SHL (Scandinavian Health Ltd.) signed a memorandum of understanding with Taipei Tech to mark the official start to a truly Swiss apprentice program in Taiwan. Taipei Tech is partnering with SHL to educate, train, and ultimately employ a select group of students who will become Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining specialists when they graduate. A key driver of the program is to support the growing need for highly qualified CNC personnel and to help cope with the demands of SHL’s overseas customers.

SHL Director Ulrich Faessler stated, “Business is good for the SHL Group and we need to set up customized programs such as this cooperative venture with Taipei Tech. Now, each year 15 students will join this program and once they complete it they will become qualified specialists. That is what we need and that is why we have modeled this training program after the apprentice programs that have been so successful in Switzerland. Some of the best tool makers and CNC operators in the world come from that region and similar apprenticeships.”

"This collaboration is fully supported by teachers, students, and parents. Students are able to practice while working from Monday to Thursday, and spend two days learning on campus in order to balance both theoretical and practical training,” the president of Muzha Vocational High School (MCVS) said.

The MCVS will help to provide suitable candidates for this apprentice program to Taipei Tech and be qualified to take the two-year college exam once they graduate. Troy Chiu, the Dean of Continuing Education at Taipei Tech, said, “Taipei Tech will offer a two-year theoretical studies and training program. Students will receive practical training at SHL’s state-of-the-art facilities under the direction of experienced CNC operators and tool makers from both Europe and Taiwan.” In addition, the Chairman of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Su Chun-Hsi, is looking forward to this apprentice program and wishing to nurture more senior mechanical specialists.

CEO Roger Samuelsson also stated, “SHL’s manufacturing base for drug delivery devices is primarily Taiwan, and it is the company’s goal to help give back to the communities in which we operate, by cooperating with the local government, educational institutions, and so on. These apprenticeship students will get to work on some of the most advanced tooling and CNC equipment in the world at SHL and get involved with projects worth millions of dollars. And most importantly for these students, they will have an established career track that starts with a technical job in the area they have studied and prepared for building their future with us.”

Dr. Leehter Yao, President of Taipei Tech, states, “Taipei Tech has been focusing on nurturing talented people, practical training, industrial studies and research, as well as the integration with outstanding studies. In order to enhance Taiwan industrial potential, Taipei Tech is and will always be the Model of Technical and Vocational Universities.”