his hope that, alongside their academic pursuits, the students would take the opportunity to experience the unique charm of Taiwan firsthand.
.png)
Associate Vice President for International Affairs Ching-Lung Yang encouraged students to broaden their global perspectives and experience Taiwanese culture during their stay in Taiwan.
This year's Summer School has attracted students from across Asia, Europe, and North America, with participation from Europe increasing significantly compared with previous years. Participants come from countries including Czechia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, and the United Kingdom. The remarkable growth in European participation reflects NCKU's continued efforts to expand partnerships with universities in Europe, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It also demonstrates the growing international recognition of Taiwan's semiconductor education while further strengthening academic collaboration and semiconductor talent development between Taiwan and Europe.
In addition to welcoming international students, this year's program also brings together partner institutions including Kumamoto KOSEN (Japan), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), and the Korea Advanced Nano Fab Center (KANC), whose professors and researchers are accompanying their students to Taiwan. The participation of overseas faculty members enriches cross-border interaction both inside and outside the classroom. It also provides valuable opportunities for educators and researchers to exchange teaching and research experiences, explore future collaboration in student and faculty exchanges, short-term academic programs, joint research, and talent cultivation, and further develop the Summer School into an important platform for international education and academic cooperation.
The academic program is jointly delivered by distinguished NCKU faculty members and industry professionals. The curriculum covers IC design, semiconductor materials, wafer fabrication, advanced semiconductor processes, packaging and testing, artificial intelligence applications, and emerging semiconductor technologies, helping students develop a comprehensive understanding of the semiconductor industry from materials, devices, circuit design, manufacturing processes, equipment, and packaging technologies. Industry experts from Applied Materials and Moldex3D are also invited to introduce the latest developments in semiconductor equipment, smart manufacturing, advanced process technologies, and packaging simulation. These sessions help students understand how academic research is translated into industrial applications and how innovation continues to drive the global semiconductor industry.
Beyond classroom learning, participants will visit ASML to gain first-hand exposure to world-leading semiconductor equipment, manufacturing technologies, and industrial operations. Through on-site observation and technical presentations by industry professionals, students will gain a deeper understanding of the critical role that semiconductor equipment plays throughout wafer fabrication, as well as the close integration of different technologies across the semiconductor manufacturing process. This experience extends classroom learning into real industrial settings, enabling participants to better appreciate Taiwan's technological strengths, innovation capabilities, and collaborative ecosystem within the global semiconductor industry. As part of the research exchange program, students enrolled in the IC Design track will participate in the 37th VLSI/CAD Symposium on August 4, where they will exchange ideas with researchers and industry experts on the latest developments in IC design and electronic design automation (EDA). The program will also feature keynote presentations and technical exchanges led by experts from the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) under the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), providing students with valuable opportunities to learn about Taiwan's latest semiconductor research and technological innovations beyond the classroom.
The 2026 Summer School brings together 72 students from 14 countries
As artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and smart applications continue to advance, and as the global semiconductor supply chain undergoes ongoing restructuring, semiconductor talent has become a critical driver of technological competitiveness and industrial development worldwide. In addition to sustained investment in technological innovation and industrial development, higher education also bears the important responsibility of cultivating professionals equipped with interdisciplinary expertise, global perspectives, and the ability to collaborate across cultures.
As artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and smart applications continue to advance, and as the global semiconductor supply chain undergoes ongoing restructuring, semiconductor talent has become a critical driver of technological competitiveness and industrial development worldwide. In addition to sustained investment in technological innovation and industrial development, higher education also bears the important responsibility of cultivating professionals equipped with interdisciplinary expertise, global perspectives, and the ability to collaborate across cultures.
Since its inception, the NCKU All-English Semiconductor Summer School has welcomed students from countries around the world to Taiwan for academic exchange, gradually establishing a stable international partnership network and becoming one of National Cheng Kung University's flagship programs for promoting the internationalization of semiconductor education.
Looking ahead, NCKU will continue to deepen collaboration with partner universities, research institutes, and industry leaders worldwide through international summer schools, short-term training programs, student exchange programs, faculty and student mobility, and collaborative research. Through these diverse initiatives, the University aims to build a comprehensive semiconductor talent development platform that integrates global perspectives, intercultural competence, and practical industry experience.
By bringing international students to Taiwan for academic study and industry engagement, NCKU also seeks to provide young talents from around the world with first-hand experience of Taiwan's research environment, industrial strengths, and career opportunities. Through these efforts, the University will continue to strengthen Taiwan's role in global semiconductor education, talent cultivation, and international collaboration, while fostering stronger international networks that support the sustainable development of the global semiconductor ecosystem.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2026-07-28
Click Num:
Share
