【94th Anniversary】 Anniversary Themed Book Fair Series: “The Failed Laboratory” – Exploring the Multiple Meanings of Failure-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

In celebration of National Cheng Kung University’s (NCKU) 94th anniversary, the NCKU Library is presenting the themed book fair series “The Failed Laboratory” from October 27, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Co-organized by the Main Library, the Starry Sky Maker Lab student team, and the Counseling and Psychological Services Division of the Office of Student Affairs, the series invites students to reflect on the meaning of failure, challenge conventional perceptions of “failure,” and foster mutual acceptance and understanding. The exhibition is located in the LibRE area on the first floor of the Main Library at NCKU’s Cheng Kung Campus. The series includes one keynote lecture, two workshops, and six curated film screenings. [Event website link]

In mainstream society, success is often regarded as the sole standard of value, leaving little room for understanding or acceptance of failure. This pressure leads many to conceal their vulnerabilities and failures, resulting in feelings of isolation and helplessness when facing setbacks. At NCKU, students are highly capable, but peer comparisons can create a relative sense of failure, negatively affecting their mental and emotional well-being. Yet failure is not the end of the road—it is an essential part of personal growth.

NCKU places strong emphasis on the mental health, psychological well-being, and counseling support of its faculty, staff, and students, and is a pioneer in implementing “mental health days” on campus. NCKU Vice President Yong-Chun Li (李永春) encourages students to approach failure with love and kindness, avoid excessive self-criticism, and cultivate the ability to view events from a broader perspective. Vice President Li reminds students that frustration over failure often stems from focusing too narrowly on a single event; by adopting a wider, long-term perspective, one can gain clarity and insight.

Extending this concept, Library Director Tzu-Fang Fu (傅子芳) emphasized that broadening perspective not only involves time and space but also a shift in mindset. People often define success and failure according to others’ standards, but students can gain new insights by stepping outside personal viewpoints and considering the connections between individuals, teams, institutions, nations, and events. The book fair aims to guide students in reshaping their perceptions of failure, reinterpreting setbacks, affirming their own value, and viewing experiences of failure with compassion and positivity.

Guided by the philosophy that “the library is the heart of the university,” NCKU Library recognizes that reading can lead to deep self-exploration and foster the ability to face and understand failure. The “Failed Laboratory” series provides students with a safe space to confront setbacks, appreciate the value of failure, and draw lessons from these experiences. The exhibition explores the relationship between failure and mental health, helping students understand emotions, resilience, and related psychological concepts through reading and reflection.

Now in its third year of collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, the Library’s initiative is supported by Student Affairs Director Liang-Yi Hong (洪良宜), who highlighted the importance of gratitude when facing challenges. Director Hong shared his experience running marathons, emphasizing that although preparation and the process can be exhausting, the sense of accomplishment afterwards is deeply rewarding. He noted that some joys can only be fully appreciated after experiencing setbacks or reflecting on past experiences.

Counseling psychologists Zhu-Xian Zhang (張祝賢) and Yan-Ling Chen (陳姸伶) of the Counseling and Psychological Services Division emphasized that modern society rarely provides opportunities to discuss failure. This book fair aims to create a space for students to freely share and discuss their failures, offering emotional support, validating vulnerability, and inspiring courage to face future setbacks.

The NCKU student team, Starry Sky Maker Lab, initiated in the first semester of the 113th academic year, partnered with the Counseling Division to organize a series of failure-themed activities. The “Failed Laboratory” main exhibition is divided into four zones: Opening the Door to Explore Failure, Observing the Self, Observing Others, and Looking to the Future. The entrance features a playful testing area that categorizes fears of failure into five types, each represented by a small character, helping students gain self-awareness in an engaging way. The Looking to the Future zone includes a “Starry Sky Post” section with pens and paper, inviting students to write their thoughts on failure and post them for reflection.

This rich series of activities invites all students, faculty, and readers to participate, explore the meaning of failure, and discover new ways of learning from setbacks.