Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan! Ministry of Education Leads, FICHET Hosts US Recruitment for Elite International R&D Talent

Taiwan's higher education system is launching a global talent acquisition model! The Ministry of Education has commissioned the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (FICHET) to host the "2026 Meet Talent, Meet Taiwan!" U.S. recruitment program from February 27 to March 5, 2026. This year, Deputy Ministers Kwo-Wei Liu and Chun-Chang Chu of the Ministry of Education are leading a delegation of presidents and vice presidents from 12 top domestic universities, bringing over 150 academic positions to the United States. For the first time, they will provide an in-depth explanation of the Ministry's newly enhanced "Higher Education Talent Sustainability Development and Recruitment Program," which aims to attract outstanding international talents to Taiwan to deepen scientific research and teaching through a competitive salary structure.

Highlight 1: Transforming the Salary Structure! Signing and Retention Bonuses Introduced for the First Time

To address the salary gap between Taiwan and other countries, the Ministry of Education has allocated special project funding for the "Higher Education Talent Sustainability Development" program, offering a compensation package with greater international competitiveness:

- Initial Appointment Signing Bonus: To attract outstanding international young scholars to teach in Taiwan, a high-value initial signing bonus will be provided, along with assistance for settling down in Taiwan.

- Retention and Performance Bonuses: A long-term incentive mechanism has been established, offering a "retention bonus" to appointed talent, and a "performance bonus" for those who remain in Taiwan from the 6th to 10th year.

- Further Flexible Salary Boost: In conjunction with the Yushan Scholar Program, in addition to the base salary, recipients can receive up to NT$5 million (Yushan Scholar) or NT$1.5 million (Young Yushan Scholar) annually for up to 5 years.

Highlight 2: Top University Presidents and Vice Presidents Offer On-site Interviews for Fast-Track Academic Careers

The recruitment delegation will travel across the East and West Coasts of the United States, holding events in six major cities: New York, Washington D.C., Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston. The 12 participating universities, led by their Presidents and vice Presidents, will personally provide on-site matching and consultation. The available positions cover multiple levels, from professor, associate professor, and assistant professor to researcher and postdoctoral fellow. The fields cover key domestic R&D areas (such as AI, semiconductor technology, precision medicine, green energy sustainability, etc.) and humanities and social sciences. 

Highlight 3: Multiple Subsidies and Allowances to Achieve Talent Sustainability

In addition to the high salaries and bonuses, the government has significantly increased subsidy amounts and the stability of research funding for postdoctoral researchers and researchers returning to serve in Taiwan, ensuring that talent can enjoy an R&D environment in Taiwan that is aligned with international standards.

Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education: Leveraging Years of Bilateral Exchange Expertise to Enhance the Visibility of Taiwan's Academic Environment

The Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education stated that it leverages its years of experience in organizing international bilateral exchange events, combining MICE expertise, talent matching event design, and targeted recruitment marketing. It is enhancing professional visual design and building an applicant-friendly event interface to more clearly illustrate the advantages and professional fields of Taiwan's higher education. It is hoped that these regular international recruitment events, combined with Taiwan's high quality of life and comprehensive higher education support system, will provide a stable information platform to attract more excellent scholars to explore and develop their careers in Taiwan.