Interest of Young Generation to Study in Taiwan is Increasing, Scholarships and Job Opportunities as Attractions

Simon Hu, Chairman of ICATI Jakarta at THEFI 2026 at the Pullman Jakarta Central Park Hotel. (Dinno/VOI)

JAKARTA - Taiwan is increasingly becoming one of the favorite destinations for the younger generation of Indonesians to continue their higher education. This can be seen from the enthusiasm of around 12 thousand visitors who crowded the Taiwan Higher Education Fair Indonesia (THEFI) 2026 at the Pullman Central Park Hotel, Jakarta, Saturday, August 1.

Since morning, students, parents, and teachers have filled the exhibition area to find information about study programs, scholarships, tuition fees, and career opportunities after graduation. A total of 65 universities from Taiwan are present offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Taiwan Alumni (ICATI Jakarta), Simon Hu, said the high enthusiasm showed the increasing interest of Indonesian students to continue their studies in Taiwan.

According to him, the holding of THEFI this year is also an important milestone in the journey of the exhibition which has entered its 10th year.

"Ten years of this agenda has not been running from mere numbers, this symbolizes the long-term commitment and efforts of the Indonesian Alumni Association in Taiwan (ICATI) in building a bridge of educational exchange between Indonesia and Taiwan," said Simon at THEFI 2026, Jakarta, August 1.

According to him, the increasing need for talent in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, digital transformation, and green technology makes international education increasingly relevant for the younger generation.

Moreover, Taiwan has long been an important global center for higher education and technological innovation, enjoying a world-class reputation in the fields of semiconductor chips, information technology, engineering, medicine, and scientific research, and has made outstanding contributions to the development of global technology.

He assessed that Taiwan has advantages in various fields, making it an interesting study destination for Indonesian students.

"The world today is entering a new era. Artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology, digital transformation, green technology, and innovation-based economies are rapidly changing the direction of the world's development," he said.

Apart from the quality of education, various scholarship programs are also the main magnet. One of them is the Mandarin Scholarship from TETO which is open to high school graduates without having to be accepted at a Taiwanese university first.

"To get this Mandarin language study scholarship, registration can be done directly through TETO every February to March," said Simon Hu.

Not only that, there is also a full scholarship program that opens up opportunities to work in Taiwanese companies after graduation.

"This year, there are about 490 students who have graduated from the program. As many as 300 of them are from Indonesia and are now working in various Taiwanese companies," said Simon Hu.

Opening of THEFI 2026 at the Pullman Jakarta Central Park Hotel. (Dinno/VOI)

ICATI data shows that interest in studying in Taiwan has indeed continued to increase. In 2025, around 14 thousand Indonesian students were recorded to study in Taiwan, making Indonesia the second largest contributor of foreign students in the country.

According to Simon, the cost of living in Taiwan is also relatively affordable for Indonesian students, coupled with policies that allow international students to work part-time during their studies.

"The cost of living in Taiwan is still relatively equivalent to Jakarta so it remains affordable for Indonesian students," he said.

In this exhibition, a number of favorite campuses such as National Taiwan University (NTU), National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) are the main destinations for visitors.

The three universities are known as world-class universities that are in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings 2026.

In addition to providing educational information, ICATI also offers a non-interest education credit program of 40 thousand Taiwan dollars per semester for students who experience economic constraints.

Payments can be made after graduation and work or installments during the study period through income from part-time work.

Closing the series of activities, Simon Hu hopes that THEFI will not only be an event to introduce Taiwanese campuses, but also expand educational cooperation between institutions in Indonesia and Taiwan.

"Through this exhibition, students can see firsthand various opportunities to continue their studies in Taiwan. Hopefully, they can find their dream majors at universities in THEFI. We also hope that cooperation between universities in Taiwan and high schools, vocational schools, and universities in Indonesia can continue to grow," concluded Simon Hu.