Card Key Engineer! Senior Student Bridges Gap to Tech Industry with Ministry of Labor's 'Corporate Pre-Hiring Program' Offering Up to $72,000 Subsidy

Worried about 'graduation equals unemployment'? Chen Yen-chih, a senior student from Cheng Shiu University's Department of Information Engineering, participated in the 'Subsidy Program for Corporate Pre-Hiring of Youth in University Employment Courses,' promoted by the Kaoping-Penghu-East Taiwan Branch of the Ministry of Labor's Workforce Development Agency. He was selected for practical training at Hua-Dong Technology Co., Ltd., and seamlessly transitioned into a full-time Assistant Engineer role upon graduation.

This pre-hiring initiative by the Ministry of Labor offers universities up to NT$900,000 per course and companies up to NT$72,000 per trainee in training subsidies, along with retention bonuses for youth, creating a smooth bridge between academic learning and real-world employment.

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, industries across the board are accelerating digital transformation and intelligent upgrades. To deepen his expertise in AI, information security, and smart manufacturing, Chen enrolled in the 'AI-Empowered Information Security Technology Application Practicum,' jointly organized by the Kaoping-Penghu-East Taiwan Branch and Cheng Shiu University.

During his senior year, he passed the company's selection process and began on-the-job training in the packaging and testing production department at Hua-Dong Technology, serving as an Assistant Engineer. From initial unfamiliarity and nervousness to mastering production operations, he not only developed solid practical skills but also enhanced workplace communication and teamwork abilities.

After completing comprehensive corporate job training, Chen was retained by Hua-Dong Technology upon graduation, successfully achieving his goal of 'employment upon graduation.' Chen stated, 'Through the Corporate Pre-Hiring Program, I was able to engage with the industry early and become familiar with corporate work patterns. I also better understood how to apply my academic knowledge to real-world tasks.'

This experience enabled him to connect ICT software and hardware technologies with practical AI intelligent equipment applications, significantly enhancing his professional competitiveness and boosting his confidence in pursuing a career in the tech industry.

The 'Subsidy Program for Corporate Pre-Hiring of Youth in University Employment Courses,' promoted by the Ministry of Labor's Kaoping-Penghu-East Taiwan Branch, integrates university teaching resources with corporate practical training to help youth accumulate workplace experience during their studies. It provides universities with up to NT$900,000 per course in training fees and companies with up to NT$72,000 per trainee in subsidies. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, it shortens the theory-practice divide and offers retention bonuses to participating youth.

Universities, companies, or students seeking the latest course application criteria and review standards can visit the 'Youth Vocational Training Resource Website' (https://ttms.etraining.gov.tw/eYVTR/) for complete program details or call the hotline (07) 821-0171, extension 1332, for personalized guidance and support.