Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony: NCKU Sends off Graduates Embodying Teamwork, Compassion, and Resilience
Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
National Cheng Kung University held the commencement ceremony for the class of 2024 on June 1. Family and friends, as well as teachers, gathered at Chung Cheng Gym on the Kuang-Fu Campus to witness these accomplished young people embarking on a new chapter in their lives. The theme of this year’s commencement ceremony, “To Be___”, aims to encourage the graduates to freely depict the future they wish to achieve, and to soar without limiting themselves to specific roles or dreams.
Family and friends, as well as teachers, gathered at Chung Cheng Gym on the Kuang-Fu Campus to witness the Class of 2024 embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
The graduating class of 2024 is estimated to be around 5,868 students, including 2520 Bachelor’s students, 3152 Master’s students, and 196 PhD students. Among them, 3 graduates are the very first ones of the International Master’s Program in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies, which is conducted entirely in English and aims to cultivate leadership talent to address global issues in environment, society, and economy. In addition, the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing, which is highly regarded in the semiconductor industry, is sending off 65 Master’s graduates, including 2 from India. NCKU President Dr. Meng-Ru Shen and the deans of each college turned the tassels and conferred the diplomas to the representatives of the graduates from each department.
Many international students waving their national flags to celebrate their graduation.
Of the 5868 graduating students, there are 510 overseas students, consisting of 196 bachelor’s, 230 master’s, and 84 doctorate degrees. Among them, the allied countries Saint Lucia and Tuvalu each have 3 and 1 graduates, respectively. Saint Lucia’s Ambassador H. E. Ambassador Dr. Robert Lewis, Second Secretary Ms. Rovin Fevrier, and Tuvalu’s Acting Ambassador Silasaga O'Brien attended the ceremony to congratulate them.
Many foreign students, cherishing their time studying in Taiwan, have draped the Republic of China national flag and the sashes of their own countries over their graduation gowns. Some even brought their national flags for photos, adding a lively and international flair to the ceremony, completing this important milestone in a unique way.
President Dr. Meng-Ru Shen shaking hands with graduates to congratulate them.
NCKU President Dr. Meng-Ru Shen emphasized in his speech that no one can achieve significant accomplishments solely by their own efforts. He urged the graduates to always maintain a sense of gratitude and to thank the teachers and friends who have helped them reach this important moment. He encouraged spreading this warmth and positive energy from the school to society.
President Dr. Meng-Ru Shen shaking hands with graduates to congratulate them.
President Dr. Meng-Ru Shen restated the two visions for the school set by the first President, Mr. Wakatsuki Michitaka: one was to participate in social development, and the other was to cultivate students with qualities of a cool mind, broad heart, and nimble hands. For over 90 years, NCKU has stayed true to this educational philosophy. Today, the university ranks highly in many evaluations, and its graduates are recognized for three key qualities: teamwork, compassion, and resilience. President Shen pointed out that it is because the NCKU graduates do not put themselves on a pedestal, that they understand the value of staying humble. This humility makes them willing to cooperate with others, to empathize with and understand others. He sincerely hopes that everyone will carry these qualities and create opportunities to help others, making the world a better place.
Erix Yu, Vice President of Applied Materials, urged the graduates to “be someone who can bring energy to others.”
For this commencement ceremony, Mr. Erix Yu, Vice President of Applied Materials Inc. and President of Applied Materials Taiwan, was invited as the keynote speaker. He encouraged the graduates to never believe in simply “being yourself,” but to strive to be a “better version of yourself.” He advised them not to let their past define their future and reminded them, “Don’t just be a person with energy, but be someone who can bring energy to others.” The world will not be as perfect as imagination; some people choose to give up, while others choose to persevere. This choice will define “your” story, Mr. Yu said.
