The Taiwan Artificial Intelligence College Alliance (TAICA), launched by the Ministry of Education, has demonstrated significant growth since its inception in the second semester of the 2024 academic year. Designed to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) education through collaborative programs, TAICA has seen student enrollment and course completion rates improve for three consecutive semesters.
Enrollment figures surged from 2,465 students in the first semester to 6,109 in the third semester, according to ministry statistics. Additionally, the course completion rate rose from 56.6 percent in the first semester to 75.7 percent in the second semester. This initiative aims to address long-standing gaps in faculty and curriculum resources across higher education institutions, noted Chen Hao (陳浩), section chief of the Higher Education Department.
Photo: I-Hwa Cheng, AFP
TAICA comprises 55 institutions, including National Taiwan University (NTU), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), and various national and private universities and vocational institutions. The alliance primarily operates through cross-institutional course selection and AI credit programs, utilizing the “NTU Cool” online teaching platform for instruction, coursework, and tracking of learning progress.
According to Chen, TAICA is positioned as a “platform for cross-university integration and resource sharing” and is not intended to replace existing AI courses. Instead, it supplements the demand for interdisciplinary and cutting-edge curriculum that individual schools may find challenging to offer. A tracking mechanism for enrollment and completion rates has been established, enabling real-time monitoring of student registration and progress. This data may inform policy adjustments and resource allocation.
The ministry is also guiding TAICA members to enhance pre-course orientation, learning counseling, and teaching assistant allocations to support students in adapting to cross-university and online learning models. These initiatives aim to reduce dropout risks and ensure course quality.
Chen Yi-shin (陳宜欣), project director of TAICA and a professor at NTHU’s Department of Computer Science, announced that new courses will be launched next semester, including “Large Language Models and Information Security Systems” and “Generative AI Application Systems and Engineering.” The alliance also plans to introduce an “AI and Information Security Technology” program this academic year, designed to meet the high industrial demand for professionals with integrated AI and cybersecurity skills.
To foster continued investment in the alliance, Chen Yi-shin suggested that the ministry consider providing subsidies or other policy incentives to enhance participation and implementation effectiveness among member schools. Looking ahead, Chen Hao mentioned plans to develop an “AI and Information Security Technology” certificate program to further align with industry needs.
Moreover, the Ministry of Education is deliberating on extending TAICA courses to high schools and vocational schools, aiming to establish an AI talent cultivation chain from high school through university, thereby enhancing Taiwan’s international competitiveness in the growing AI sector.
TAICA’s model reflects a broader trend in education, emphasizing the need for collaboration and resource sharing to meet the evolving demands of the tech industry. As AI continues to reshape various sectors, initiatives like TAICA are essential in equipping the next generation of talent with the necessary skills and knowledge.
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