The 2018 Commencement Ceremony of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology was held on June 16. There were 4,536 graduates this year. The school especially planned to hold an outdoor ceremony on the large athletic field to allow all the teachers, students, guests, and parents gather together. President Ing-Wen Tsai and Vice President Jian-Ren Chen sent special congratulatory telegrams to encourage graduates to be engaged in innovation and cross-domain learning, gain multiple skills and training, deepen in them humanistic values of science and technology, and ultimately make themselves radiate with their courage and enthusiasm. With all these, they blessed all the graduates and hoped that they would achieve their dreams in life. President Deng-Maw Lu, Chairman Hsing-Hsiong Chang, Chairman Yao-De Wang of the National Alumni Association of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and all the other honorable guests hoped that students would strive for great goals and ideals, become optimistic and assiduous, and make great contribution to the society. The ceremony was based on the theme of “fearlessness.” With all the representatives and outstanding graduates of various departments carrying their department flags in the ceremony, the graduation parade was held to symbolize that the graduates would make progress year after year, marching forward on a journey to success, contentment, feedback and reward.

【Chairman Hsing-Hshiong Chang of Southern Taiwan University was delivering a speech.】

In recent years, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has witnessed a flourishing development. There have also been significant advances in hardware and software facilities. The completion of the majestic Pang-Po Building symbolizes the inter-school integration of industry-academia links and the promotion of regional industry development. Inter-School Alliance Industrial Technology and Practical Training Building will be completed in April this year. The construction of Technology and Research and Development Center for Industry-Academy Cooperation in Senior Service will be completed in the near future, in line with the government's long-term promotion policy. In addition, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has achieved initial results in teaching innovation based on the “Teaching Excellence Program” and “Developing Exemplary Technology University Project” by the Ministry of Education, with outstanding performances in various domestic and overseas competitions. With the aid of Higher Education Sprout Project, effectiveness and future development of students' learning will be something great to look forward to.

【President Deng-Maw Lu of South Taiwan University of Science and Technology was delivering a speech.】

Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, with its good performance in higher education, has become one of the top universities in Taiwan with all the national universities. The graduates this year have already had many outstanding performances. Chi Li, a graduate of the Department of Electronic Engineering, won the 2018 Excellent Engineering Student Scholarship sponsored by Chinese Engineering Society this year. Pei-Shan Li, a graduate of the Department of Business Management, and Jan-Lun Chen, a graduate of the Department of Finance, have both obtained 13 certificates. Pei-Shan Li has been awarded the Certificate of Merit by Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. She is currently referred by the school job center to Yongyong Company in Vietnam for a two-month internship before she stays in the company for employment. She encouraged the undergraduates to obtain certificates that can prove their skills of paperwork processing, as well as a license that can highlight the characteristics of their ability. Jan-Lun Chen said that after graduation he would first go to the United States for a part-time working tour to increase his knowledge before he returns to Taiwan to serve his military obligation. He plans to go to the financial industry for his career development. He encourages the undergraduates to strengthen their knowledge during their studies and contribute to the society after graduation with what they have learned at STUST.

【The Graduation Parade into the 2018 Commencement Ceremony of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology】

In addition, many graduates of the hospitality and tourism industry have already been recruited by major national food and beverage industry operators before their graduation to obtain job opportunities. Graduating student Ying-Zu Chen won the Bronze Medal of the 2018 FHA Culinary Art Challenge and many other awards at the 2018 Singapore International Gourmet Culinary Arts Competition. He has been hired as a formal employee in the pastry shop at the five-star Tainan Jingying Hotel. Chi-Chen Li won 6 awards during the school year and, including the Baking Group Gold Medal of the 2016 Artisan Festival Korean International Skilled Person Cooking Competition. He is currently working in Crowne Plaza Hotel Tainan, a famous international brand. Zhi-Ching Chao, who won the first prize in the 46th National Skills Contest Southern Divisional Skills Contest and the 2016 Wild Cup Baking Contest, has also been hired by the five-star Sheraton Hotel in Hsinchu.

