2024 Lunar New Year Gathering

At the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, National Taiwan University (NTU) held its 2024 Lunar New Year Gathering on February 16th. The event featured a special performance by “Nanbeishuan” (南北軒), a century-old traditional beiguan performance group based in Tamsui. Recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by New Taipei City Government, the band performed classic pieces, including "Wind in the Pines," "Three Urgent Shots," and "Bamboo Horse." The thunderous drums and lively music of the suona brought great excitement and joy to the University Players Theatre.

During his remark, NTU President Chen Wen-Chang expressed gratitude and appreciation to all faculty and staff for their hard work over the past year, especially amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic and the reopening of borders. He extended his sincere wishes for everyone's well-being, health, and success.

President Chen also outlined the university's goals and expectations for the coming year. In terms of infrastructure, renovations will begin on the main campus buildings to ensure their appearance and electrical safety, while similar projects will take place at the Xuzhou Road Campus, Zhubei Campus, and Shuiyuan Campus. Construction tenders for faculty dormitories are expected to be awarded within the year, with ongoing projects proceeding as planned. Although construction can lead to inconvenience, President Chen emphasized that the improvements will provide a better environment for all members of the university.

Regarding international collaborations, NTU expects to establish research centers or joint research initiatives with partner universities or research institutions, enhancing academic exchanges and bolstering the university's global reputation. In terms of student recruitment, the Office for International Affairs has achieved notable success in attracting top international and overseas compatriot students with a high enrollment rate, reflecting that the university's commitment to academic excellence and diversity has paid off.

President Chen also highlighted successful fundraising efforts, with plans to continue recognizing outstanding staff members with special awards. He expressed confidence that NTU will make big strides in the Year of the Dragon and encouraged everyone to work together towards the university's centennial celebration in 2028, ushering in a new era of glory for NTU.

Former presidents Wei-Chao Chen, Si-Chen Lee, and Pan-Chyr Yang also attended the gathering. They unitedly expressed hopes that the incoming government would fulfill its promises to improve Taiwan's higher education by injecting more resources, enhancing competitiveness, and nurturing talent to advance research and benefit society.

The gathering concluded amidst laughter and warm wishes for a prosperous year ahead. The four presidents jointly wished all members of the NTU community good health, prosperity, and success in the Year of the Dragon.