The first half of the welcoming ceremony featured presentations from sophomore students in the Purdue Dual Degree program, showcasing their English learning results "Walk the Talk 2024." Students exhibited works such as "news covers," "magazine columns," and "sustainability action posters." Through creating these pieces, students enhanced their English writing skills and critical thinking on current events. The "sustainability action posters" reflected students’ observations and concerns about their living environments, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The "NCKU Talks," modeled after TED Talks, trained students to effectively communicate their ideas and experiences within a limited timeframe, fostering both language skills and global awareness.
In the second half of the event, Vice President Chen shared the deep collaborative history between NCKU and Purdue University over the past 70 years, highlighting the excellent performance of the first cohort of Purdue Dual Degree students. He encouraged new students with five key expectations: to develop leadership and problem-solving skills, lifelong learning abilities, commitment to their work, a spirit of moral excellence, and a sense of social responsibility. He also conveyed President Meng-Ru Shen’s expectations for new students, emphasizing "Teamwork," "Compassion," and "Resilience." Dean S. Felix Wu from the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science shared his experiences living in the United States for 37 years, encouraging students to maintain a positive mindset, reflect on their learning, and face challenges bravely.
Director Sun-Yuan Hsieh from the Office of International Affairs introduced the structure and curriculum planning of the Purdue Dual Degree program, detailing that during their first three years at NCKU, students will take at least one course taught by Purdue faculty each year, participate in a summer intensive program in the U.S., and enroll in online courses from Purdue. In their fourth year, students will attend Purdue University and prepare for graduate school applications. Students admitted to Purdue’s graduate programs can earn both a bachelor’s degree from NCKU and a master’s degree from Purdue in as little as five years, following a structured 3+1+1 system.
Purdue professors also congratulated and welcomed the new students through an online meeting, including Prof. Marisol Koslowski, Associate Dean of the College of Engineering; Prof. Eckhard Groll, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; Prof. Milind Kulkarni, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Prof. William Crossley, Chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering; and outstanding NCKU alumnus Prof. Shi Yiping from Purdue’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. They expressed their unwavering support and gratitude for the backing from NCKU’s faculty and parents. Additionally, Dr. Jun-Cheng Liu, founder and chairman of Kneron, shared his nearly 20 years of study and entrepreneurial experiences in the U.S., inviting new students to embrace their identities as NCKU family members.
Attendees included Deputy Director Yueh-Heng Li from the Office of Academic Affairs, Deputy Director Yu-Ting Wu from the Office of Student Affairs, Deputy Chair Chin-Lung Yang from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Director Shyh-Hau Wang and Deputy Chair Yeim-Kuan Chang from the Department of Computer Science, Director Chien-Sheng Liu and Deputy Chair Chih-Hsing Liu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Chia-Hung Hung from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Shu-Ying Wang, Head of the International Education Section. The welcoming ceremony concluded in a joyful atmosphere, providing first-year students with greater insights into their future at NCKU and further educational opportunities.
Purdue University is a renowned public research university in the U.S., especially noted for its strengths in agriculture, science, and engineering, and its College of Engineering is considered one of the top engineering schools globally, often referred to as the "cradle of astronauts." NCKU and Purdue began their 14-year international research collaboration in 1952, cultivating countless outstanding talents for Taiwan’s industry and marking an important milestone in NCKU's evolution into a top-tier university. The new cohort of Purdue Dual Degree students at NCKU for the 113th academic year includes 12 students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, 8 from the Department of Electrical Engineering, and 8 from the Department of Computer Science, totaling 28 undergraduate students. With a comprehensive curriculum and high-quality educational resources from both Taiwan and the U.S., this program offers an innovative and diverse educational choice for outstanding high school graduates in Taiwan.
The freshman welcome ceremony incorporated the "Walk the Talk 2024," showcasing the English learning results of second-year students in the Purdue dual degree program.
At the freshmen welcome ceremony, works from English courses were displayed, including "news covers," "magazine columns," and "sustainable action posters."
"Walk the Talk 2024" and Group Photo of NCKU Faculty and Students at the Welcome Ceremony for the 117th Cohort of Purdue Dual Degree Students.
Director of International Affairs Sun-Yuan Hsieh introduced the structure and curriculum planning of the Purdue dual degree program.
Vice President Hong-Chen Chen shared the history between NCKU and Purdue University, instilling confidence in the parents and encouraging the new students in the Purdue dual degree program.
Professors from Purdue University and industry guests warmly welcomed the new students.
The Departments of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering at NCKU jointly welcomed new students alongside Purdue University faculty.