【The Graduation Parade into the 2018 Commencement Ceremony of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology】

The digital design institute has won a great deal of success in the graduation project this year. It won 8 gold medals in various annual important exhibition competitions, such as the New Generation Design Exhibition, Youth Design Festival, The Grand View Award, the A+ Creative Season, and the New Generation Design Exhibition. As a result, it collected 4 Silvers, 3 Coppers, 1 Best Choice, 6 Special Awards, 4 New Awards, 2 excellence awards, and 28 other awards, including the Best School Award of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, and A+ Creative for the second year. They outdistanced other students across the country in several competitions, showing their teamwork and ability as digital design students. During a recent exhibition, President Ing-Wen Tsai even visited the students' exhibition booth, experienced the students' creative work, and gave them great encouragement and appreciation.

【President Deng-Maw Lu (left) Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and an Awarded Foreign Student (right)】

Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has always been committed to international exchanges. This year, there are 62 foreign graduates from 11 countries, including an Indonesian couple studying at a doctoral program in the Department of Electronic Engineering (Yong-Chen An and his wife Li-Yun An). Sponsored by their government’s DIKTI scholarship, they came to study Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. They were the first foreign student couple of the school to give birth to a child in Taiwan. Li-Yun An had once lost her first baby due to cervical insufficiency; this time she gave birth to a healthy baby, thanks to praying power of the Southern Taiwan Presbyterian Church. Last year, the former Mayor Ching-De Lai led a talent exchange delegation from 12 colleges and universities in Tainan City University to Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, in line with the government's new southward policy. At that time, the couple starred in the promotion video in Indonesian language. The students in the film talk about the culture of Tainan and the strong human touch of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, attracting more foreign students to study in Tainan.

【President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology presented various awards to outstanding students.】

In order to welcome the graduation season, Southern Taiwan University Science and Technology College held a “Grand Party on Light off” graduation concert. With all its brilliant performances and dazzling lighting effects, the concert brings unforgettable memories to all the graduates. In addition, the Student Graduation Association established large-scale installation art throughout the year. This year, the theme of “bus stop” was used as the theme, symbolizing the “past”, “now” and “future”. The “past” was represented by a chair, signifying the time of their entry to STUST alone. "Now" was represented by two benches back to back, indicating that friends have been found. "Future" was represented by five scattered chairs, meaning that university friends should be scattered around while their hearts are still connected with each other. The creative ideas have become a popular attraction on campus. The 2018th Commencement Ceremony continued until 7:00 pm and a total of over 7,000 people attended the ceremony. Led by their children, parents visited the beautiful campus and collected precious memories about university life before the theme installation art.

【Jan-Lun Chen of the Department of Finance and Pang-Po Building】

【Chi Li of the Department of Electronic Engineering and Pang-Po Building】

Dr. Hsin-Hsiong Chang, Chairman of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, said in his speech that “graduation is the beginning of learning,” “success comes from experience of failure,” and “Men are able to endure” to encourage graduates. He also quoted from the lecture for graduates that Apple CEO Tim Cook made at the prestigious Duke University, asking the graduates to be "never satisfied" and "fearless in collision with the world," encouraging them to move forward, and expect them to shine upon all areas of the society and soar like an eagle.

【International Students of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (from left to right): Chun-Shou Zuan, Li-Yun Ann, Mei-Yan Lin, Yong-Chen An, Wei-Jie Lin (first on the right)】

【Graduating students of the Department of Hospitality and Journalism, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (from left to right) Zhi-Ching Chao, Chi-Chen Li, and Yin-Zu Chen)】

President Deng-Maw Lu said in his speech that the SUTST has undergone challenges and growth in all phases ever since it was founded 49 years ago. Today its performance has been broadly recognized and praised by the Ministry of Education and all walks of life. For example, this year the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Sprout Program for the first time granted privately-owned STUST the highest fund (NT$ 172.76 million) and subsidy (NT$ 118 million). According to Cheers Magazine, STUST was the first private university to have been the only private university student listed among the top 20 universities for the first time in four consecutive years. These subsidies will be devoted to improving the software and hardware of teaching, so that students can get a better learning environment. After graduation, the graduates are expected to take pride in their alma mater. They will encourage graduates with "One Day at STUST means a Lifetime with STUST." The graduates will remember the school motto "Be Faithful, Righteous, and honest," taking it as a guideline for them to live in the world.

【Cheerleading Team and their seniors at the Commencement Ceremony, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology】