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As competition for artificial intelligence talent accelerates worldwide, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) is working with a network of more than 40 companies, including Microsoft Taiwan and Phison Electronics, to help a new generation of professionals enter the fast-growing field.

Supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ AI Rising Stars Program, the initiative targets young people in the first three to four years after graduation. It combines intensive technical training, hands-on corporate projects and workplace experience to give participants the practical skills needed to enter the AI industry.

Early Hiring Signals Strong Industry Demand

The results from its inaugural cohort point to strong demand. Of the 56 participants who completed eight months of structured training, five received full-time job offers before the program ended, while 47 began internships with partner companies.

The program is designed for both participants without an AI background and those seeking to transition into the field. Its training pathway includes 320 hours of technical instruction, 300 hours of company-based project work and a four-month industry internship.

Training Built Around Industry Needs

“Companies today are looking for more than people who understand AI theory,” said Prof. Chien-Chao Tseng, Director of NYCU’s Office of AI Affairs. “They need professionals who can turn AI technologies into practical solutions for real business environments.”

Tseng said the curriculum covers the full AI development cycle—from data preparation and model training to system deployment, inference acceleration, operations and maintenance, and human-AI collaboration.

Participants also work on real-world projects under the guidance of industry mentors. The approach allows newcomers without previous AI training to build a systematic understanding of the technology, progress from fundamental concepts to practical applications, and transition more quickly into industry roles after completing the program.