《114-2 SA Event》 International Alumni Sharing- Employment & Industry Development Trends of International Students in Taiwan

A Vibrant Evening of Culture, Connection, and Conversation at NSYSU IBMBA & GHRM MBA Alumni back on campus

[Kaohsiung, May 20, 2026]

On a vibrant evening at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU), students, alumni. The International Program Student Association and Office of International Affairs gathered for a one-of-a-kind cultural exchange event bringing together young people from twelve countries across four continents.

Participants hailed from Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, France, the Philippines, Norway, and Singapore. A reflection of the university's growing global reach and its commitment to fostering international understanding.

Opening session

The afternoon opened with a heartfelt welcome address by Haley, President of the NSYSU Student Association. Speaking to a room brimming with excitement and anticipation, Haley set the tone, emphasizing the value of openness, curiosity, and the connections that can only be forged when people from different walks of life come together. His words resonated deeply with attendees, many of whom were meeting classmates from other countries for the very first time in an informal setting.

Remarks from the Office of International Affairs

Following the opening remarks, the floor was graciously handed to Director Kang Si-zheng (康斯証組長) of the Student Exchange Division, Office of International Affairs. In a warm and encouraging speech, Director Kang expressed sincere appreciation for all attendees and underscored the university's dedication to building bridges between international and local students. He highlighted the role such events play in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world in making NSYSU a truly global campus.

Three Rounds of Table Conversations Switching:

The centerpiece of the afternoon was a dynamic World Café-style career sharing session. Three rounds of table switching, each anchored by a distinguished NSYSU alumnus serving as a table host. Rather than a formal panel, this format placed students in intimate circles of conversation, rotating every round so that every participant had the chance to engage directly with each speaker.

Three industry voices, three very different journeys and one shared message: building a career in Taiwan as an international professional is absolutely possible, and it starts with the right mindset.

Table 1 · Jan Stava - Navigating Taiwan's Semiconductor Industry as an International Professional

Jan Stava brought a rare and compelling perspective to the room: that of a foreign professional who has successfully built a career at the heart of Taiwan's most globally significant industry — semiconductors.

With Taiwan home to some of the world's most advanced chip manufacturers, students were eager to understand what it actually takes for an international graduate to break into this highly specialized field.

Jan spoke candidly about the job search process in Taiwan, demystifying a journey that can feel opaque to those unfamiliar with local hiring norms. He walked students through the practical steps from tailoring a resume for Taiwanese employers and understanding the role of Chinese language proficiency, to navigating the unspoken expectations of technical interviews in engineering-heavy industries. "The industry is global, but the workplace culture is still very local," Jan noted, encouraging students to invest in understanding not just the technical requirements, but the interpersonal dynamics that define professional life in Taiwan.

Perhaps most valuably, Jan addressed the mindset shift required for international job seekers. He emphasized resilience and adaptability — the willingness to start in roles that may not feel glamorous, to prove one's value in a new cultural environment, and to build trust over time. For many students in the room, Jan's story was both a reality check and a source of genuine encouragement: with preparation and the right attitude, Taiwan's semiconductor doors are not closed to international talent.

Table 2 · Vigor Lin — Ten Years, Many Roles: A Taiwanese Career Journey from Local

industry to Global Product Leadership

If Jan's story showed what is possible for international students in Taiwan, Vigor Lin's decade-long career arc showed just how far ambition and adaptability can take a local graduate in the global arena. An NSYSU alumnus himself, Vigor returned to campus not just as a successful professional, but as living proof of what the university's programs can lead to.

Vigor's journey began, like many, in the trenches of Taiwan's domestic tech industry — learning the fundamentals, building his craft, and figuring out how to add value in a competitive environment. Over the course of ten years, he evolved through a series of increasingly strategic roles, ultimately stepping into the world of global product management. Today, he operates at the intersection of business, technology, and works as a Product Manager, Product Owner, and Scrum practitioner, leading cross-functional teams to develop and ship products on an international stage.

For international students in the room, Vigor's story carried a particularly important message: the frameworks of agile product development, cross-cultural team leadership, and user-centered thinking are universal. Whether you are from Vietnam, France, or Singapore, the skills that matter in global product roles transcend nationality — and Taiwan's tech ecosystem, he argued, is one of the best training grounds in Asia to develop them.

Table 3 · Grace Kuo — The HR Manager's Lens: What Really Matters in an Interview

Of the three tables, Grace Kuo drew perhaps the most furious note-taking. As an experienced HR Manager with a background in marketing-side talent acquisition, Grace offered something students rarely get access to: the unfiltered perspective of the person sitting across the interview table.

Grace began by challenging a common misconception: that getting a job is primarily about credentials.

While academic qualifications open doors, she explained what keeps candidates in the room. Ultimately, the way they earn the offer, it’s the quality of their self-awareness and communication. "I can teach someone a skill," she said, "but I cannot teach them how to reflect on their own experiences and articulate what they've learned." For HR managers, the interview is less a quiz and more a window into how a candidate thinks, handles ambiguity, and fits into a team's culture.

She walked students through the qualities she values most: genuine curiosity about the company and its challenges, the ability to tell a coherent story about one's career trajectory, and the emotional intelligence to listen as much as speak. Grace also addressed the specific context of international candidates, noting that cultural adaptability demonstrated not just in words but in concrete examples. It’s a powerful differentiator in a Taiwanese workplace where global collaboration is increasingly the norm.

Snacks, Smiles, and Spontaneous Connections

The event closed with a relaxed networking session, complemented by light refreshments and snacks.

Away from structured activities, participants mingled freely, swapping contact information, posing for group photos, and continuing the conversations that the table-switching rounds had sparked.

Alumni who attended took the opportunity to share their experiences navigating life in Taiwan after graduation, offering candid and encouraging advice to current students still finding their footing. Staff from the Office of International Affairs mingled warmly with the crowd, reinforcing a sense of institutional care and community that participants found genuinely welcoming.

Conclusion

The International Student Cultural Exchange Night was more than an event. It was a reminder of what a university campus can be at its best: a place where borders dissolve, curiosity thrives, and every conversation holds the potential to change how you see the world.

With twelve nationalities represented and countless memories made, the evening stood as a testament to NSYSU's vision of a truly international, inclusive, and connected community. We look forward to many more evenings like this, and the friendships that will continue long after the last snack is finished.