2025.08.26

NTHU is hosting its freshman orientation camp today for over 2,000 students. President W. John Kao (高為元) led faculty and students in throwing purple ribbons to celebrate the beginning of an exciting campus life for NTHU's freshmen.

 

With the new semester beginning next week, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan held its freshman orientation camp today to welcome over 2,000 freshmen. Focusing on the theme of “Exploring and Unveiling the Mysteries,” the event introduced new students to their first glimpse of university life this year.

 

Dressed in a detective costume at the opening ceremony, NTHU President W. John Kao (高為元) walked onto the stage among the freshmen.

 

Kao used detectives as an analogy to encourage the new students to make the most of their four years at NTHU by engaging in personal exploration. “Expecting a life without problems is life's greatest problem,” he said.

 

Kao pointed out that challenges are opportunities for self-discovery and self-actualization, adding that we grow by solving problems one after another, enriching the meaning of our lives.

 

“No one can define your success but you, and there will always be problems in the world that only you can solve,” Kao said to the freshmen.

 

He further emphasized that NTHU is a campus characterized by freedom and diversity, and he encouraged the students to explore and pursue personal growth, noting that “Possibilities abound at NTHU for you to create your own path.”

 

After delivering the speech, he joined faculty and students in throwing purple ribbons to congratulate the freshmen on embarking on their exciting new campus life.

 

Building on the spirit of exploration from the opening ceremony, this is the first time NTHU has introduced a real-world puzzle challenge to the campus tour, using a story set in Hsinchu— “Windy City Good Bird Detective Agency” as the background to guide freshmen into detective roles and clear stages.

 

The game employs a non-linear design, allowing students to choose their own routes and explore historically significant destinations, including the Tsing Hua Garden, the Plum Garden, the Fern Garden, Lake Success (Chengkung Lake), and the Sundial at the Chemical Engineering Building. Completing all levels gives participants a chance to win a limited leather notebook or a medal.

 

The freshman gift packs also followed the detective theme. The canvas bag they received was printed with a panda pattern, and the stickers hidden inside contained sentences like “Your success should be defined only by you” and “View challenges as an opportunity for self-discovery and self-actualization.”

 

This year, the freshmen also received an eco-friendly glass lunchbox and a reusable tableware set consisting of chopsticks and spoons, to help them eat healthier throughout their 4 years at the university.

 

This year's freshman orientation camp introduced a new session, “Mindful Moments,” led by counselors from the university's Counseling Center. The session encouraged freshmen to focus on their mental and physical well-being to help them better adjust to university life.

 

In addition to the daytime activities, the orientation camp also hosted a special program called “Ride the Wind Night.” The event featured student club performances along with appearances by the band “icyball” and singer-songwriter Vickey Chen.

 

Renowned for their retro-inspired fusion of funk, disco, and R&B with modern electronic elements, icyball's music resonated well with the camp's “retro” theme.

 

Po-Chen Chan (詹博丞), a freshman from the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, said with a laugh that he enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the orientation camp after taking part in the celebratory ribbon-throwing event.

 

He noted that he still relies on GPS to navigate the campus sometimes gets lost, so he is looking forward to tomorrow's real-world puzzle game to get to know the campus better. Speaking of future campus life, Chan expects to build a solid foundation in his major, join student clubs such as the badminton team, and explore more of Hsinchu City.

 

The team responsible for the orientation camp explained that the themes of “detective,” “retro,” and “exploration” were chosen to encourage freshmen to adopt a detective's spirit while exploring the campus and to experience NTHU's historical heritage in a retro atmosphere.

 

Through this innovative welcome event, they hope that each freshman will carry curiosity and courage as they embark on their NTHU journey of exploration.

 

NTHU is hosting its freshman orientation camp today for over 2,000 students. President Kao led faculty and students in throwing purple ribbons to celebrate the beginning of an exciting campus life for NTHU's freshmen.

NTHU President Kao dressed as a detective; he held a magnifying glass and sat with the freshmen.

NTHU held its freshman orientation camp today, and the faculty and students jointly cheered for the freshmen. From left to right: Vice President for General Affairs Hsien-Hsiang Liu (劉先翔), Vice President for Global Affairs Galit Shmueli (徐茉莉), Dean of Academic Affairs Yung-Hsien Wu (巫勇賢), President Kao, Dean of Student Affairs Hong-Lin Chan (詹鴻霖), Vice President for Research and Development Affairs Po-Wen Chiu (邱博文), and Director of the Computer and Communication Center Chun-Yao Wang (王俊堯).

During the live ceremony at the freshman orientation camp, faculty and students participated in a celebratory ribbon-throwing event, symbolizing the start of their university journey.

During the live ceremony at the freshman orientation camp, faculty and students participated in a celebratory ribbon-throwing event, symbolizing the start of their university journey.

NTHU held the freshman orientation camp today, and President Kao came on stage in a detective costume, encouraging the freshmen to explore and discover themselves with courage.

NTHU's freshman orientation camp welcomed new students with detective-themed gift packs.

This year's NTHU freshman package included a sticker featuring a motto from President Kao.

NTHU encourages students to bring their own tableware and provides each freshman with a reusable, eco-friendly set, which includes chopsticks and a spoon.

NTHU encourages students to bring their own tableware and provides each freshman with a reusable, eco-friendly set, which includes chopsticks and a spoon.

Students at NTHU's orientation camp received detective-themed welcome packages.

NTHU prepared detective-themed gift packs and eco-friendly spoons and chopsticks for freshmen.