Taiwan Tech marked its 51st anniversary today (21st) with a university anniversary sports day and campus fair. The opening ceremony featured special guest  Szu-Yu Chen, a renowned table tennis player who has represented Taiwan in the Olympics four times. Known for her sharp playing style and resilience, Chen has earned outstanding results for Taiwan in numerous international competitions.

Taiwan Tech celebrated its 51st anniversary today (21st), with Olympic table tennis star  Szu-Yu Chen invited as a guest at the opening ceremony. From left: Director of Athletics Kuei-Pin Chien, Vice President Jiann-Liang Chen, Taiwanese table tennis player Szu-Yu Chen, Taiwan Tech Alumni Association Chairman Yu-Wen Wu, President Jia-Yush Yen, Vice President Shun-Feng Su, Dean of Student Affairs Huey-Jiun Wang, and Secretary-General Yu-Lin Kuo.

In an engaging and approachable talk, Chen offered three pieces of advice to students. First, don’t worry too much about perfect form - “because simply stepping onto the starting line already means you’ve beaten the version of yourself lying in the dorm scrolling on your phone”. Second, don’t fixate on medal colors; sports can be an outlet for emotions, helping release academic stress and life frustrations through sweat. Finally, she encouraged students to cheer loudly for their teammates, emphasizing that team support and such passionate moments are the most valuable and irreplaceable memories.

Table tennis star Szu-Yu Chen encouraged students to bravely step onto the starting line, not be overly concerned with results, and value team support.

This year’s sports day introduced an internationally certified electronic scoring system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of competition records, allowing students to perform in a more professional environment. The event also fully adopted paperless operations, with digital displays and online platforms used for announcements and promotion. Competition results were uploaded in real time to a cloud platform, enhancing information flow while promoting energy saving, carbon reduction, and reduced paper usage as part of a green event initiative.

President Jia-Yush Yen expressed hope that students would embody the spirit of sportsmanship, take the opportunity to strengthen both body and mind, and face future challenges with renewed energy.

President Jia-Yush Yen also noted that with the rapid development of AI, the university is actively deepening collaboration with industry, with many companies already providing resources to support teaching and equipment upgrades. He emphasized, “We will ensure that students are equipped with the tools they need to face the future.” He added that Taiwan Tech students are known for their diligence and strong learning attitudes, and encouraged them to seize the opportunity during the sports day to build both physical and mental strength.

The Department of Design incorporated the popular mobile game Pikmin into a lively and creative dance performance.

Students from Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University wore traditional attire and combined live music and dance performances, showcasing cultural diversity and celebrating Taiwan Tech’s 51st anniversary. (Photo by Fei-Yang Yu )

A Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony was also held, recognizing alumni for outstanding achievements in industry and society. This year’s honorees include Shen-Fu Hsu, Chairman of ACE Solution Co., Ltd.; Wann-Yih Wu, Chairman of Huimin Environmental Tech Corp.; Chuan Min, Chairman of Dong Fong Technology Co., Ltd.; and Pi-Tung Tsai, Chairman of TOPGET CO., LTD. Each has demonstrated long-term dedication and innovation in their respective fields while giving back to society, highlighting the strong influence of Taiwan Tech alumni in industry.

In addition to sports competitions and the awards ceremony, student clubs contributed to the festive atmosphere through a campus fair featuring 54 booths with specialty foods, games, and club showcases. One notable booth, “Time Capsule Corner”, sold unclaimed lost items and donated secondhand goods, with all proceeds going to the university’s emergency aid fund, promoting both resource reuse and community care.

Several newly established clubs also attracted attention, including the Cosplay Club and Rocket Club. The Rocket Club focuses on promoting aerospace knowledge and hands-on practice, while the Cosplay Club showcases subculture through role-playing, drawing strong student interest and reflecting the diversity and vitality of campus life.

The second-hand charity stall “Time treasures” sells unclaimed lost items from the campus as well as donated second-hand goods. All proceeds will be donated to the campus emergency relief fund. Photo by Fei-Yang Yu.

The Cosplay Club set up a booth called “DOKIDOKI Clinic” at the fair, showcasing the charm of subculture through role-playing, while also selling waffles and cold drinks to heal the soul and taste buds.

Food was also an essential part of the fair.  The fair also featured international cuisine from overseas student associations, along with stage performances by various clubs, including rock bands, the guitar club, magic club, and a joint fire dance group from three universities. Inflatable castles and large slingshot games added to the festive fun, creating a lively atmosphere from day to evening.

On the 14th, Taiwan Tech also held an anniversary road race at the Baozangyan Riverside Plaza, attracting over 1,000 faculty, students, and alumni. Notably, medals for the top three finishers were made from Burmese rosewood (Pterocarpus macrocarpus), symbolizing peace and prosperity in Myanmar culture, adding special commemorative value to the event.

Through a series of events including the sports day, road race, and campus fair, Taiwan Tech not only showcased its commitment to sports and healthy living but also integrated sustainability and student creativity to create a vibrant and cohesive campus celebration. As it marks its 51st anniversary, the university aims to strengthen connections among faculty, students, and alumni, uphold its spirit of “Precision and Integrity”, and continue advancing in teaching, research, and industry–academia collaboration.

A fun competition, the “Team Jump Rope Challenge”, was also held during the sports day, testing teamwork, coordination, and endurance.