For many years, US universities have been the most important source of talent for Taiwanese businesses. A quick search of the island's listed companies reveals the large majority of their board members hold engineering or management degrees issued in schools from Boston to Berkeley.

But that is about to change. As the island's own postgraduate education system has greatly expanded over the past decade, more and more students are deciding to stay at home. An increasing number of foreigners are also finding Taipei an attractive place to go for an additional degree.