2026.09.01
Star-shaped paper confetti symbolizes freshmen from different places coming together at NTHU during the orientation opening ceremony on September 1.
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan welcomed 2,380 new undergraduate students this year with an orientation program themed "Future with You." Through a series of activities centered on self-discovery, campus exploration and NTHU's history and culture, the program encourages freshmen to get to know themselves, connect with their new surroundings, and begin imagining the possibilities of their university journey.
The University held its freshman orientation on September 1, which featured a launch event inspired by the "Future with You" theme. After NTHU President W. John Kao (高為元) pressed the launch button, a shower of star-shaped paper confetti fell from the ceiling, symbolizing students from different backgrounds coming together at Tsing Hua like stars converging in the night sky.
President Kao encouraged the freshmen to embrace the many opportunities and choices they will encounter at university while finding a balance that suits them. He described NTHU as a diverse campus where students are encouraged to explore freely and pursue their own paths. "You define your own success," he told the new students. President Kao also emphasized that NTHU will continue to foster a trustworthy environment where students can feel secure as they explore their futures.
This year's orientation program featured three major series of activities: "The First Exploration Class for Freshmen," "NTHU Is Everyone's Classroom," and "Dear NTHU, Let's Explore Together." The three series approach university life from different perspectives — self-exploration, campus discovery, and history and culture—while incorporating interactive and experiential activities to help freshmen develop a broader vision of their university years.
The "First Exploration Class for Freshmen" brought together 150 students from different academic disciplines. Led by Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences Chuan-Chin Chiao (焦傳金) and a team from the Center for Exploration and Life Transitions (ExALT), the program invited students to use a nine-square-grid activity to share their expectations and concerns about university life. Through exchanges with senior students, freshmen learned about interdisciplinary learning, diverse course offerings and campus resources. They also created their own "University To-Do Lists," designed to encourage reflection on what they hope to accomplish during their time at NTHU.
Yi-Han Chen (陳翊菡), a freshman in the Department of Chinese Literature, said she was happy to meet students from other departments through the exploration class and think about how she would make the most of her four years at NTHU. She hopes to study abroad, explore different fields, and develop greater independence. Physics freshman Huai-Cheh Kuan (官淮喆) said that the group discussions allowed him to hear perspectives he had not previously considered. "Some of them were things I had never thought about," he said, adding that the exchanges provided useful ideas for planning his university life.
Two other activities turned the focus to the campus. "NTHU Is Everyone's Classroom" took the freshmen on guided campus walks led by senior students, introducing them to campus landmarks, historical stories and everyday spaces to help them become familiar with their new surroundings. "Dear NTHU, Let's Explore Together" featured a talk by Professor Emeritus Juju Chin-Shou Wang (王俊秀) at the Idea Hub in the NTHU Library. Drawing on sites such as Chengkung Lake, the Dr. Mei Memorial Garden and the Sixth Fuel Factory, Wang discussed NTHU's local ties to Hsinchu.
The orientation program also included sessions on student life, covering fraud prevention and personal safety, campus support systems, channels for seeking assistance and career resources. In the campus-based puzzle game "When Your Account Goes Missing," information about campus buses, course registration, the library, administrative contacts, tuition payments and emergency assistance was transformed into a series of challenges, allowing freshmen to learn how to navigate NTHU's resources through hands-on gameplay.
The evening welcome event, "Ride the Wind Night," featured performances by student clubs as well as Taiwanese band TRASH, Joan (聖恩), Sinby (欣菲) and Sabrina Hu (胡恂舞). Through music and student activities, the event gave freshmen an opportunity to connect with one another, discover student organizations, and experience different aspects of campus life at NTHU.
NTHU President W. John Kao encourages freshmen to find a balance that works for them, explore freely and pursue their own paths.
NTHU freshmen take part in the "Future with You" orientation opening ceremony as they begin their university journey.
NTHU's "The First Exploration Class for Freshmen" was held at the Chou Huai-Pu Lecture Hall on August 31, encouraging freshmen to think about their learning and life over the next four years.
A nine-square-grid icebreaker activity gives freshmen from different departments an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas during "The First Exploration Class for Freshmen."
A nine-square-grid icebreaker activity gives freshmen from different departments an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas during "The First Exploration Class for Freshmen."
Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences Chuan-Chin Chiao (left) discusses university life with freshmen in small groups during "The First Exploration Class for Freshmen," helping them envision their university experience.
The orientation program's campus-based puzzle game, "When Your Account Goes Missing," incorporates campus life and administrative information into a series of challenges, helping freshmen become familiar with NTHU's resources.