Mr. Erix Yu revealed that after graduation, he spent some time working as an engineer in a cleanroom suit at Hsinchu Science Park. However, he questioned if he was destined to spend his life in a cleanroom suit. After much contemplation, he decided to change his career path, transitioning into the field of technical material sales and establishing himself as a professional salesperson. To achieve this, he attended university classes in the evenings to stay updated with the latest knowledge. Working in a foreign company, he continually improved his English skills. Through these efforts, his career steadily advanced. Now, in the era of Artificial Intelligence, college graduates are facing new business models brought about by the AI wave and the high demand for semiconductors. He believes that more exciting and surprising journeys await everyone.
Erix Yu received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1988 from NCKU Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and in 1990 acquired his Master’s Degree from NCKU Institute of Materials Science and Engineering. He was recognized by the NCKU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014. He began his career at Applied Materials Taiwan in 1993, and was promoted to assume significant managerial responsibilities for his outstanding performance.
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First three graduates from the International Master’s Program in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies. From the left: Thiti, Nadiah, Sam.
The three graduates from the International Master’s Program in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies are Nadiah from Indonesia, Thiti from Thailand, and Sam from Vietnam. All three are positive about the program offering them interdisciplinary learning across departments and helping them grasp systematic thinking and principles of sustainability.
Nadiah said that before coming to Taiwan, she looked forward to understanding sustainable methods for addressing air pollution. The program helped her realize that besides relying on technology, addressing air pollution can also be achieved through social approaches such as exploring public transportation usage behaviors. Thiti, who is engaged in disaster management research, stated that Taiwan’s latest curriculum focuses on sustainable development trends, and Thailand is just in its early stages. Thiti plans to return to Thailand after graduation to further expand her career opportunities. Sam pointed out that she chose the interdisciplinary sustainability program because she wanted to explore knowledge beyond her field of study. This opened up research topics for her to explore the sustainability of indigenous cultures, and also helped her develop a secondary expertise.
NCKU was the first in the nation to establish the Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing. The Academy sent off its first graduates last year, and this year, sends off a total of 65 professionally trained graduates with comprehensive skills needed in the semiconductor industry. This includes 2 students from India. Among them, Dinesh Kumar revealed his aspiration to join Taiwan’s semiconductor industry after graduation.
Hsin-Mei Wen, graduating from the Department of Physiology, said that life of a Master’s student was colorful despite its ups and downs.
Kris Haamer from Estonia cheered, “Yay! We graduated!” as soon as he stepped on stage.
Pei-Wen Lin, graduating from the Institute of Information Management, said that she found at NCKU gifts of a lifetime: perseverance, courage, and friendship.
Hsin-Mei Wen, graduating from the Department of Physiology at the College of Medicine, said that although the life of a Master’s student was full of ups and downs, it was colorful. She was grateful for the pressure that forced her to discover and recognize her talents, which she aspires to use to make changes in the world. Graduating from the Institute of Creative Industries Design, Kris Haamer from Estonia cheered, “Yay! We graduated!” as soon as he stepped on stage. At NCKU, he learned various topics that opened his mind including programming, filmmaking, interactive design, management, engineering, psychology, and AI. He said Estonia and Taiwan are both small countries, and cooperation is essential. NCKU taught him to help and understand each other, and he firmly believes that the learning experiences at NCKU will guide everyone forward. Pei-Wen Lin, graduating from the Institute of Information Management, emotionally said that she found gifts at NCKU that will accompany her for a lifetime: perseverance, courage, and friendship. She faced numerous pressures and setbacks that made her consider leaving school, but sometimes, success is very close, just a bit more perseverance away. She thanked her professors for helping her to graduate on time.
At the commencement ceremony, the graduates joyfully welcomed the new beginning of their lives.
With the graduates’ speeches of gratitude and reflections, the atmosphere of the commencement ceremony was filled with appreciation, joy, and a touch of bittersweet farewell. Each graduate's heart was brimming with the best wishes and encouragement from their teachers, family, and friends. Amidst cheers, they threw paper airplanes into the air, symbolizing their readiness to soar into the future. This marked a perfect ending for the commencement ceremony of Class 2024.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2024-06-14
