National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony at 9:30 AM on June 13th at the Shu-Yun Hall. This year, a total of 2,503 students successfully completed their courses of study at 39 departments and 7 colleges, including the College of Agriculture, the College of Engineering, the College of Management, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the International College, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Professional Studies. The graduating cohort comprised 35 Ph.D. students and 405 Master’s students from the Day Division, 1,708 students from the four-year Bachelor’s program, alongside 96 students from the Continuing Education Master’s Program and 259 students from the four-year Continuing Education Bachelor’s program. Additionally, 126 Senior Citizens’ University participants completed their studies and graduated from their programs. During the ceremony, NPUST President Chin-Lung Chang performed the turning-of-the-tassel ceremony, conferred degrees upon graduate representatives, and presented completion certificates to the Senior Citizens’ University participants. Outstanding students were also recognized for “Academic Excellence,” “Exceptional Conduct,” “Research Achievements,” and “Athletic Excellence.”
In his address to the graduates, President Chin-Lung Chang stated that university is not only a phase for learning and accumulating professional knowledge and skills, but also a vital journey for cultivating autonomous learning, problem-solving, and the ability to embrace challenges. In an era marked by the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technology, the future will not see AI replacing humans; rather, those who know how to utilize AI and continuously refine themselves will seize the first opportunities. President Chang also encouraged the graduates, reminding them that graduation is not the end of learning but the beginning of a new phase of life. He hoped that after stepping out of the school gates, they would face future challenges with pragmatism, innovation, and enthusiasm—translating what they have learned into practical value and aiming to give back to society. At the same time, he reminded the graduates to always be grateful to the families and teachers who accompanied and supported them along the way, moving forward bravely with gratitude in their hearts.
The NPUST administration also specially produced a 4-year university memory video as a surprise opening before the commencement ceremony. In addition to showcasing highlights of campus life and group photos of various departments and classes, President Chin-Lung Chang, Director Ke-Hau Chen of the Extracurricular Activities Assistance Section, and professors from the seven colleges made lighthearted and humorous appearances in the video, bringing smiles to the faces of all the graduates present.
The ceremony also invited Pao-Ling Chang, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of 104 Job Bank Group, as a celebrity guest speaker. Sharing her personal journey from being a “candle lighter” (at a temple) to “lighting up many people,” she encouraged the young graduates as they prepared to step into the workplace. During her speech, she addressed how “work and job hunting” rank highest as sources of anxiety for today’s hyper-connected youth. She recommended that graduates set aside time every day free from social media distractions to focus on accumulating personal capabilities. When feeling frustrated or lost, they should listen to the support and advice offered by family and friends. Grounding her advice in the NPUST school motto, “Benevolence and Pragmatism,” she urged them to possess a mindset that cares for others and cherishes all things. She also encouraged the graduates to strike out bravely and become the kind of young adults they like, using the quote: “You may not be outstanding, but you are definitely unique.”
The student commencement speech for this cohort was delivered by representative Yi-Fei Wu, a Master’s student from the NPUST Department of Food Science. Overcoming severe family hardships to become an “angel of adversity,” Wu was awarded the “2023 Presidential Education Award.” Deeply touched by the kindness of a stranger during her childhood, she set a firm goal to become a food science teacher in the future and to pass down this love and knowledge. During her graduate studies, she concurrently completed the Teacher Education Program and obtained various professional certifications. She has consistently achieved excellent results in domestic and international competitions, winning gold medals at the “2024 Singapore Culinary Challenge,” the “2025 Japan International Asia Culinary Challenge,” and the “2026 Korea World Food Olympiad.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, representatives from the NPUST Guitar Club sang on behalf of the current student body to bid farewell to the graduates. They expressed blessings to their seniors through melodious songs and notes, leading all graduates in singing the school anthem while looking back on their fondest memories at NPUST. Finally, all the graduates threw their mortarboards into the air, drawing a perfect conclusion to this commencement ceremony and their academic journey at NPUST as they collectively begin to embark on the next journey of their lives.
