Soochow Joins Taiwan AI College Alliance to Boost AI Education

In a major step toward advancing AI literacy and application, on September 2, 2024, Soochow University just became a key member of the Taiwan AI College Alliance (TAICA), a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Education to address Taiwan’s growing need for AI talents.

The alliance, which includes 25 leading universities such as National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University, offers students access to cross-campus AI courses and cutting-edge educational resources. Certifications recognized by the Ministry of Education will further enhance students’ career prospects, providing a significant advantage in the job market.

Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng underscored the urgency of AI education, emphasizing Taiwan’s need for skilled professionals as technology advances at an unprecedentedly fast pace. He noted that TAICA’s collaborative platform will enable students to transcend traditional campus boundaries and gain a more holistic, cross-disciplinary education.

SU President Chyan-Long Jan welcomed the opportunity for the school to play an active role in this national initiative. The fusion of AI and humanistic thinking will be essential for future education, said Jan, emphasizing SU’s commitment to strengthening cross-domain learning while addressing both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI.

Now at the forefront of AI education, Soochow is the first university in Taiwan that established a big data management institute, which focuses on training data scientists to meet industry needs.

SU will offer a diverse range of AI-related programs. For junior students, a mandatory cross-domain AI applications course introduces interdisciplinary learning, while other specialized classes cover key areas such as machine learning, natural language processing, cybersecurity law, and digital marketing.

To ensure hands-on experience, Soochow University also hosts AI competitions and hackathons, which encourage students to engage in innovative problem-solving while fostering teamwork across disciplines. 

With the school’s inclusion in TAICA, SU students will benefit from shared resources and expertise from Taiwan’s top institutions. This collaboration will position them to excel in an increasingly AI-driven world, equipping them with both technical skills and a broad, humanistic perspective.