2026 NTU Commencement

National Taiwan University (NTU) held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony at NTU Sports Center on May 30, 2026. This year, a total of 11,543 graduates—comprising 5,497 bachelor's, 5,440 master's, and 606 doctoral degree recipients—embarked on their next journeys. NTU President Wen-Chang Chen expressed his expectations for the graduates to forge ahead with a global perspective, pursue truth, love innovation, hone professional expertise, practice gratitude and altruism, and contribute back to society. He urged them not only to carve out their own paths but also to become a force that influences others. This year, Tzu-Chun Lin, co-founder and executive director of "Calls Over Ridges" and an alumnus of the Department of Economics, was specially invited to serve as the guest speaker. The student speakers were Chia-Wei Lin from the Department of Law and Nathan Thadeo Yoashi, a doctoral student at the Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering from Tanzania. For the first time this year, a special speech event, "Youth Forum: Between the Echoes," was held after the commencement ceremony. NTU Sociology alumna Bowie Tsang was invited to deliver a speech titled "Life Treasures for Graduates: A Live Show," sharing precious experiences from different stages of her life.

President Wen-Chang Chen: Solving Problems through Interdisciplinary Learning and Translating Passion into Action to Improve Society
President Chen noted that rapid AI development has streamlined knowledge acquisition and redefined capability. As technology advances, university education increasingly focuses on holistic development: expanding vision, transcending boundaries, exploring new passions, and enacting real societal change.

NTU promotes interdisciplinary learning to build students' capacity to understand and respond to the world. Moving forward, Chen noted, "what problems you can solve" will matter far more than "what you have studied." In this highly uncertain era, he emphasized resilience; navigating hardships builds the strength needed to advance.

He urged graduates to "stay curious and keep learning," "courageously cross boundaries and actively experiment," and "uphold values, integrity, and altruism." He encouraged them to explore the unknown with curiosity, walk alongside others with empathy, and boldly work toward the people they wish to become.

Calls Over Ridges Co-founder Tzu-Chun Lin: Exert Influence in Your Own Way, Life Has No Straight Answers
At 31, Tzu-Chun Lin has launched multiple Asian educational projects, provided millions of school meals, and dedicated himself to cultivating local NGOs for educational sustainability. Taking an unconventional path, he shared his perspective: "True sustainability is not about you being present, but about things continuing to happen after you leave." He urged graduates to pursue goals beyond personal gain: "If you are very good at something, it can be a career; but if you keep failing and are still willing to get up and do it, that might be a calling."

Recalling his university days, Lin humorously noted he retook calculus for three years. He warned students against prematurely limiting themselves, stating that having the entire future figured out today is a profound pity. Life, he shared, is not a multiple-choice test but an essay question without standard answers, requiring time to deeply understand the prompt. True excellence lies in admitting inadequacies and leaving one's comfort zone. He hopes their future steps, while perhaps not always correct, will always be sincere as they pave the way for others.

Chia-Wei Lin (Department of Law): Breaking Frameworks and Shouldering Responsibility
Chia-Wei Lin noted that her four years at NTU instilled a diverse perspective. Rather than isolating herself in legal texts, she explored sociology, atmospheric sciences, and business, learning to analyze problems from a higher vantage point and translate knowledge into action.

Defying the expectation that law students must pass national exams for financial security, Lin embraced new challenges. "Life is long; even if you take a longer path and lag a few years behind, so what?" she shared. "But life is also too short to merely pursue stability and abandon the dreams that light up your eyes."

She reminded her peers that NTU students are entrusted with immense societal resources—not for boasting, but to shoulder responsibility at critical moments. Emphasizing that altruism doesn't demand blind sacrifice, she urged them to find their preferred way to create change, maintain their well-being, and practice kindness, ensuring everything they touch becomes slightly better.

International Student Nathan: From the Tanzanian Moonlight to an NTU Ph.D.
Born into poverty in Tanzania, Nathan often studied under the moonlight and practiced math in the sand. Despite juggling farming and schoolwork, he consistently ranked in the top three. His dedication caught the attention of Dr. Jane Goodall, whose support enabled him to complete his education and study in Taiwan.

Arriving alone, he learned Mandarin, Taiwanese, and sustainable agriculture from local churches and farmers. He later pursued graduate studies at the NTU Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, where his outstanding performance earned him direct admission to the doctoral program.

Grateful for the NTU community's support, Nathan founded the African Student Association, uniting students from 10 countries, and collaborated with international organizations to host two academic symposiums. Supported by his advisor, Professor Hsin-Cheng Hsi, he facilitated an MoU between NTU and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's premier university. Applying his NTU-honed expertise, he now works to resolve agricultural and water crises caused by mining pollution in his hometown.

Now settled in Taiwan, he saves half his income to sponsor five children's education in Tanzania, dreaming of eventually building a school there. Praising NTU students' passion for service, he advised: "Don't just think about leading; first learn to serve. Naturally, you will become a person of true influence."

A Milestone for the Future University: Single "University-Level Bachelor's Degrees"
NTU’s innovative "University-Level Bachelor's Degree" program reached a milestone this year with a record 16 graduates. Notably, 8 students graduated with a single "University-Level Bachelor's Degree" for the first time, cementing the system as a highly recognized independent learning path. Across four cohorts, 143 students have participated.

Breaking traditional departmental frameworks, this program allows students to design custom degrees. This year's graduates pioneered fields like Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering, Animation Design and Marketing Communication, and Regional Revitalization, translating personal interests into societal solutions with outstanding post-graduation success.

This model won "Outstanding Support for Students" at the 2025 THE Asia Awards and inspired a Ministry of Education pilot program adopted by nearly 30 Taiwanese universities. As a pioneer of this system, NTU will continue supporting students in transcending academic boundaries, advancing toward a "Future University" centered on student-driven learning and interdisciplinary integration.

Speech Videos:

• NTU President Wen-Chang Chen
  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t3_oRJjDXA4
• Guest Speaker Tzu-Chun Lin, Co-founder and Executive Director of Calls Over Ridges
  https://youtu.be/ox2Kyc_lBio
• Local Student Speaker Chia-Wei Lin, Department of Law
  https://youtu.be/EMhC1o2Dmc8
• International Student Speaker Nathan Thadeo Yoashi, Doctoral Student at the Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering
  https://youtu.be/C5f51Zb3UN0