News--Welcome to National Chiayi University

　　The 102nd Anniversary Ceremony and YouBike 2.0 Station On-Campus Donation and Unveiling Ceremony took place on the Lantan campus of National Chiayi University on the morning of Dec. 11th. To celebrate the 102nd anniversary of NCYU, the alumni donated to install the YouBike 2.0 transportation system on campus as a birthday gift to their alma mater, setting the first example in the country. Each year, the NCYU alumni gather together to celebrate the anniversary. The String Orchestra of the Music Department, NCYU, was invited to open the ceremony with performance of delightful music. The grand event was attended by former presidents of NCYU, Legislator Chen Ming-Wen, Chiayi City Department of Education Director Lin Li-Sheng, R.O.C. National Chiayi University Distinguished Alumni Association President Luo Qing-Yuan and Honorary President Lin Guo-Cun, NCYU Taiwan Alumni Association President Zhang Yong-Lin, and other distinguished guests from all over the country, who filled the occasion with warmth and grandeur.

　　NCYU President Chyung Ay expressed his gratitude to the alumni for donating 51 bicycles and 102 bollards to be installed near 5 buildings, including the Lantan Campus Hostel, Student Activity Center, Administration Center, Multi-Purpose Instruction Building and Gymnasium. He also expressed the hope to work with the Chiayi City Government in equipping the campus with a total of 100 bicycles in the future. There have been about 500 to 600 teachers and students riding the public bikes around the campus each day since the installation was completed in October this year. It also provides a seamless transportation solution to students who take the electric bus to and from the city. While NCYU teachers and students have benefited from the installation, more than a hundred people ride the bikes during weekends to visit the Lantan Scenic Area. It helps achieve the goal of coexistence and co-prosperity between the school and the community.

　　Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-Hui attended the On-Campus YouBike 2.0 Station On-Campus Donation and Unveiling Ceremony in the morning. She mentioned that the YouBike 2.0 public bicycle system is well received by the public in Chiayi City, making made more than 900,000 rides since introduced in December last year (2020). To expand the service coverage and provide convenient transportation options for the students, the Chiayi City Government worked with NCYU and its alumni to introduce the YouBike 2.0 public bicycle system to the campus. Since the system was completed in October this year, the number of rentals has exceeded 20,000 with a turnover rate as high as 8.5 per day, which is testament to its popularity among the students. As the YouBike 2.0 system offers a convenient means of transportation on campus, she hoped that this would serve as an educational cooperation model for other universities as well. Education holds the key to talent development, which determines the future; supporting the schools means supporting education, and supporting education, national development. The city government is pleased to work with NCYU and its alumni to build a green campus.

　　In June of this year, no physical graduation ceremony could be held at colleges and universities due to the severe pandemic. As the pandemic begins to slow down, President Chyung Ay presented honorary doctorates to Shao Ten-Po, CEO of Nam Liong Group, and Zhang Congyuan, founder of Hong Fu Industrial Group. Zhang was unable to attend the ceremony due to prior commitments. At the ceremony, the “Distinguished Alumni Award 2021” was presented to 15 alumni, including Legislators Ming-Wen Chen and Wang Mei-Huei; the “Alumni Meritorious Service and Commitment Award 2021” went to 19 alumni; and the “MOE Education Institute Donation Award 2021” was given to several units and alumni. The awards were presented in gratitude to the alumni for their faithful and continued support.

　　One of the distinguished alumni of NCYU, Legislator Ming-Wen Chen gave a speech at the anniversary ceremony. He mentioned that, being a member of the fifth graduating class of the Department of Agricultural Processing, National Chiayi Institute of Agriculture (NCYIA), he has been pursuing a career in politics instead of agriculture for more than 40 years since his twenties. Dedicated to serving the society, Legislator Chen thanked the alumni of NCYIA and NCYU for their support and assistance during his election campaign. He wished a prosperous future for the unversity, academic success for all the students, and good health for all the honored guests.

　　Towards the end of the ceremony, President Chyung Ay and the guests of honor popped the balloons to unveil the anniversary theme of “A New Generation into the Future.” A birthday animation was displayed on the LED screen. The ceremony reached a climax with the participants wishing happy birthday to the 102nd anniversary of NCYU in a cheering mood.