Release Date 9 June 2022     Mandarin

Graduation season is again upon us. Taiwanese students traditionally sing a nostalgic farewell song on graduation day to commemorate their school days.

 

Unfortunately, the University still has to move the graduation ceremony online this year, just like last year, due to the COVID pandemic. Although students cannot sing a farewell song at a physical ceremony, their excellent performance will go along with them and become the best learning and advancing experience.

 

For the Affiliated Institute of Continuing Education (AICE), this year was a bit special. With 304 students graduating this June, AICE presented awards to a couple, a pair of brothers, and two senior students.

 

AICE offers working professionals a new path to improve their competitiveness through learning, making the institute the top choice. Applicants can enroll in the programs as long as they have the technical college level and five years of equivalent working experience or with the post-technical college level.

 

“Our students are determined to further their studies because their working experience has taught them what’s the best for themselves. Thus, many students continue to pursue their Master’s degrees after receiving their Bachelor's ones.”

“Our students are determined to further their studies because their working experience has taught them what’s the best for themselves. Thus, many students continue to pursue their Master’s degrees after receiving their Bachelor's ones. We are glad to see this good impact and encourage working professionals who want a competitive advantage to join us,” says Dr. Lin, Ming-Che, Dean of AICE.

 

The Li Family

 

A young couple has taken AICE weekend degree courses together for two years. They are Li, Jian-Jhun (李建諄) and Hsieh, Ching-I (謝靜宜). During this graduation season, they have two reasons to celebrate: they not only received their diplomas but also have their second baby born this month. Mr. Li commented that the baby was born at a perfect time, right after their hustle and bustle of study and work life.

 

Mr. Li and Mrs. Li both are serving at Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA). Feeling the urgent need to improve their professional skills, they decided to take the entrance exam to enroll in NKUST Two-Year Technical Program. Courses of the program were held on weekends, a great schedule for busy people.

 

At first, Mr. Li enrolled in the program to accompany his wife to study together. Later he found what he learned in classrooms could be practically used in his work. It was an unexpected gift for Mr. Li.

 

Speaking about Mrs. Li’s working experience, she followed her husband’s career path and managed to join TRA. After earning an associate degree from a two-year technical college, she hoped to further her study and pursuit her dream of receiving a Mater’s degree. Mr. Li, sitting beside his wife, shook his head and said with a laugh: “I’m not planning to go with you.”

 

For the past two years, Mr. Li and Mrs. Li have driven to Kaohsiung from Pingtung to take courses on the weekends.

 

“When we think back on those hardships, all our hard work has paid off.”

Mrs. Li said: “We sacrificed our family days with our child to study at school on the weekends. Thanks to my husband family's support, we finished our studies. Now, when we think back on those hardships, all our hard work has paid off.”

 

The couple received an award from the AICE to recognize their academic performance. After graduating early this June, Mrs. Li is preparing to welcome their second baby. Diplomas and the baby were both completely unexpected gifts for this couple, who never thought it would go so well with such perfect timing.

 

One of Two Senior Students Awarded Lifelong Learning Awards

 

Tsai, Huo-Yen (蔡火炎), aged 60, has four grandchildren and lives in Chiayi. Tsai was one of two senior students who received the Lifelong Learning Award from AICE. Tsai said that he originally thought courses in the In-Service Master’s Program would be easier, but he later found courses were a bit demanding. Instructors put high expectations on them and trained them to do their best complete their assignments or thesis writing. He did learn a lot and felt proud when receiving his diploma.

 

A Pair of Brothers

 

Huang, Sen-Hsien (黃森賢) was one of the pair of brothers who received an award from AICE. He said: “The past weekends in classrooms are the happiest days I went through. I made friends, enjoyed the time studying with classmates, and finished assignments together.”

 

Huang found an interest in the program and finished his undergraduate degree. He then furthered his study in the Business Administration EMBA to gain his Master’s degree. Huang added that returning to school gave him a way to relax from busy work.

 

Huang and his younger brother Huang, Sen-Hsin (黃森信), who studied in the Master of Engineering Program in Civil Engineering and Disaster Mitigation, graduated this June together.

 

Though they both felt a bit regrettable that they could not attend a physical ceremony, they hoped the pandemic would end two years later by the time when they received their Master’s degrees.

 

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Translated/Edited by Jess Lin