At the start of the new semester, National University of Tainan (NUTN) was abuzz with spring energy, as the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year continued to fill the air. On February 22, NUTN hosted the grand "2025 Lunar New Year Fellowship for International Students—Welcoming Spring in a Foreign Land" at the Student Activity Center Plaza. The event, organized by the NUTN Overseas Chinese and International Students Association, was a heartfelt celebration that brought together over 200 attendees, including alumni, students, and new immigrants residing in Taiwan. Dr. Hui-Ping Chen, President of NUTN, delivered warm New Year blessings to the international students, encouraging them to learn and live with the big NUTN family and cherish their cross-cultural friendships. The Division of Student Affairs meticulously planned performances and interactive sessions for the event. The opening act featured Liu, a student from Malaysia, performing a self-accompanied guitar song, followed by a solo performance by Nguyen, a student from Vietnam, a piano recital by Chiu from the Department of Music, and a chorus by the NUTN Alumni Choir. Each performance was met with thunderous applause, and the resonant melodies and pleasant harmonies filled the plaza with festive cheer, inspiring hope and courage among all attendees. One of the highlights was the participation of the NUTN Alumni Choir, led by Alumni Association Chairman Dong-Lin Wu. This was their first time performing at an international student event. The choir members interacted warmly with the students, sharing their experiences of life in Taiwan. Teacher Chen, who previously worked with special education classes, provided thoughtful support for visually impaired students, while another choir member, a former international student from Hong Kong, shared their experiences of living in Taiwan. In line with the Ministry of Education's LMMF program, NUTN aimed to provide international students with a sense of warmth and belonging, despite being far from home. The event was filled with camaraderie, and the interactive lantern riddles and prize draws kept the atmosphere lively and engaging. Many of the performers expressed that, although performing nervously in front of so many teachers and peers, the opportunity to convey their New Year wishes through music made the experience particularly meaningful. Chen, Vice President of the Overseas Chinese and International Students Association, shared how the kindness of NUTN's faculty and the enthusiastic participation of seniors and fellow students made him feel as though he had returned home for the New Year, surrounded by friends. NUTN’s student body currently includes over 100 international students, mainly from Southeast Asia, as well as countries such as Russia, Iraq, Saint Vincent, Mongolia, Japan, and South Korea. The university not only provides a high-quality academic environment and ample resources but also actively supports international students' career development through various programs organized by the Alumni Center. In recent years, NUTN has been actively promoting international student recruitment, offering a welcoming and diverse cultural environment. The university continues to strive to provide the best support and opportunities for international students, ensuring that they can confidently move forward in their academic and career paths, knowing that NUTN will always be a reliable and supportive foundation for them.

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