Mobility and Post-graduation Employment of International Students in Taiwan: Developments of Policies, Countries of Origin, and Retained Industrial Sectors

The internationalization of higher education in Taiwan has accelerated in response to demographic decline, increased regional competition, and evolving post-pandemic policies. International students are now regarded as strategic assets for institutional viability and workforce development; however, the linkage between international student recruitment and their subsequent integration into the labor market remains insufficiently defined. This study analyzes recent developments in international student mobility and regulated post-graduation employment in Taiwan by synthesizing Ministry of Education enrollment data on overseas students (2015–2024) with Ministry of Labor administrative records pertaining to effective work permits granted to foreign graduates under the Evaluation Points System (2014–2024). Using a descriptive–interpretive method, this report presents three main findings. Firstly, Taiwan’s recruitment of international students has shifted from an East Asian focus to a Southeast Asia-oriented structure, largely due to significant increases in students from Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries included in the New Southbound Policy. Secondly, opportunities for regulated post-study employment have grown considerably; however, changes in the nationalities of work-permit holders have not kept pace with shifts in student enrollment. Malaysia continues to be the largest group by nationality, but Vietnam and Indonesia are making up a greater portion of recent growth, resulting in a multi-pillar composition. Thirdly, job outcomes after graduation differ greatly depending on nationality. Even with consistent regulations, foreign graduates find themselves unevenly distributed across various industries, suggesting a segmented system of post-study employment.