National Chung Cheng University (CCU) held its commencement ceremony today (June 6), bringing together 3,035 graduates to celebrate a major milestone in their lives. Adding to the significance of this year's event, the Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies proudly celebrated its very first graduating class. The university specially invited Dr. Lee-Feng Chien—a long-time pioneer in information technology development, Google’s first employee in Taiwan, and former Managing Director of Google Taiwan—to serve as the keynote speaker to deliver his blessings and expectations to the graduates.

Avoid "Outsourcing Your Brain": True Competitiveness Lies in Asking the Right Questions
Dr. Chien, a highly influential figure in both the Taiwanese and global tech industries, served at Google Taiwan from 2006 to 2020, successfully transforming it into the company's largest research and development center in Asia. Since his retirement, he has continued to nurture Taiwan’s startup ecosystem, serving as a board member for several enterprises, an economic advisor to the Executive Yuan’s Economic Development Committee, and an adjunct professor at the National Taiwan University Graduate School of Advanced Technology and International Affairs.
In his commencement address, Dr. Chien encouraged graduates to "become conductors of AI". He pointed out that when facing challenges from AI, which possesses immense memory and reasoning capabilities, true competitiveness does not lie in competing with AI on knowledge, but rather in one's ability to ask questions and shift mindsets. He emphasized that "Good answers come from smart asks". He also shared the adage, "A single Q&A is just plagiarism; ten rounds of Q&A constitute learning; a hundred rounds of Q&A lead to creation," reminding graduates to avoid "outsourcing" their brains to technology.

Dr. Chien further explained that what truly makes humans irreplaceable are soft skills such as empathy, critical thinking, and leadership. He encouraged students to cultivate cross-disciplinary capabilities to become "𝝅-shaped talents" who possess both breadth and depth of knowledge. Drawing from his own experience of joining Google as its sole employee in Taiwan and witnessing its growth into a 3,000-person R&D hub, he stressed that location is no longer a limitation—mindset is the ultimate key. In the face of the AI revolution, he believes this is not just a challenge, but the best of times. AI will serve as a consultant and a coach, drastically improving efficiency across all industries and creating a new economy. Concluding his speech, he reminded graduates that Chiayi, Taiwan, sits at the center of East Asia, urging them to embrace change with an open mind, seize the limitless opportunities of the AI era, and maximize their life's potential.

International PhD Graduates Share Their Journeys of Belonging and Resilience
Among the graduates, two international PhD students from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Uttara Sukul and Koyeli Das from India, shared their profound academic journeys at CCU.
 Reflecting on her five-year doctoral journey that passed in the blink of an eye, Uttara recalled transitioning from the unfamiliarity of her early days to developing a deep sense of belonging. She shared that her favorite place on campus was the university library. Its rich collection and quiet individual study spaces accompanied her through critical moments of reflection and thesis writing, serving as a warm corner to hatch plans, prepare research, and ground her mind. Having successfully obtained her doctoral degree, she plans to stay and work in Taiwan, continuing her deep connection with the land.
Koyeli shared that arriving in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most challenging experiences of her life. Starting her journey with a solo 21-day quarantine away from family and familiar surroundings, she noted that pursuing a PhD is never an easy path. Countless late nights spent in the laboratory, repeated experiments, and moments of self-doubt constantly pushed her to her limits. However, she emphasized that these very challenges built her confidence, teaching her to persevere through hardships and never give up in the face of setbacks.

The Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies Celebrates Its First Graduates with "Cross-Disciplinary" Achievements
Another major highlight of the ceremony was the graduation of the inaugural class of the Bachelor Program in Interdisciplinary Studies. Founded with the vision of breaking down traditional boundaries between academic departments, the program centers its core curriculum on "interdisciplinary integration and sustainable development".
The first cohort of graduates perfectly demonstrated the spirit of this flexible mechanism in their graduation project presentations. Skillfully utilizing cutting-edge tools such as big data, AI models, and blockchain smart contracts, they presented diverse practical achievements ranging from AI demand forecasting and digital time capsules to analyses of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). These projects powerfully validated their "cross-disciplinary" readiness to seamlessly bridge theory and practice.

President Shaw-Jenq Tsai: Be a Warm-Hearted Leader of the Century
As the graduates prepare to step out of the campus gates, CCU President Shaw-Jenq Tsai delivered an inspiring message, urging them to "be a warm-hearted leader of the century". He stated that the most precious value of a university education lies not only in professional knowledge and capability, but more importantly, in learning to care for others, understand society, and contribute courageously. He noted that just like Dr. Chien, one can be a tech expert while remaining a deeply warm human being. The future world requires talents who know how to utilize AI and technology, but it stands in even greater need of action-takers who possess empathy, a sense of responsibility, and humanistic care.
Furthermore, President Tsai highlighted several of CCU's recent breakthroughs and achievements, including its continuous rise in the QS World University Rankings, the promotion of the Silicon Photonics Academy, and the university's emphasis on human connection. Through initiatives like the Ministry of Education's "Third-Life University," CCU has enabled different generations to learn together and exchange experiences, fostering the power of understanding, respect, and companionship.
The President highlighted a particularly moving story regarding a group of executive PhD students from the Class of 2016 in the Department of Business Administration. Taking nearly ten years from enrollment to graduation, they had once made a pact: "We will stick together through thick and thin, and graduate together." Today, a decade later, they fulfilled that promise. President Tsai remarked that this achievement represents far more than just a doctoral diploma; it is a testament to perseverance, companionship, and the unwavering belief of never giving up.
President Tsai blessed the graduates, hoping they would carry the courage and capabilities accumulated at CCU into the future, and reminding them never to forget those who accompanied them along the way, no matter how far they journey. He assured them that their alma mater will always care for, support, and take immense pride in them.
At the climax of the ceremony, amidst enthusiastic applause and cheers, faculty and guests launched paper airplanes filled with blessings from the stage, while graduates threw colorful streamers toward the stage. Bidding each other a fond farewell, the university community brought this year's commencement ceremony to a spectacular and memorable close.