WPG Holdings Advisor Chuang Shih-Hsiung and Texas Instruments Vice President Lai Bao-Jen Inspire YunTech Graduates at 2026 Commencement Ceremony

National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) held its 2026 Commencement Ceremony on June 13, with separate morning and afternoon sessions featuring distinguished keynote speakers Chuang Shih-Hsiung, Advisor to WPG Holdings, and Lai Bao-Jen, Vice Chairman of Texas Instruments Taiwan Limited. Drawing on their extensive professional experience and achievements, both speakers shared valuable insights and encouragement with graduates preparing to embark on the next stage of their lives and careers.

The ceremony opened with an academic procession led by President Chang Chuan-Yu, faculty members, and representatives carrying the ceremonial mace specially designed by the College of Design, along with the academic flags of each college. This year's graduating class comprised 2,540 students, including 1,521 bachelor's degree recipients, 980 master's students (including in-service master's students), and 39 doctoral graduates.

In his opening remarks, President Chang extended his heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and encouraged them to embrace the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence with confidence and a commitment to lifelong learning. He urged graduates to pursue their dreams boldly, apply their talents to their chosen professions, and create fulfilling and successful careers.

During the morning ceremony, Advisor Chuang Shih-Hsiung delivered a keynote address titled "Iterate Yourself: Designing Your Irreplaceability in the Age of AI." He encouraged graduates to cultivate two essential mindsets: maintaining curiosity and embracing AI as an accelerator rather than a competitor. By continuously learning across disciplines and reinventing themselves, graduates can identify their unique competitive advantages and develop lasting professional value and influence in the AI era.

The afternoon ceremony featured Vice Chairman Lai Bao-Jen of Texas Instruments Taiwan Limited, who spoke on "From YunTech to the Global Stage: Practical Wisdom for a Career in the Semiconductor Industry." Drawing from his decades of experience in the semiconductor sector, he encouraged graduates to leverage the solid academic foundation and professional capabilities they developed at YunTech as they confidently pursue international career opportunities and build successful global careers.

The ceremony also recognized students who achieved exceptional accomplishments in technology and professional development. Students Huang Wei-Chieh, Kuan Hsu-Sen, and Tsai Tsan-Chuan from the Department of Industrial Design received the prestigious Red Dot Design Concept Award – Best of the Best for their innovative design concept based on recycled rubber materials. In addition, Tung Chu-Yun, a master's student from the Department of Accounting, and Chen Po-Yu from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering were honored as 2025–2026 "Certificate Achievement Award" recipients for earning multiple highly specialized professional certifications, strengthening their competitiveness in the job market.

Graduate representatives also addressed the audience, sharing heartfelt reflections on their YunTech experience. Domestic student representatives Chi Shu-Hsun from the Department of Visual Communication Design and Chen Szu-Yu from the Department of Applied Foreign Languages, together with international student representatives Hoang Thi Kim Ngan, a master's student in Business Administration from Vietnam, and Ilham Saputra, a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering from Indonesia, spoke about their personal growth, memorable experiences, and gratitude for the support they received throughout their studies. Their sincere remarks resonated deeply with faculty members, families, and fellow graduates.

YunTech continues to demonstrate outstanding achievements across multiple areas. In 2025, the University was ranked No. 1 among public universities of science and technology in the CommonWealth Magazine University Citizenship (USR) Awards, recognizing its excellence in regional engagement and sustainable innovation. Internationally, YunTech was ranked 501–600 globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, placing it among Taiwan's top ten universities. Furthermore, the University was ranked third and fourth, respectively, among Taiwan's public universities of science and technology in the 2026 "Most Favored Universities by Employers" surveys conducted by 1111 Job Bank and 104 Job Bank, reflecting strong recognition from industry for the University's educational quality and graduate employability.

This year's commencement also introduced the "Time Capsule: Reunited in the Future" initiative, jointly organized by the University and the Alumni Association. Graduates were invited to write messages expressing gratitude to faculty and classmates, preserve their most treasured campus memories, and share aspirations for their future selves on commemorative cards. These messages were sealed inside specially designed 35th Anniversary commemorative wine boxes, creating a unique time capsule for the Class of 2026. Graduates will be invited to return in the future to reopen their capsules together and celebrate their personal growth and achievements.

The ceremony concluded with a moving rendition of the University anthem led by the Indigenous Culture Promotion Club, followed by a heartfelt performance from Radika Sofiani, an Indonesian student in the Master of Technology program. After the ceremony, graduates gathered outside the YunTai Performance Hall to take commemorative photographs in front of the commencement display backdrop, preserving lasting memories of their university journey.

YunTech extends its warmest congratulations to the Class of 2026 and wishes every graduate continued success, boundless opportunities, and a bright future as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

"Time Capsule: Reunited in the Future" commemorative wine box initiative.

Indigenous students lead the audience in singing the University anthem

President Chang Chuan-Yu confers the doctoral degree upon a doctoral graduate from the College of Management.

• President Chang Chuan-Yu presents graduation certificates to graduates.

• Academic Affairs Dean Chang Hsiang-Chieh leads the academic procession carrying the ceremonial mace.

Organizing Unit: Office of Student Affairs
Dean of Student Affairs: Lin Lan-Tung
Contact Person: Liao Ching-Chieh
Tel: +886-5-534-2601 ext. 2360