For international students coming to Taiwan to study, where should a new life begin? Who can they turn to with questions about residence permits, insurance, opening a bank account, scholarships, and the many practical matters of daily life? For many international freshmen, the answers are found not only in handbooks and presentations, but also in their first experiences of getting to know the campus, greeting the classmates around them, and knowing that there are people willing to accompany them in finding answers when they encounter difficulties. From practical information about daily life and engaging activities to psychological support resources and introductions to international student communities, the orientation helped freshmen gradually turn the unfamiliar into the familiar and begin their new lives at YunTech with greater confidence and peace of mind.
The Office of International Affairs at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) held the “2026 International Freshman Orientation” on September 5 to welcome new international students from different countries. Through bilingual administrative briefings in Chinese and English, introductions to campus resources, and interactive activities, the event helped freshmen gain essential information about studying in Taiwan while providing students who had just arrived in the country with opportunities to get to know one another, identify people they could turn to for assistance, and meet new friends with whom to begin their campus life.
The event began with “Trivia YunTech,” a campus knowledge quiz that allowed freshmen to learn more about YunTech through fun and engaging questions. The activity also encouraged students to greet and interact with the classmates around them. The initially reserved atmosphere gradually became more relaxed, with conversations and laughter filling the room.
Professor Hui-Ching Yeh, Dean of International Affairs, welcomed the new students to YunTech. She noted that when coming to a new country, it is impossible to become familiar with everything right away. Whether dealing with administrative procedures, academic matters, or adapting to daily life, students need time to adjust. “When you encounter a problem, you do not have to handle it alone, and you should not be afraid to ask for help. The Office of International Affairs is here for you. We will accompany you in finding the answers and help you gradually settle into life at YunTech.”
Following her welcome remarks, Dean Yeh further introduced the “Connect Across Cultures at YunTech” Fall Cross-Cultural Collaboration Program, inviting international students to select projects according to their interests and the amount of time they are able to commit, and to collaborate with students from the Department of Applied Foreign Languages. The three projects focus respectively on cultural inclusion and anti-discrimination, a peaceful and friendly campus, and “Discover Taiwan,” a short-video project featuring stories about Taiwan. Through multiple rounds of exchange and collaborative creation, students will not only exchange languages but also practice listening and expressing their perspectives, while developing an understanding of different cultures through one another’s life experiences.
Among these projects, the “Discover Taiwan” short-video project will pair one international student with one to three Taiwanese students for an eight-week period of exchange and creative work. Each week’s discussion can begin with a photograph, a video clip, a song, a social media post, or a small observation from everyday life, and gradually develop into a 30- to 180-second English-language short video. The videos will be submitted to the inter-university short-video competition organized by the Office of International Affairs.
Dean Yeh emphasized that the purpose of the project is not to have students produce a “standard answer” about Taiwan. Rather, international students are encouraged to use their own perspectives to discover stories worth sharing from everyday life in Taiwan, and then discuss and create those stories together with Taiwanese students. From the weekly conversations to the final video, what truly matters is not simply completing a video, but getting to know one another through the collaborative process and ensuring that voices from different cultural backgrounds can be heard. Registration for all three cross-cultural projects is open until September 9, and the “Discover Taiwan” short-video projects are expected to be completed by October 30.
The Office of International Affairs then conducted a bilingual orientation session introducing essential matters including Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs), National Health Insurance, work permits, scholarships, opening a bank account, and campus life. Common questions frequently raised by new international students were also addressed one by one. The session was designed to help students reduce the uncertainty that may arise from differences in language and administrative systems, while ensuring that they know whom they can turn to for assistance when they encounter difficulties in the future.
To give students more opportunities to interact, the event also featured the visual relay game “Gartic Phone.” Students did not need to rely on fluent language skills; instead, they used drawings and imagination to complete the relay. As one unexpected drawing after another appeared, laughter continued throughout the room, and students from different countries naturally became more familiar with one another through the game. A buffet lunch was also provided, allowing everyone to relax, enjoy a meal, and exchange experiences about their lives since arriving in Taiwan.
In the afternoon, the Counseling and Guidance Center and the Office of the President respectively introduced psychological support resources and gender equality education. The sessions helped freshmen understand that the support available on campus extends beyond administrative services. When students face stress, challenges in cultural adjustment, or interpersonal difficulties, there are also people who are willing to listen and provide professional support. The International Student Association (AIS) then introduced its activities and services, inviting new students to join the international student community, meet more people, and find companions who can support one another.
After the orientation concluded, an orientation event for Indonesian students was held, allowing the atmosphere of exchange and interaction to continue. For students who have just arrived in Taiwan, a sense of security often comes from practical and seemingly small things: knowing where to go to handle their documents, knowing whom to ask when they encounter a problem, and meeting someone with whom they can share a meal or have a conversation. Through these small but meaningful details, the orientation sought to help new international students feel that they are not facing an entirely new life alone.
Looking ahead, the Office of International Affairs will continue to provide assistance with daily life and administrative matters, while organizing cultural exchange programs and campus activities to accompany international students as they gradually adapt to life in Taiwan. YunTech hopes that every new student will be able to study with confidence, live comfortably, and gradually find their own friends and their place within the YunTech community.
YunTech held the “2026 International Freshman Orientation,” bringing together new students from different countries as they prepared to begin a new chapter of campus life.
Professor Yeh Hui-Chin, Dean of International Affairs, welcomed the international freshmen, while Brad C. J. Chen, Director of the International Faculty and Student, also extended his greetings to the students. The Office of International Affairs then provided bilingual briefings in Chinese and English on essential matters, including residence permits, insurance, scholarships, and opening a bank account.
Freshmen enthusiastically participated in “Trivia YunTech,” a campus knowledge quiz. Through raising their hands to answer questions and interacting with one another, students learned more about YunTech and got to know new friends in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
The Counseling and Guidance Center, the Secretariat, and the International Student Association (AIS) respectively introduced psychological support services, gender equality education, and student club resources, helping freshmen learn about the diverse forms of support available on campus.
Through “Gartic Phone,” a visual relay game, freshmen used drawings and imagination to bridge language differences and connect with one another through laughter. The winning teams were also presented with small prizes.
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