On August 29, Taiwan Tech held its orientation program for new students. President Jia-Yush Yen encouraged them with the university motto, “Integrity and Sincerity”, urging students to be diligent in their work and sincere in their dealings with others. He also expressed his hope that, beyond developing professional expertise, they would cultivate both humanistic literacy and a global perspective, becoming the “π-shaped talents” that Taiwan Tech strives to nurture.

Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen delivered remarks at the new student orientation.

Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen took a group photo with student representatives.

Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen explained that the university motto, “Integrity and Sincerity”, was established by the founding president, Li-An Chen, hoping that students would cultivate solid professional skills and a sound attitude. However, as times have evolved, education must not only focus on hands-on professional training but also on fostering liberal arts literacy, social responsibility, and global perspectives. President Yen concluded by addressing international students in English, encouraging them to bravely learn Chinese, seize the opportunity to study in Taiwan, gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese society, and prepare to enter leading enterprises.

President Jia-Yush Yen encouraged new students with the motto “Integrity and Sincerity” - to be diligent in work and sincere in dealing with others.

Among this year’s 1,477 freshmen at Taiwan Tech, two students were admitted through the special recruitment process for students with disabilities, including GuanYou Lin, a student with severe hearing impairment who was admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Lin shared that because of his congenital hearing loss, he was always sensitive to how others perceived him and often struggled with feelings of inferiority. Even with hearing aids, his hearing was sometimes unclear, and in noisy environments, it became particularly difficult to distinguish sounds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone wore masks, he could no longer rely on lip-reading to understand what people were saying, forcing him to repeatedly ask for clarification - a challenging process.

Lin admitted that operating machinery in class was sometimes difficult during his time in vocational high school, but he would take the initiative to consult his teachers after class. Now that he has entered university, he continues to maintain this proactive attitude, seeking help from professors or classmates whenever he encounters difficulties in learning.

To gain admission to Taiwan Tech, Lin said he invested tremendous effort. Starting from the second semester of his sophomore year in high school, he studied until 9 p.m. four days a week, and in his senior year, he extended his evening self-study sessions until 9:30 p.m. Despite his heavy academic workload, he still made time to read extracurricular books. His favorite is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which he appreciates not only for its elements of mystery but also for its more profound message: one should not judge things by appearances but seek the truth behind them. In the same way, Lin hopes those around him will see his inner self, not merely label him as a hearing-impaired student.

GuanYou Lin’s favorite book is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which he values not only for its elements of mystery but also for its more profound message: one should not judge by appearances, but seek the truth beneath the surface.

GuanYou Lin’s story is not only one of perseverance and courage in pursuing dreams as a freshman, but also a testament to the power of educational resources, faculty and peer support, and personal determination. Disability is not a limitation, but rather an opportunity that calls for greater understanding and companionship. Taiwan Tech is committed to building a diverse and inclusive learning environment that supports every student in realizing their potential. On campus, students learn and explore professional knowledge together while continually honing themselves. With determination and perseverance, even the greatest challenges can be transformed into momentum for growth.

During his time in vocational high school, GuanYou Lin admitted that operating machinery in class was sometimes difficult, but he would take the initiative to consult his teachers after class.