The digital economy has been growing rapidly over the years, especially after the global pandemic, and it has been an important issue to cultivate digitally competent talents to cater to the industry's needs. In light of this demand, Taipei Tech collaborates with Facebook, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the Taiwan Non-store Retailer Association along with 19 technological and vocational universities in Taiwan to launch a talent cultivation program aiming to improve students’ digital knowledge and skills. On 24th March 2021, a ceremony was held at GIS Taipei Tech Convention Center to kick-start the program.

Yu I-Hui, General Manager of Facebook's Hong Kong and Taiwan offices, noted at the opening remark of the ceremony that as the small and medium enterprises in Taiwan are undergoing digital transformation, Facebook has been actively invested in digital talent training for the local industries. “The program we rolled out will not only equip students with digital competency and reinforce their practical experiences,” said Yu, “but will also encourage and subsidize them to take the certification exam of ‘Facebook Blueprint’, a globally recognized digital marketing certification that will unlock more opportunities for their future career prospect”.

Vice Premier Shen Jong-Chin also indicated that it is great to see how an international conglomerate like Facebook join hands with our government, academia, and retailer association to attend to the industrial demand and to bridge the industry-academia gap. “By putting together resources into cultivating digitally competitive talents for the SMEs in Taiwan,” said Sheng, “I am confident that the talent cultivation will optimize the competitiveness of local companies and further leading Taiwan to achieve better performance in the global market”.    

Taipei Tech President Wang Sea-Fue points out that there are 202 students enrolled in the “E-commerce talent cultivation course” of the program this semester. Professors from Taipei Tech and lecturers from Facebook will jointly provide digital marketing related course contents, and the course will be opened to all the professors from other universities who also participate in the implementation of the program. “The students who take the course will be encouraged to get the E-commerce analyst certification and will have the opportunity to get a full subsidy from Facebook to take the Blueprint certification exam,” said Wang, “they will also get the chances to do internships at the member companies of the Non-store Retailer Association.” 

Through the solid training of the course, students will acquire the key professional competence of digital marketing. After they enter the job market, they will be a significant force accelerating digital transformation and become international talent with global mobility.