President Meng-Ru Shen Attends the Northern California NCKU Alumni Association Annual Meeting to Celebrate the 49th Anniversary
Written by Amy Lin. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
Following his attendance at the Greater New York NCKU Alumni Association Annual Meeting on October 19, President Meng-Ru Shen traveled directly to the U.S. West Coast the next day on October 20 (U.S. time). Under the warm invitation of Alumni Association President Bing-Hua Cheng (Electrical Engineering, Class of 2001) and Chairperson Chin Chang (Business Administration, Class of 1973), President Shen joined over 140 alumni at the Annual Meeting of the NCKU Alumni Association of Northern California to celebrate its 49th anniversary.
President Meng-Ru Shen Attends the NCKU Alumni Association of Northern California “Evening of the Phoenix Flower” to Celebrate its 49th Anniversary.
Director General Ming-Chi Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco was the first to deliver a speech. He noted the long-standing relationship between the Office and the NCKU Alumni Association, highlighting that many NCKU alumni had contributed to the office’s recent relocation. Both professionally and personally, he felt it was important to attend the “Evening of the Phoenix Flower” celebration. Director Lai emphasized that NCKU alumni not only have considerable influence in Taiwan but are also prominent figures in overseas community activities. He expressed confidence that NCKU will continue to expand its impact both in Taiwan and internationally. Director Ya-Shu Chuang of the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco (Milpitas) also gave a speech, expressing her appreciation for the unwavering support NCKU alumni have offered to overseas community affairs over the years.
Director General Ming-Chi Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco Attends as an Honored Guest and Delivers a Speech.
During his speech at the alumni banquet, President Shen stated that NCKU’s most valuable asset is its 220,000 alumni. Founded in 1931, NCKU is now 93 years old. The university’s first Japanese president, Wakatsuki Michitaka, set important aspirations for the school, emphasizing not only the university’s social engagement but also wishing students to have “a cool head, broad perspective, and practical capabilities”—a remarkably far-sighted vision. Observing the characteristics of current NCKU students, President Shen identified three key traits: Teamwork, Compassion, and Resilience. He noted that NCKU students are not only outstanding but also humble and understanding, making them excellent collaborators with strong empathy and the resilience to tackle challenges—qualities that represent the distinctive DNA of NCKU alumni.
In current global university rankings, NCKU ranks around 200th among approximately 3,000 institutions, with some individual categories placing NCKU in the global top 50. In terms of social impact—considered the most crucial university metric—NCKU ranks first in Taiwan and 25th globally in the University Impact Rankings. In recent years, NCKU has topped various evaluations in Taiwan, including the president’s administrative performance, global brand influence, and employer perception of graduates. The university also boasts one of Taiwan’s leading medical systems. Surveys show that 90% of Tainan residents take pride in NCKU, and as Tainan transforms from a cultural capital into a digital city, NCKU plays a vital role as an academic engine. This underscores NCKU’s undisputed importance from Tainan to the entire Taiwan.
Wei-Cheng Lo, Secretary General and Alumni Association Center Director, Provides an Update on the University’s Recent Developments.
Wei-Cheng Lo, NCKU’s Secretary General and Alumni Association Center Director, then provided updates on the university. He noted that NCKU has approximately 34 alumni associations holding regular annual events. In his first year as president, President Shen has visited one-third of these associations, with Northern California being the only one visited twice. Currently, NCKU spans over 200 hectares across 11 campuses, with the Shalun campus in planning. The university comprises 105 departments and academic units, over 1,300 faculty members, and more than 23,000 students, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. As NCKU approaches its centennial, alumni support has become increasingly vital to its development. Director Lo especially welcomed alumni to visit during the November anniversary celebrations.
Founded in 1975, the NCKU Alumni Association of Northern California was the first North American alumni association visited by President Shen after taking office. One of its notable traditions is the “Chen-Chung Yeh Scholarship,” named after alumnus Chen-Chung Yeh (Mechanical Engineering, Class of 1964). This scholarship, funded by donations from Northern California NCKU alumni, supports outstanding College of Engineering students who excel in moral character, academics, physical education, and social engagement.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2024-11-01
