#Taiwan

Southeast Asian students are suddenly at the center of a global tug‑of‑war over talent. Governments from Australia to Norway are rewriting rules and budgets to pull in learners from ASEAN, while Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are rolling out ambitious targets and post‑study work routes to keep students in the region. A new report by DW synthesizes these moves and the intensifying competition for international enrollments, underscoring that Southeast Asia has become the third‑largest source region for outbound students globally. For Thai families weighing where to study, and for Thai universities deciding how to compete, the landscape is changing fast—and in their favor if they act quickly and strategically.

An extraordinary global competition has erupted for Southeast Asian students, transforming international higher education recruitment into a high-stakes diplomatic and economic battleground. Universities across continents are dismantling decades-old admission policies and launching multi-million-dollar campaigns specifically targeting ASEAN learners, recognizing Southeast Asia as the world’s third-largest source of mobile students. This unprecedented shift represents far more than simple enrollment competition—it signals a fundamental realignment of global academic power that positions Thai students and institutions at the center of a transformative opportunity. Recent comprehensive analysis reveals that governments from Australia to Germany are implementing radical policy changes, offering unprecedented scholarships, and creating entirely new pathways designed exclusively for Southeast Asian applicants. For Thai families contemplating international education and Thai universities seeking global partnerships, this moment presents both remarkable opportunities and critical strategic decisions that will shape educational trajectories for the next generation.

Groundbreaking research from Taiwan has unveiled a shocking mental health crisis affecting fathers across East Asia, with over 43% of fathers with children under 18 displaying significant depression symptoms, providing critical insights for Thailand’s own overlooked paternal mental health challenges. This comprehensive survey, conducted by Taiwan’s Child Welfare League Foundation, reveals alarming patterns of economic stress, emotional isolation, and untreated depression among fathers that mirror emerging concerns throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand where traditional expectations of paternal strength and silence may mask widespread mental health struggles affecting entire family systems.

A groundbreaking study from Taiwan reveals a hidden mental health crisis among fathers, with nearly half showing significant depression symptoms. The findings offer crucial lessons for Thailand’s own overlooked paternal mental health challenges, where cultural expectations of strength often mask family-wide struggles.

The study, conducted by the Taiwan Child Welfare League Foundation in April–May 2025, surveyed 547 fathers of children under 18. Results show that 43.3 percent exhibited symptoms from moderate to extremely severe depression, and 14.4 percent faced severe or extremely severe depression requiring urgent clinical attention. Economic hardship emerged as the main stressor, with about 80 percent of fathers reporting difficulty covering household expenses since becoming parents. In many cases, these men were the family breadwinners, intensifying financial and emotional burdens carried largely alone.

A recent survey by Taiwan’s Child Welfare League Foundation has uncovered that over 43% of Taiwanese fathers with children under 18 show signs of depression, a figure described by local experts as “staggeringly high.” With economic stress emerging as the chief culprit, the findings are sparking urgent conversations not only in Taiwan, but also throughout Asia where paternal mental health is often overlooked—including in Thailand, which faces similar social and economic pressures on young families.

Taiwan’s understated yet formidable rise in the global semiconductor industry is drawing international attention, as highlighted by recent coverage describing the island as Asia’s “secret Silicon island” (The Economist). This burgeoning reputation not only showcases Taiwan’s technical prowess but also signals significant implications for technology, education, and economics across the Asia-Pacific region—including Thailand.

The designation of Taiwan as a “secret Silicon island” underscores its status as the world’s most important center for advanced computer chip manufacturing. At the heart of this are homegrown giants such as TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), whose chips are indispensable for everything from smartphones and computers to cars and AI applications. In fact, TSMC controls more than half of the global semiconductor foundry market, producing chips for major international technology companies (Statista). While Silicon Valley in California has long served as the symbol of technological innovation, experts now acknowledge that Taiwan’s dominance in semiconductor fabrication puts it at the forefront of the global tech supply chain—a fact that remains underappreciated by much of the world.

Taiwan’s rise as a global semiconductor hub is drawing attention as a model for technology, education, and economic growth across Asia, including Thailand. Known for cutting-edge chip fabrication, Taiwan centers on homegrown leaders like TSMC, which supplies components for smartphones, computers, cars, and AI systems. Industry analyses show TSMC holds a dominant share of the global foundry market, underscoring Taiwan’s pivotal role in the tech supply chain.

For Thai readers, Taiwan’s ascent offers clear lessons. A strong focus on research, engineering skills, and heavy investment in higher education has created a steady talent pipeline. Partnerships between universities and industry provide students with practical experience, helping ensure a steady flow of skilled engineers. This model offers a contrast to ongoing efforts in Thailand to strengthen STEM education and deepen industry–university collaboration.