In 2018, for the first time, the Republic of China (ROC) (Taiwan) promoted the New Southbound Policy in the form of government-to-government cooperation. In accordance with the needs of industrial technology talents cultivation raised by the Indonesia government, the Ministry of Education (MOE) established the ’Industry-Academia Collaboration Program for Indonesian 2-year College’ (hereinafter referred to as 2+i Program), where the first 88 students were enrolled in four classes in March, 2019. Those students stated that this opportunity to participate in this program has realized their dreams in life, and they have gained fruitful experience in adapting to the new environment, learning professional knowledge and learning Chinese.

The outstanding students from Indonesia took part in the selection held by schools in the ROC (Taiwan), and collaborated with Indonesia to cultivate talents. The total study period is two-and-a-half to three years. According to the course plans, after students have studied professional knowledge for one and half years, then one to one-and-a-half years off-campus internship courses in institutions in the same professional field would be arranged, and students would obtain a bachelor's degree upon graduation. During the study period, schools in the ROC (Taiwan) will provide a scholarship equivalent of free tuition and miscellaneous fees for the first year. The Indonesian government will provide students with flight tickets to the ROC (Taiwan) and living expenses of 10 million Indonesian rupiahs (about NT$ 24,000) to encourage students to study in the ROC (Taiwan).

The 2+i Program has established professional courses that are based on the needs of the industrial fields of the Indonesian government. Mr. Chou, a student at Cheng Shiu University indicates that the most distinctive features of the 2+i Program are that the courses include off-campus internships, and the on-campus courses integrate the needs of the industry. After learning professional knowledge, from the second semester of the second year, students will cooperate with off-campus internship courses in the same industrial field, where students can actually apply what they have learned to acquire practical vocational skills that are connected with this industry. Ms.Chao, an Indonesian student, who studies Hospitality Management in Hsing Wu University indicates that in her previous study she had never had professional skill courses, such as food and beverage preparation and fruit carving, which she learned in the ROC (Taiwan).

To ensure students learn more about the ROC (Taiwan), all the schools offer Chinese language courses. Moreover, for the next group of students which enrolled in October 2019, the schools will further arrange Chinese language courses of 5 credits and 10 hours per week in the first semester of the first year, and a 5-hour tutoring course per week. After learning Chinese for one year, most of the first group of students can take notes in Chinese during the classes, and one of the students, Mr. Lee, expressed that he realized every Chinese word has its own meaning and story.

Indonesia's official representatives came to the ROC (Taiwan) to visit the students of the 2+i Program, schools and off-campus internship factories in July and December 2019. They were deeply impressed by the teaching equipment, teachers, course plans and meticulous care for the students of the 2+i Program set up in the ROC (Taiwan). The students of the 2+i Program were very appreciative of the governments of the ROC (Taiwan) and Indonesia for arranging such a good learning opportunity. The ROC (Taiwan) and Indonesia collaborate jointly to promote the 2+i Program; enhancing students’ practical skills and reaching the needs of both sides in industrial development talent cultivation and technical training through a customized training plan with a certain percentage of practical courses (including off-campus internships). In the future, the MOE will continue to strengthen research and cooperation in professional fields to create mutually beneficial and advantageous collaboration in talent cultivation, so as to create new win-win situations for industries, schools and students.