In a major step toward enhancing international industry-academia collaboration, Taipei Tech’s Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SINKO Industries Ltd., a leading Japanese HVAC company. The partnership aims to establish a long-term internship program, offering select students hands-on training opportunities at SINKO’s headquarters in Japan and affiliated companies such as SINKO Taiwan.

The MoU signing ceremony was held on June 27th at Taipei Tech, with senior representatives from both parties to mark the occasion. The university leadership—including Vice President Jen Yi-jun, Dean of the College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Lian-han Chien, and Department Chair Lee Kuei-peng—was joined by top executives from SINKO Industries and key figures from Taiwan’s HVAC industry.

The collaboration centers around three goals: establishing a stable international internship mechanism; offering students attractive internship incentives and recruitment pathways; and raising the visibility of Taipei Tech’s commitment to global industry engagement. Students selected for the program will gain real-world experience in areas such as HVAC system design, energy efficiency, smart building integration, and on-site construction management.

“This is more than just an internship program—it’s a strategic investment in international talent development,” said Vice President Jen. “Our students will gain early exposure to global work environments and develop both technical and cross-cultural skills, making them truly industry-ready upon graduation.”

SINKO Industries has led Japan’s HVAC market for over 75 years and has been active in Taiwan for more than three decades. The company recognizes the importance of cross-border collaboration in driving future innovation. “We are impressed by Taipei Tech’s strength in engineering education and hands-on learning,” said Executive Vice President Tokuji Aota. “We believe this partnership will nurture the kind of globally minded, technically capable professionals that our industry needs.”

The internship program will offer both short-term (2 months) and mid-term (6 months) tracks, combining immersive workplace training with cultural exchange. Students will also sharpen their industry-specific language skills and global communication abilities.

Looking ahead, Taipei Tech plans to expand this model by partnering with new international institutions, creating a sustainable, scalable platform for cross-border career learning that prepares students to thrive in the global job market while addressing workforce gaps in sustainable HVAC technologies.