National Chung Cheng University (CCU) held its 2025 commencement ceremony on June 7, radiating a warm and emotional atmosphere. This year’s (School Year 113) ceremony took place in the morning and gathered a total of 3,082 graduates to celebrate their academic achievements. Many graduates were accompanied by their entire families, creating a lively scene filled with cheers, photo-taking, and heartfelt blessings for their future.

The university invited Golden Bell Award-winning director and distinguished alumnus of the Department of Law, Fu-Yueh Tang — director of Port of Lies — as the guest speaker, offering congratulations and encouragement to the graduates. Port of Lies, adapted from Tang’s novel of the same name, has received widespread acclaim and multiple Golden Bell Awards since its release.

In his address, Tang encouraged the graduates by saying, “After leaving school, you may forget what was in your textbooks, but the critical thinking skills and perspectives you’ve gained will become your most valuable assets.” Speaking from a playwright’s perspective, he said, “We all become the protagonists of our stories first and then learn how to become heroes. A true hero is not defined by never failing, but by never giving up, actively resisting, and continually growing.” He added, “The meaning of a story’s ending lies not in saving the world, but in first becoming the protagonist of your own life — and in doing so, you may also change the world.” He encouraged students to be the heroes of their own stories, to cherish and utilize their perspectives, to work hard no matter their future careers, to keep reading extensively, and to strengthen their storytelling and writing skills — combining knowledge and viewpoint to become irreplaceable individuals.

President Shaw-Jenq Tsai emphasized that the knowledge and personal growth accumulated during college years would become invaluable lifelong assets. “It takes great effort to filter gold from sand,” he said, quoting, “Only when the rough sand is blown away does the true gold appear.” Whether in academia or life, those who endure the toughest waves are the ones who find priceless treasure. He urged graduates to face the future bravely. Despite the current unpredictable global economic landscape, graduates should hold onto passion and courage, uphold CCU’s spirit of innovation and integrity, and pursue a fulfilling and meaningful life. He concluded with a quote from the Confucian classic Xunzi: “Indigo is extracted from blue, yet it is bluer than blue,” encouraging graduates to surpass themselves and shine brightly on the stage of life.

President Tsai also highlighted several unprecedented achievements of CCU in the past year. These include student Hsiang-Wen Hsiao from the Department of Athletic Performance winning a medal for Taiwan at the upcoming Paris Paralympics, two consecutive world gold medals in the iGEM international synthetic biology competition, and the university’s Classical Studies and Ancient History program ranking 31st globally and 2nd in Taiwan in the QS World Subject Rankings. Additionally, CCU has recently partnered with the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology to engage in cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) research, enhancing the strength of the democratic supply chain. He expressed confidence that the university community would continue to collaborate, carry forward its past achievements, and further deepen social responsibility and academic excellence.

A notable milestone was also reached this year through the joint dual Ph.D. program between CCU and the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar. Indian doctoral student Ayush Pratap successfully completed his degree this July, becoming the first international student to graduate from this collaborative program. This accomplishment not only reflects CCU’s strong capacity for international academic collaboration but also represents a new model for global higher education in cultivating top talent.