To enhance international academic collaboration, President Wang Sea-fue of National Taipei University of Technology led a delegation to Thailand in February 2025 to meet with President Lee Pai-chi of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). They signed a university-level agreement during this meeting, officially marking AIT as the latest addition to Taipei Tech’s network of 24 partner universities in Thailand. In March, President Lee paid a return visit to Taipei Tech, where both universities agreed to initiate a dual-degree master’s program in semiconductor technology between Taipei Tech’s Innovation Frontier Institute of Research for Science and Technology (iFirst) and AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology. This collaboration is an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two institutions in semiconductor education.

Located in Bangkok, Thailand, AIT has provided English-language instruction since its founding in 1959. It is dedicated to developing highly qualified engineers to solve Asia’s problems. Renowned for its expertise in transportation, civil engineering, sustainable engineering, and management, AIT has strong historical ties with Taiwan dating back to the tenure of Sun Yun-suan, former Premier and Senior Presidential Advisor, who previously served on AIT’s Board of Trustees. In fact, many Taiwanese professionals, educated at AIT, have significantly contributed to Taiwan’s critical infrastructure development.

President Wang highlighted the similarities between Taipei Tech and AIT, noting that both institutions prioritize engineering education and contribute substantially to national economic development, gaining international recognition. As an applied research university, Taipei Tech maintains longstanding collaborations and academic exchanges with such prestigious institutions as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Penn State University, and Tohoku University. 

President Wang believes the new dual-degree collaboration in semiconductor technology will significantly advance core strategic industries, with aspirations to expand future cooperation into artificial intelligence (AI), Executive MBA (EMBA) programs, and other academic disciplines.

Appointed last September as the first Taiwanese president of AIT, President Lee also holds a distinguished professorship at National Taiwan University, strengthening academic links between Taiwan and Thailand. He emphasized that the new collaboration with Taipei Tech aligns with his vision of institutional transformation and international academic partnerships, supporting Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and strengthening talent cultivation in strategic technology sectors like semiconductors and AI, contributing to sustainable economic growth across Asia.