National Chung Cheng University (CCU) Holds Scholarship Award Ceremony to Honor Outstanding International Students
On January 8, the Office of International Affairs at National Chung Cheng University held its first International Student Scholarship Award Ceremony, at which the Outstanding Research Scholarship (ORS) for full-time international doctoral students and the Outstanding Performance Scholarship (OPS) for international students were presented together for the first time, publicly recognizing outstanding international students for their achievements this semester.
Faculty members and administrators joined students on this special day, including Senior Vice President Prof. Her-Terng, Yau, Vice President for International Affairs Prof. Victoria Rau, Associate Vice President for International Affairs, Prof. Yi-Mei Lin, Director, Division of International Academic Cooperation & Division of International Development, Prof. Kok Yong Lee, and Director, Division of International Students, Prof. Van-Linh Nguyen, who were invited to attend the ceremony and present the awards, and who joined faculty members and students in witnessing and sharing this moment of honor.
In his remarks, Senior Vice President Yau expressed his appreciation for the students’ commitment to pursuing their studies in a foreign environment and their courage in overcoming challenges related to language, culture, and research. He emphasized that every achievement reflects long-term effort and perseverance, and encouraged students to continue nurturing their passion for learning and to embrace cross-cultural and academic challenges with confidence. He also thanked international students for enriching the campus with their diverse cultural perspectives and vibrant energy.
Following this, several student representatives from different countries then shared their study-abroad journeys, including Karl Jabagat (Ph. D. Program in Seismology, Earth and Environmental Science), Koyeli Das (Ph. D. Program in Molecular Biology), Vann Veasna (Ph. D. Program in the Department of Electrical Engineering), Omar Keita, (Ph.D. Program in ELMD), Shabir Hussain Malik ( Ph.D. Program in Finance), Withanage Mayomi Chandima Dulanji (Master’s Program, Department of Electrical Engineering), and Keith Harvey Belbar Quilalang (Master’s program in ELMD). They spoke about the difficulties and perseverance involved in leaving home to study overseas, and sincerely expressed their gratitude for the University’s support and the scholarships they received. Their heartfelt sharing created a warm and touching atmosphere and was met with warm applause from the audience.
This semester, a total of 20 students were awarded the Outstanding Research Scholarship (ORS), and 30 students received the Outstanding Performance Scholarship (OPS). All recipients are granted full waivers of tuition and accommodation fees, equivalent to approximately NTD64,000 per student. In addition, ORS recipients receive a monthly stipend ranging from NTD 20,000 to 40,000, depending on the award level. The ORS is designed to recognize and support full-time doctoral students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and strong research potential. Recipients of the Outstanding Performance Scholarship (OPS) also receive a monthly stipend of NTD 5,000. The selection process considers not only academic achievement, but also students’ participation in on- and off-campus activities, service contributions, and their overall development, with the aim of encouraging well-rounded and holistic growth.
The award recipients this semester came from Vietnam (15 students), India (11), Pakistan (8), the Philippines (6), Malaysia (2), Thailand (2), Sri Lanka (1), the Republic of Somaliland (1), Uganda (1), Cambodia (1), Russia (1), and The Gambia (1). The students gathered together to share a moment in which their efforts and dreams came together, and the venue was filled with an atmosphere of gratitude, blessings, and joy.
During the ceremony, some students attended wearing traditional attire representing the cultural characteristics of their home countries. The colorful garments and diverse cultural expressions made the venue feel like a small cultural celebration. This not only demonstrated students’ confidence in their own cultures, but also added warmth and vividness to the ceremony, fully reflecting the University’s diverse and international campus environment.