The Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) jointly hosted four Recruitment Information Seminars in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston from April 1 to April 7, 2018 to attract outstanding overseas people to work in Taiwan’s top universities.
The Science Division and the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles (TECO-LA) worked together with Professor Tseng Hsian-Rong and Dr. Eric Pei-Yu Chiou of UCLA to organize the seminar in Los Angeles, held at UCLA’s California NanoSystem Institute on April 3. Dr. Leehter Yao, Deputy Minister of Education, and Dr. Chen Liang-Gee, Minister of Science and Technology, gave detailed information about several newly launched government programs, including MOST’s Young Scholar Fellowship Program, and the MOE’s Jade Mountain (Yushan) Scholars Project. The seminar attracted more than 250 professors and young scholars from Caltech, UCLA, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego.
The Jade Mountain Scholars Project is designed to practically assist universities in Taiwan to attract the world’s elite by providing internationally competitive salaries and benefits. Universities in Taiwan apply for MOE funding to give Jade Mountain Scholar or Jade Mountain Young Scholar status to a currently appointed scholar that meets the stringent eligibility criteria. A Jade Mountain Scholar must have worked at an international renowned research institution or company for at least 10 years and have a well-established international academic reputation and performance. An outstanding newly appointed researcher who completed their education at a world-class university within the last ten years is eligible for consideration for Jade Mountain Young Scholar status. Jade Mountain Scholars will receive an additional 5 million NTD on top of their base salary, each year for three consecutive years, and Jade Mountain Young Scholars will receive an additional 5 million NTD for five consecutive years.
Dr. Yao and Dr. Chen were accompanied by a delegation of presidents and top administrators from 11 research oriented universities in Taiwan who also provided detailed information at the seminar: National Central University, National Chengchi University, National Cheng-Kung University, National Chiao Tung University, National Chung Hsing University, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Taiwan Normal University, National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Tsing Hua University, and Taipei Medical University.
The Education Division of TECO-LA interviewed Dr. Yao and the 11 university presidents and high-ranking administrators about the Jade Mountain Scholar Project and posted a video of the interview on its Facebook page. It is hoped that seminars and the video will attract more outstanding international people to consider bringing their expertise to Taiwan’s academic environment where it can take root and increase the international profile and impact of Taiwan’s higher education.

Photo:Dr. Leehter Yao, Deputy Minister of Education, and Dr. Chen Liang-Gee, Minister of Science and Technology, at a Recruitment Information Seminar in Los Angeles.