Partner Company Obligations for the INTENSE Program
Partner Company Obligations for the INTENSE Program
1. Partner companies must propose clear staffing needs and desired trainee competencies, identify collaborating schools and departments, offer resources (monthly stipends, internship, and employment slots), and sign a contract with the school.
2. The agreement must commit to providing each student with a monthly living stipend of at least NT$10,000 during their studies.
3. Companies must discuss internship curriculum with the school and sign a written contract following the Implementation Guidelines for Industry–Academia Collaboration at schools and above.
4. The contract must specify the internship stipend conditions (at least equal to minimum wage), support for students struggling in internship, termination rights and obligations.
5. Companies may co-recruit with schools to pre-select top candidates and jointly evaluate students’ academic performance and conduct.
6. Companies may collaboratively develop curricula, provide industry instructors, and define internship content with schools.
1. Provide a Monthly Stipend of at least NT$10,000 per Student
(1) Companies must provide at least NT$10,000/month per student; based on degree level (Bachelor, Master, PhD), language skills, and academic performance, they may increase or provide additional stipends.
(2) Students receiving stipends must sign contracts with the company specifying their rights and obligations during study and after graduation.
2. Internship Stipend at or above the Minimum Wage
If the program includes an industrial internship starting in the third semester, schools must finalize internship content with companies. Companies must pay at least minimum wage during internships and include this in writing. Internship agreements should include:
(1) Schools and companies must sign internship contracts under the Industry–Academia Collaboration Guidelines. Companies must sign individual internship contracts per student, each lasting up to one semester, in Chinese and English (or local official language), with a copy signed by the student.
(2) Contracts must outline the rights and obligations of the school, student, and host company—including environment, content, stipend, mentorship, transition support, performance assessment, dispute resolution, insurance, and related matters.
3. Participation in Student Performance Evaluation
To ensure student outcomes, funding for Year 2 tuition subsidies depends on results of joint academic and performance reviews by the school and company. Based on language skills and performance, companies may increase or grant extra stipends. Companies should monitor student progress and participate in evaluations.
1. Employment according to contract: If the student successfully completes the program and earns a degree, the company has the hiring right and must offer a suitable position with pay no less than average in that field and hire the student.
2. Obligation period matches stipend period: For example, a student who received 2 years of stipends is obligated to work 2 years. If a company fails, through no fault of the student, to pay stipends during the program, it forfeits priority hiring rights and cannot reclaim unpaid stipends.
3. If the student fails to join the contracting company, stipend repayment or exemption will depend on whether fault lies with the student, as per the contract.
If a student drops out or fails to meet employment obligations, stipend repayment policies are as follows:
1. No Repayment When Not the Student's Fault:
(1) If due to company restructuring, stipends are stopped during the study period—not the student's fault—no repayment is required.
(2) If no job openings exist at graduation due to restructuring.
(3) If the company terminates the contract under Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the Labor Standards Act and the student terminates accordingly, no repayment is required.
(4) No repayment if the student dies, falls seriously ill, or is ineligible to continue studying or working—certified by a teaching hospital or school—or if family hardship prevents them from continuing.
2. Repayment Required When the Student Is at Fault (per contract):
(1) Student voluntarily leaves the program (transfer, leave, return to country) without valid reason after counseling, or is dismissed/expelled.
(2) Student fails to meet academic or performance requirements and is not hired despite counseling.
(3) The student does not join the contracting company within 3 months post-graduation.
(4) The student fails to complete the stipend-obligation period; repayment is on a per-month basis, and any partial month counts as one full month.
