▎PEOPLE

National Taiwan University (NTU) held its Opening Ceremony for the 2025–26 academic year on August 31, offering a lively program aimed to inspire incoming students with the boundless possibilities of being part of the NTU community. Exciting live performances were synced with a thoughtfully produced film showcasing the diverse achievements of NTU students and alumni.

Even before the official ceremony, incoming students had the chance to preview their NTU journey through the 18th Freshman College Program held in August. The program featured three signature events: the “Newbie Lecture Series” (academic and student life guidance), “Immersive NTU” (campus exploration activities), and the “Freshman Music Festival” (performances and arts marketplace). Blending tradition with innovation, these activities helped the new students adapt smoothly to their new environment while celebrating the university’s vibrant culture.

In his welcome address, NTU President Wen-Chang Chen drew lessons from his own experiences and those of many faculty members, offering four core principles for a successful university education: academic excellence, intellectual breadth, global perspective, and integration of theory and practice. He further stressed three essential pursuits: forming sincere friendships, building resilience to persevere, and nurturing the courage to pursue one’s dreams. He urged the new students to explore boldly, learn joyfully, and press forward with determination even in the face of obstacles and challenges.

President Chen highlighted the flexibility of NTU’s academic program, noting that the university offers 280 interdisciplinary modules to encourage students to pursue cross-disciplinary studies according to their interests. He also introduced the NTU Beyond Borders Program, which expands international learning opportunities through joint courses with overseas partner universities, online and short-term mobility programs, as well as internships and service-learning placements with international corporations and NGOs. These initiatives, he declared, are designed to broaden the students’ horizons, strengthen their cross-cultural communications, and enhance their global competitiveness.

A special highlight of the ceremony was the screening of the video, “One-Day Alumni,” featuring two well-known NTU alumni: author Wen-Yung Hou (Ph.D., Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, 1997) and performer Jung-Yong Jin (known as Kim Jingo) (B.A., International Student Program in Chinese Literature, 2014). The video shared their NTU experiences, offering heartfelt encouragement to the new students.

Student leaders, including NTU Student Association President Po-Cheng Chen, Graduate Student Association President Chih-Cheng Chuang, and student representative Hua-Chen Chang, also addressed the freshmen, urging them to believe in themselves, remain committed to their ideals, and embrace new challenges as they forge their own paths.

With the auditorium filled with excited, expectant new students, the ceremony served measures of energy and solemnity. It presented the spirit of NTU — dedication, diversity, and determination — while heralding the start of a new chapter in the lives of its newest members. For the Class of 2025, the ceremony marked the start of a new journey by igniting their passions and summoning their courage to shape their futures.