NTNU Hosts Summer Program on Semiconductors and AI with Japanese Universities
After expanding its summer course offerings last year, NTNU built on that momentum by launching a two-week intensive program on Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, aligning with industry developments and fostering international exchange. The program attracted 28 students from Kumamoto University and the Prefectural University of Kumamoto. Credits earned at NTNU can be transferred to their home institutions in Japan, strengthening Taiwan–Japan collaboration in cultivating global talent in the semiconductor field.
The program was co-taught by faculty from NTNU’s College of Science and College of Technology and Engineering. The curriculum covered fundamentals of semiconductors, integrated circuit design, and applications of AIoT, and included site visits to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and ACEBiotek. In collaboration with the Mandarin Training Center (MTC), NTNU also launched the First World Youth Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Summer Program, which brought together not only the Japanese students but also NTNU students from different departments and Indonesian students from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, bringing total participation on campus to 49.
Responding to global developments in the semiconductor supply chain, all courses were taught using English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). The program also incorporated basic Mandarin lessons, cultural activities, and field visits. NTNU students served as peer mentors, joining mixed groups with the international participants. This gave students the chance not only to study semiconductor technologies but also to form friendships and exchange cultural perspectives.
In courses overlapping with applied optics, such as wafer inspection and photolithography, Professor Chan-Shan Yang of the Institute and Undergraduate Program of Electro-Optical Engineering taught Applications of Lasers and Optics in Semiconductors. Using 3D glasses and student-drawn diagrams, he explained principles of polarization and demonstrated links between semiconductor laser technology and grating layers. He noted that the design of the course incorporated visualization and demonstrations to accommodate students from diverse academic backgrounds, allowing them to engage with the content at different levels of depth.
At the closing ceremony, Dean Keisuke Shiromoto of the School of Informatics at Kumamoto University and Dean Hiromitsu Miyazono of the Faculty of Comprehensive Management at the Prefectural University of Kumamoto attended and served as judges for group presentations. Once grades are issued, the Japanese students will be able to transfer their credits to their home universities.
Shiromoto emphasized that the program allowed Taiwanese and Japanese students to gain both specialized knowledge and cross-cultural experience inside and outside the classroom. Miyazono explained that Japan follows a three-semester, 15-week system (first semester April–July; second semester October–January), and that the summer break offered students a rare chance to study alongside peers in Taiwan.
Professor Hsiang-Lin Liu of the Department of Physics, one of the program instructors, coordinated among the three universities. He noted that Kumamoto University had specifically requested an open program that included local and international students, rather than one exclusively for Japanese participants. Conducting classes in EMI ensured that students could study together, which not only benefited the Japanese cohort but also gave NTNU students opportunities for “at-home internationalization.”
Dean Yi-Hsuan Hung of the College of Technology and Engineering remarked that since NTNU implemented the 16-week semester system in 2022–2023, the intensive summer format aligns well with the schedules of Japanese universities. Recruitment sessions held in July at both Kumamoto institutions drew strong interest, with many participants demonstrating enthusiasm and initiative.
Although Kumamoto University initially requested a semiconductor-focused curriculum, discussions with its International Office led to the addition of humanities and language components. The final program included a Taiwanese Indigenous Culture Workshop, visits to the National Palace Museum, and Shilin Night Market. Japanese students covered only airfare, dormitory accommodations, and insurance, which encouraged wide participation.
Professor Tomohiro Hibino of the Prefectural University of Kumamoto accompanied the group and noted that although not all students came from semiconductor-related fields, they enrolled out of interest, and for many it was their first visit to Taiwan.
This was the first time that 28 students from Kumamoto University and the Prefectural University of Kumamoto jointly traveled to Taiwan for a large-scale, two-week summer program. Okamura Kaisei, a sophomore at Kumamoto University’s School of Informatics, said that Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor industry, led by TSMC, inspired him to consider working here in the future. He admitted, however, that the coursework was challenging, as NTNU’s three-hour classes required more sustained concentration than the 90-minute format common in Japan.
Through NTNU’s inter-institutional enrollment channels, Doron Quella Sudarsono, an Indonesian student of chemical engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, also joined. He described the program as intensive and engaging, noting that the combination of classes, laboratory visits, and company tours was as rich as a semester-long course. He added that he hopes to remain in Taiwan to pursue a career in semiconductors and AI.
Dean of Academic Affairs Mei-hui Liu explained that NTNU began expanding summer courses last year by offering tuition-free enrollment and compensating faculty at higher instructional rates. The initiative was well received, and this year the university offered 109 summer courses, an increase of 42 from last year, enrolling more than 2,600 students. She expressed gratitude to the faculty for supporting the effort to create diverse learning opportunities.
According to the Office of Academic Affairs, NTNU policy does not allow departments to schedule required senior-year courses in summer. By taking summer classes, however, students can complete their credits in as little as three to three-and-a-half years and graduate early. The extended break also allows them to retake or make up courses, fulfill minor or double-major requirements, or participate in internships to apply classroom knowledge to real-world contexts, preparing for their careers ahead of graduation.