Philippines
I absolutely think Taiwan is an exceptional place to build a long-term career, especially in academia.
I did my PhD in Business Administration at NTUST, supported by a Ministry of Education scholarship. It was an incredible journey—not just academically, but personally too. When it came to finding a job, honestly, it happened very organically. After my PhD, my adviser invited me to stay as a postdoc, and that opened the door to teaching, and eventually a full-time professor role.
Securing my first position wasn't too difficult for me since I was already part of the system, but the market is definitely competitive, and my network is limited. Looking back, I didn’t originally plan to stay after graduation. But staying gave me the chance to gain meaningful teaching experience, strengthen my research profile, and build a stable academic career.
The biggest challenge for me was definitely the language barrier—my Mandarin is not really progressing—as well as learning how to navigate administrative systems and communication styles.
However, I was very fortunate in overcoming these hurdles. I received strong mentorship from my adviser and other members of the faculty, as well as the administrative staff, especially when it came to documentation, discovering opportunities, and navigating the system. That support really made a difference in helping me build my career here.
The industry in Taiwan that attracts me the most is definitely higher education and research. Taiwan has strong government support for research, a growing international presence, and a very dynamic academic culture. The country is already highly competitive globally in STEM fields, and it’s steadily gaining recognition in business and social sciences as well.
One thing that really surprised me was the level of flexibility in academic work. As long as you fulfill your responsibilities in teaching, research, and service, you have a lot of autonomy in how you manage your time. That flexibility is incredibly valuable, especially early in your career. What I also really appreciate is the clarity of the system. There’s a structured tenure-track path, and expectations are transparent—you know exactly what you’re working toward.
In this environment, I’ve been able to fully apply my skills in teaching, research, and international collaboration. I also contribute to recruiting international students and building academic partnerships, which feels like a meaningful way to give back.
I absolutely think Taiwan is an exceptional place to build a long-term career, especially in academia. It offers strong research support, funding opportunities, and a balanced workload that allows you to grow professionally. Over the next five to ten years, I see myself continuing to grow here—developing my research, contributing more to academia, and progressing further within the tenure system.
At some point, I realized that Taiwan wasn’t just a place I studied—it had become a place where I could truly grow. Today, Taiwan feels like both my professional and personal home. I would only consider leaving temporarily for a very strong opportunity abroad—something that could further strengthen my work and allow me to bring that experience back here. I’m genuinely grateful for the foundation Taiwan has given me.
