2026 Taiwan Higher Education Expo in Thailand Held in Bangkok, Khon Kaen, and Chiang Mai
The 2026 Taiwan Higher Education Expo was held from August 29 to September 4 as a series of events in four different venues: two in Bangkok, and one each in Khon Kaen, and Chiang Mai. The Expo was organized by the Taiwan Education Center in Thailand with guidance from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and the support of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Chaoyang University of Technology, and National Sun Yat-sen University, to promote higher education cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand, promote international development of highly skilled professionals, and enhance the visibility of Taiwan’s higher education.
Education fairs provide Thai students and educators with information about Taiwan’s high-quality higher education resources, diverse pathways to further study, university-to-university exchanges, international industry-academia cooperation activities, and associated future career opportunities.
The 2026 Taiwan Higher Education Expo began with a major education fair held at Samyan Mitrtown Hall in Bangkok on August 29 and 30 that attracted more than 1,600 Thai students, teachers, parents, and educators. Thirty-three universities in Taiwan and five Taiwanese companies took part. The universities provided information about their departments and academic programs, application procedures, scholarships, and study-abroad opportunities. It also included cultural workshops and lucky draws, with the grand prize being an opportunity to travel to Taiwan for a three-month Mandarin language program.
Mr. Doong Sy-Chi董思齊, Deputy Representative of Taiwan, stationed at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, gave the opening remarks. He explained that Taiwan is increasingly becoming an important higher education destination for international students that offers a wide range of internationally recognized academic programs. Studying in Taiwan provides students with more than a degree: it also enables them to experience a vibrant and welcoming society, develop their professional skills, build connections with industry, and prepare themselves for international careers.
From August 29 to September 4, a series of Expo activities were held in Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. These sessions placed emphasis on giving Thai students details of the INTENSE Program (the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program) to attract them to study in Taiwan. As economic and technological cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand continues to grow, Thai students studying in Taiwan have the potential to become professionals in their respective fields, and to serve as a new generation of people connecting Taiwan and Thailand.
The INTENSE Program brings together resources of government, industry, and academia to boost interactions and the training of young professionals in the fields of semiconductors, STEM and finance. It connects education, internships, and employment to create an international skilled workforce circulation model. National Pingtung University of Science and Technology is administering the lINTENSE Program at the INTACT Base: Taiwan–Thailand with the assistance of Chaoyang University of Technology, and National Sun Yat-sen University.
Chu Chun-Chang 朱俊彰, Administrative Deputy Minister of Education, introduced the objectives and key features of the program in a specially recorded video at the openings of the sessions at the four Expo tour venues. These were personally attended by Distinguished Professor Jywe Wen-Yuh 覺文郁, Director of the International Industry-University Education Cooperation Alliance Project Office; Prof. Chang Chin-Lung張金龍, president of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology; Prof. Cheng Tao-Ming 鄭道明, president of Chaoyang University of Technology; and personnel from National Sun Yat-sen University.
Ms. Ann Hsueh 薛懿含, Secretary of the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, spoke at the education fairs in Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai about the continued growth of educational cooperation between Thailand and Taiwan and the wide range of scholarships that Taiwan offers has led to Taiwan becoming an increasingly important overseas higher education study destination for students from Southeast Asia. This year, the Education Division recommended 23 students to receive a Taiwan Scholarship to undertake a degree program in Taiwan, and 61 students to receive a Huayu Enrichment Scholarship to study Mandarin in Taiwan. These were record high numbers for each scholarship program. She encouraged Thai students to be sure to consider the INTENSE Program which is designed to attract more international students to Taiwan to study and then work there after graduation. It brings together resources from government, industry, and academia and offers students generous support, including tuition assistance and living allowances.
The key goals of holding this year’s higher education expo as a four-stop tour were to increase more Thai students’ awareness of and interest in studying in Taiwan, and awareness of the industry cooperation connections with bilateral development of highly skilled professionals. This new model Expo is expected to create more opportunities for higher education and industrial collaboration between Taiwan and Thailand.
