With restrictions now removed, this year marked the first large-scale graduation ceremony since 2019. At the NPUST International College, 105 students from 24 countries graduated this year. A ceremony was held with grandeur at the first floor of the International College, beginning at 1:30 pm on June 18, 2023. Several guests of honor, including the Ambassador David Adams Orrukem of the Republic of Palau, Ambassador Roudy Stanley Penn of the Republic of Haiti, Ambassador Robert Lewis of Saint Lucia, and Minister Elroy Wilson of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines addressed the graduating students at the event. Other distinguished guests were in attendance, including officials from the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center and Marshall Islands Embassy. Belize Ambassador Candice Pitts and Indonesian Economic and Trade Representative Mr. Iqbal Shoffan Shofwan, though unable to attend in person, recorded words of encouragement for the graduates, which were played at the ceremony.
In his speech, NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang said “it is a great honor to be here to congratulate you on the successful completion of your degrees at this special moment. Due to the impact of the epidemic, it has been three years since the last graduation ceremony has been held on location. Today, I am very happy to witness this joyous moment with all the graduating students here. When I was studying for a Ph.D. in Germany, I experienced the hardships of studying abroad and being away from home. I hope that after you leave Taiwan you will remember this beautiful school— as well as Taiwan’s cuisine, beautiful scenery, and strong humanistic feelings. Today is an important day and it marks the starting point of the next chapters of your life. I wish you the blessings of NPUST as you stride into new stages of your journey. With courage and determination, I believe you will realize your dreams. I wish a heartfelt congratulations to all of you who have graduated, and I wish you good luck, good health and happiness!”
Ambassador Roudy Stanley Penn of the Republic of Haiti said “it is a great honor to be able to participate in this graduation ceremony, and I would like to share some words of encouragement with the graduates here today. There are many difficulties in life, but the best rewards come through the process of overcoming challenges. I wish you all happiness and success.”
Ambassador Robert Lewis of Saint Lucia said “I am very happy to share this memorable moment with everyone. Graduation is not the end but a new beginning. It is time to take what you have learned and use it to contribute and change society. I believe that you are people who can make this world a better place.”
Ambassador David Adams Orrukem of the Republic of Palau said “today is a day worth celebrating. You have put a lot of effort into your studies and finally ushered in the arrival of graduation. I wish all the graduates smooth sailing on their future journeys.”
More than 70% of the students graduating from the International College are studying in Taiwan from abroad. The students represent 24 countries in total, including Palau, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Belize, the Philippines, Somaliland, Marshall Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Eswatini, Honduras, Brunei, and Nepal. The remaining 30% of students were locals. Embassies and representative offices of 6 countries sent ambassadors or representatives to attend the ceremony, highlighting the international characteristics of the graduation ceremony.
The graduation ceremony was hosted in Chinese and English by two current students at the International College. As there were such a large number of relatives and friends participating in this graduation ceremony, overflow rooms were set up with live broadcasts of everything that went on. Those who were unable to travel to Taiwan to participate in the event were also able to watch online. The ceremony included speeches by distinguished guests and the student representatives. Awards were presented to outstanding students and the professors turned the tassels for each student as they issued the diplomas. It was a very meaningful and distinctive graduation ceremony which is sure to leave the graduates of the International College at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology with memories that they will never forget.
