IBBA Freshman Welcome Ceremony 2025｜The beginning of a life-changing journey
Written by Chou Ping
On the afternoon of September 2nd, 2025, the IBBA program at NSYSU warmly welcomed its newest members during a vibrant and informative freshman orientation. The event aimed to make the newcomers feel welcomed and at ease, introducing them to the program’s structure and building meaningful connections within the IBBA community.
After sharing a meal, the event officially kicked off with a short but powerful opening remark from the president of the IBBA Student Association, Neo Lin, who quickly welcomed the freshmen and offered valuable guidance from a student’s perspective.
To set the tone, one of the esteemed professors and the director of the office of international affairs and accreditation in IBBA, Professor Timo Eccarius, was invited to deliver the opening remarks. He encouraged students to utilize the resources and opportunities NSYSU offers. Professor Timo pointed out that our program is an all-English course, and he believed every single one of them would achieve what they wish to accomplish. Professor Timo also took time to introduce the faculty in our program. Many of our professors and students are from abroad, which makes our program a very diverse environment for learning.
Following the heart-warming and motivational speech, the orientation continued with another remark by the IBBA program chair, Professor Chung-Lin Tsai. During his remarks, Professor Tsai mentioned that IBBA is truly a program where different cultures come together. A multi-cultural learning environment is very important, and IBBA is a great medium for exactly that. Moreover, Professor Tsai also shared his experiences while he was studying at Cambridge University. His speech was eye-opening and very inspiring.
After the remarks by the IBBA program chair, Neo returned to the stage, joined by Ping, Vice President of the IBBA Student Association, and started the main course of our orientation, a comprehensive breakdown of the IBBA curriculum, highlighting important updates and strategic advice for course selection. This year, emphasis was placed on how much credit the freshmen would actually need to gain during their exchange year; the number of credits was less than what it was last year. Tips on choosing required courses, electives, and understanding the graduation requirements were shared to help students plan their academic journey wisely.
Next, Jamie, the mentor of the International Mobility Program, introduced the opportunities available through exchange programs and dual degrees. She invited students to join the program’ official LINE group, encouraging them to stay connected, ask questions, and start thinking early about their international academic ambitions.
Following a short break, the room came alive with energy as Neo and Ping Chou, Vice President of the IBBA Student Association, led a lively series of interactive activities designed to break the ice and build camaraderie. The session kicked off with a Kahoot quiz, quizzing students on key information from earlier in the event. The game brought out a spirit of friendly competition while reinforcing important details in a lighthearted and engaging way.
Next came a dynamic group formation challenge, where students were invited to the stage to share fun facts about themselves—ranging from their credit load and blood type to their favorite color, pet preferences, and region of origin within Taiwan. Afterwards, participants were tasked with forming teams based on shared traits in these categories, all without the help of labels or name tags.
With each challenge, the first three teams to complete the task earned points, keeping everyone engaged and on their toes. In the end, students with the highest scores received prizes, generously provided by the IBBA program. But beyond the gift cards, the true reward lay in the laughter, teamwork, and genuine connections forged throughout the afternoon. What began as a room full of unfamiliar faces quickly transformed into a community of newfound friends.
As the event came to a close, laughter and excitement lingered in the room. What began with a room full of unfamiliar faces ended with budding friendships and a strong sense of community. The IBBA program is more than just a major — it’s a family. And on this special day, a new generation of students officially became part of it.
With the unwavering support of peers, professors, and staff, these freshmen are set to thrive in their new chapter at NSYSU. We look forward to seeing them grow, explore, and shine in the years ahead.
