▎PEOPLE

National Taiwan University (NTU) marked its 97th anniversary on November 15 with a celebratory ceremony held at the NTU Sports Center. Presided over by President Wen-Chang Chen, the event welcomed former presidents, alumni from around the world, and distinguished guests. A highlight of the ceremony was the conferral of an honorary doctorate upon Mr. Raymond Soong, Founder of Lite-On Technology Corporation and Chairman of the Lite-On Group, in recognition of his exceptional achievements and longstanding contributions. The university also honored eight Outstanding Alumni and presented the Student Social Contribution Special Award.

This year’s honorary doctorate recipient, Chairman Soong, is a pioneering figure in Taiwan’s optoelectronics industry. He has led the development of core optoelectronic components and essential electronic technologies, propelling global innovation across the sector. Beyond industry leadership, he is deeply committed to sustainability, public service, and education—supporting institutions across Taiwan and cultivating future talent. His career stands as a model of corporate leadership and social responsibility.

President Chen emphasized that NTU must embrace a renewed vision to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world—educating global citizens equipped with expertise, creativity, leadership, and a spirit of service. NTU’s recent efforts to promote diverse, internationally oriented learning pathways—such as 280 interdisciplinary modules, college-level bachelor and honors programs, and the NTU Beyond Borders initiative—earned the university the THE Awards Asia prize for Outstanding Support for Students. NTU’s “C³ Lab Future Talent Empowerment Program” was also shortlisted for the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards in the “Developing Emerging Skills & Competencies” category, demonstrating NTU’s forward-looking approach to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

To strengthen its global partnerships, NTU has accelerated collaboration with Nobel laureates and world-leading scholars through the launch of the Taiwan Bridges Program and the establishment of the Taiwan Higher Education and Nobel Laureates Association. Recent milestones include the creation of the Max Planck–IAS–NTU Center with Germany’s Max Planck Society and the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, as well as the France–Taiwan Quantum Science Center with Université Paris-Saclay and Université Grenoble Alpes. These initiatives underscore NTU’s commitment to expanding its global research impact.

This year, NTU expanded the Student Social Devotion Special Award to honor four student recipients who exemplify social responsibility and reflect the university’s founding motto, “Integrity, Diligence, Patriotism, and Philanthropy.”

Representing the student awardees, Pharmacy major Hui-Chu Hou reflected on how witnessing disaster relief efforts in her rural hometown first inspired her commitment to serving communities. At NTU, she has been deeply engaged in public health and social service. “The essence of medicine and public health is understanding and connection,” she shared, reaffirming her dedication to promoting health equity on clinical, societal, and global fronts.

Across campus, NTU departments and student organizations also hosted a wide array of celebratory activities—including student showcases, arts and cultural performances, and campus tours—welcoming alumni, faculty, staff, and guests to join in commemorating the university’s 97 years of excellence.