On August 30, Taiwan Tech held its freshman orientation event. For the 113th academic year, the university welcomed 1,509 new students, including those from vocational and general high schools. Currently, Taiwan Tech has 1,180 international students, accounting for about 10% of the entire school. Taiwan Tech has created an internationally-oriented campus environment, allowing students to experience diverse perspectives and learning opportunities without leaving the country.

In his speech, President Jia-Yush Yen emphasized that Taiwan Tech is a leader in vocational and technical education. He noted that faculty members hold themselves to top university standards and will also strictly require academic training for students. He expressed hope that the freshmen will have a fulfilling four years at the university.

In his speech, President Jia-Yush Yen highlighted that Taiwan Tech is a leader in vocational and technical education. He mentioned that faculty members hold themselves to the highest university standards and will demand rigorous academic training from students, hoping that freshmen will have a rewarding four years. Moreover, Taiwan Tech has a considerable number of international students. President Yen also encouraged students to interact more with international peers, as improving communication skills and language abilities can provide valuable benefits after graduation. Additionally, he presented the new students with stainless steel eco-friendly chopsticks to promote the reduction of disposable utensils and encourage a sustainable mindset, emphasizing the importance of cherishing and protecting Earth’s resources.

President Jia-Yush Yen also presented the new students with stainless steel eco-friendly chopsticks, encouraging them to reduce the use of disposable utensils in their daily lives and to adopt a sustainable mindset, cherishing and protecting Earth’s resources.

As AI has become an integral part of daily life, various departments at Taiwan Tech have already offered courses related to this field, such as “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence”, “Data Analysis in Applied Linguistics”, and “Design and Implementation of Multimedia Interactive Systems”. This year, new courses have been added, including “Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things”, “Generative AI in Natural Language Processing” and “Artificial Intelligence and Translation” to meet the growing demand for AI-related education among Taiwan Tech students.

Freshman students attentively listen during the orientation session.

Lisa, a freshman in the Department of Architecture who entered through the vocational and technical school, shared her experiences. Due to financial difficulties, she took a break from high school to work at a construction site. Seeing the Tainan Wei-Guan Golden Dragon Building collapse on the news, which devastated many families, she felt that “architecture should not be like this”. She explained, “Architecture carries the dreams of many families; people work their entire lives just to have a home”, which solidified her decision to pursue a career in architecture.

Lisa, a freshman in the Department of Architecture who entered through the vocational star admission pathway, shared her reflections on starting college.

She reflected on how her path differed from her peers, noting that she took a long detour before returning to education. Her first job involved working at a gas station, handling fuel and car washes, and she initially thought she might spend her life doing that, as a salary of 25,000 NTD seemed sufficient. However, seeing her mother suffer from health issues due to irregular work hours made Lisa want to change.

Lisa recalled how the journey to return to school was challenging. “Every time I thought about going back to study, reality would hit me. Renting a place, buying food, and paying for school fees all required money”. She feared failure, questioning whether it was worth investing time if she ended up achieving nothing. It was only through the encouragement and support of family and friends that she found the courage to move forward.

Lisa believes that “when you truly desire something, the entire universe will conspire to help you achieve it”. After returning to school, her life is now filled with work and studies. While working hard, she has received much help, and she hopes to one day give back to society. “The support I've received is the most special “social lesson” in my life.”

On August 30, Taiwan Tech held its freshman orientation event, welcoming 1,509 new students for the 113th academic year.