Open Career Opportunities, This Is The Reason Lecture In Taiwan Is Getting More And More Eyed By The Young Generation

Illustration of lectures in Taiwan. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the swift currents of globalization and the transformation of the world of work, studying abroad is no longer just a matter of prestige, but about strategies to prepare for the future.

One of the countries that is now increasingly being attracted by the younger generation of Indonesia is Taiwan. The reason is not only because of the quality of education recognized by the world, but also because of his ability to bridge international career opportunities, especially in the Asian region.

The ability of foreign languages, especially Mandarin, is now no longer an added value, but rather a key skill to compete. Mandarin is not only the language with the most speakers in the world, but also plays a vital role in the world of business, technology, and global diplomatic relations.

For Indonesia, which in recent years has become the main objective of investment from Taiwan and China, the ability to speak Mandarin opens wide doors to various job opportunities.

"Right now, the demand for workers who speak Mandarin is very high, but the number of Indonesians who master it is still very small," said Tomas Thajeb, Deputy Chair of the Taiwanese Alumni Image Association throughout Indonesia (ICATI), Thomas Thajeb at the Taiwan Higher Education Fair Indonesia (THEFI) 2025 press conference in Jakarta, recently.

According to him, companies from China and Taiwan that invest in Indonesia often face problems because most of their staff are not fluent in English, let alone Indonesian.

This is the reason that local workers who can speak Mandarin are needed. Professions such as translators, operational staff, to litison officers are wide open, and the salaries offered can reach double digits.

There are several reasons why studying in Taiwan is increasingly being looked at. Here are some facts, as stated by Simon Hu, Chairman of ICATI on the same occasion.

1. Extensive scholarship opportunities

One of the main attractions to pursue higher education in Taiwan is the availability of scholarships and wide internship opportunities. For Indonesian students who want to pursue higher education, there are various scholarship schemes from the government and higher education institutions.

"CITI provides 23 scholarships for outstanding students and from underprivileged families. We work directly with scholarship provider universities until graduation. The conditions this year are lighter," said Tomas.

The scholarships offered are divided into two categories, based on academic achievement and economic background. In addition, ICATI also raises funds from alumni to expand the reach of this program.

2. International standard education

Many campuses in Taiwan such as National Taiwan University (NTU) or National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) are known to have an international reputation. A number of universities are regularly included in the QS World University Rankings list and have excellent programs in engineering, IT, science, and future technologies such as AI, biotechnology, to the medical faculty.

3. Affordable tuition fees

One of the reasons Taiwan is increasingly being looked at as a college destination by Indonesian students is because the cost of studying and living there is relatively more affordable than big cities like Jakarta.

According to Tomas Thajeb, as an alumni who has studied in Taiwan, for public campuses, the average tuition fee per semester is in the range of IDR 12 million.

Meanwhile, for daily needs, such as food and shelter, students only need to prepare around IDR 45 million per month.

With a total monthly expenditure of around Rp. 5 million, the lifestyle of students in Taiwan can remain comfortable without having to drain their bags.

"Compared to the cost of living in Jakarta which can be twice as high, Taiwan clearly provides affordable foreign study options," he said.

4. Student-friendly campuses

The learning environment in Taiwan is also very supportive. In addition to modern campus facilities (digital library, advanced labs, co-working spaces), not a few campuses provide space for worship, halal food, and an active international student community.

In terms of security, Taiwan is one of the safest countries in Asia according to the Global Peace Index. Students can do activities until the night without worry. The culture of the people is also known to be polite, tolerant, and respect privacy.

5. Integrated transportation

Public transportation in Taiwan is one of the best in Asia. MRT, buses, public bicycles (YouBike), and inter-city high-speed trains are all well integrated. You can live in cheaper areas, but still get to campus on time.

Not only that, a number of campuses even provide multifunctional student cards that can be used to ride the MRT and several other public transportation.

6. Opportunities to master foreign languages

At least, there are two languages that are commonly used when studying in Taiwan, namely English and Mandarin. Indonesian students are expected to be able to master both languages during and after studying.

Tomas said it is undeniable that Mandarin is now a strategic skill for the future. With more and more companies from China and Taiwan investing in Indonesia, the need for workers who can speak Mandarin continues to increase.

According to Tomas, nowadays many foreign companies have difficulty finding local staff who can be Mandarin. So mastery of foreign languages can be more value for campus graduates from Taiwan.

"The opportunity is very large. In fact, there are many work positions with double-digit salaries just because candidates can speak Mandarin," he said.

Starting from the translation, liquid officer, to operational staff at foreign companies, all open the door wider for graduates who have this language skills.

"If he has skills after studying in Taiwan, then is fluent in Mandarin. I think his career is wide open to the abilities he has," he concluded.