National Chiayi University (NCYU) is fully prepared to welcome faculty and students to a new semester, providing comprehensive support spanning new student orientation, housing, course selection and coursework, and student club activities. It also supports faculty development in teaching and research, AI-enabled initiatives, and faculty advising, while continuing to improve dining, transportation, and public spaces. Guided by the needs of faculty and students, NCYU continues to integrate teaching, research, and campus life into a comprehensive support system that enables students to learn with confidence, faculty to teach with confidence, and the entire community to enjoy campus life with peace of mind. This approach gradually brings to life NCYU’s vision of a happy campus built on the principles of “putting students first” and “promoting the mutual well-being of faculty and students.”
As NCYU welcomes approximately 3,000 new students, support begins on their very first day through new student orientation, campus safety education, and introductions to various learning resources, all designed to familiarize them with college life. The Office of Academic Affairs provides integrated information on registration, course selection, credit transfer, and online bridging courses. Through learning maps, curriculum maps, and career maps, it guides students to explore their interests, develop professional expertise, and gradually connect their learning with future careers. The university further promotes initiatives including “Discovering Chiayi,” “NCYU 10 CROSS,” “One International Feature for Each College and Department,” and “AI Plus Professional Expertise.” These initiatives take learning beyond the classroom and cultivate “NCYU Competencies,” encompassing core capabilities, adaptability, interdisciplinary competence, global vision, and lifelong learning capacity.
Beyond the classroom, college life also provides an important setting for self-discovery and relationship building. Through the Student Club Expo, students can explore a wide range of student clubs, service-learning opportunities, campus activities, and interdisciplinary experiences, and are thus encouraged to discover their interests and connect with like-minded peers. For students facing difficulties, a support network is jointly established by faculty advisors, departments, student affairs teams, counselors, and administrative units, while measures such as the “Student Financial Support Program” help ease students’ financial burdens and ensure that every student receives the assistance they need.
Strong support for faculty is essential for enabling students to learn with confidence. Before the semester started, NCYU organized a professional development workshop for new faculty members to familiarize them with the university’s research, teaching, and administrative resources. The workshop also fostered interdisciplinary exchange by offering opportunities to share experiences in research projects, journal submissions, and teaching. The new semester’s “Teaching and Learning Seminar” brought together more than 400 faculty members from across the university to explore applications of generative AI in research and teaching. Amid rapid changes in higher education, NCYU encourages faculty to evolve from knowledge providers into learning designers, facilitators of innovation, and mentors supporting students’ growth. Faculty support also extends to student counseling and advising. Professional development meetings for faculty advising teams begin with “faculty advisor self-care” and incorporate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), interdisciplinary English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses, and creative teaching aid design, along with discussions on student advising and daily life issues. These efforts aim to ensure that faculty do not face advising challenges alone but are backed by a comprehensive team of campus professionals.
Beyond learning and teaching, NCYU continues to upgrade student dormitories and public spaces to enhance the everyday campus experience for faculty and students. In the new semester, Louisa Coffee opened on the Lantan campus, adding space for dining, reading, and social interaction. Student dormitories offer 24-hour smart vending services, while the network of YouBike stations continues to expand, connecting academic, residential, and everyday campus spaces. The outdoor “Lanting Plaza” at the Student Activity Center provides a new space for faculty and students to relax, interact, and hold events. From a dormitory bed, a course, and a student club to a bicycle ride and a cup of coffee, these everyday experiences make the campus not only a place for classes but also a community where faculty and students live and grow together.
NCYU President Han-Chien Lin noted that, facing the challenges of declining birthrates, AI, and globalization, universities must go beyond “attracting students” to focus on “educating, retaining, and empowering students,” so that students can enjoy positive experiences in learning, campus life, and personal growth after enrolling at NCYU. At the same time, the university provides faculty with the resources needed for teaching, research, and student advising. NCYU will continue to translate care into action through the “NCYU Heart,” cultivate future-ready capabilities through “NCYU Competencies,” and foster a sense of belonging among faculty and students through the “NCYU Spirit.” The university will continue to advance toward its goal of becoming “a university students aspire to attend, where faculty achieve their potential, society places its trust, and the international community recognizes its excellence.”
For the new semester, NCYU has prepared much more
than a class schedule and a classroom. Rather, it has built a comprehensive
support system spanning learning, teaching, research, and daily life, enabling
students to explore their futures with confidence while allowing faculty to
thrive in their teaching and research. Through shared learning, co-creation,
and mutual well-being among faculty and students, NCYU strives to turn the
vision of a happy campus into an everyday reality.
Photo 1: NCYU President Han-Chien Lin encourages
new students to boldly explore their futures.
Photo 2: The new student orientation ceremony
opens with performances by NCYU student clubs.
Photo 3: Lanting Plaza on the Lantan campus
brings together areas for relaxation and dining, creating a new, welcoming
campus space.
Photo 4: YouBike expands eco-friendly
transportation options on campus.
Photo 5: Dormitory rooms have been upgraded
with new beds, desks, and storage facilities.
Photo 6: NCYU freshmen embark on a new
learning journey.