【Article by Office of International Cooperation】
The sweltering heat is coming to an end, and the new academic year is about to begin! This year, National Chengchi University (NCCU) will welcome 170 international students from nearly 80 countries and close to 200 exchange students from 44 countries around the world. All will gather to complete their enrollment procedures. According to the Office of International Cooperation (OIC), if students have their documents prepared, they can complete the verification of academic credentials, residency permits, and insurance in just five minutes. In response to the summer heat, the OIC has partnered with the campus restaurant "The Match Kitchen" to offer each student a serving of animal welfare-compliant, sustainably-focused milk ice cream, conveying NCCU's warmest welcome to its international students.

The "One-Stop Registration" service, which has been in place since 2016, is marking nearly a decade of operation. This year, it is held in the administrative building's lobby for the first time since the pandemic. Bongiwe Sylvia Simelane, an IMBA student from Eswatini, noted that despite the long journey of over ten hours to Taiwan, the OIC administrative team managed to prepare all enrollment documents in just five minutes, leaving her amazed by their efficiency. Many international students who completed their enrollment procedures enjoyed ice cream while meeting new friends. Alysa Marie Fernandez Dispo, a student in the IDAS program from the Philippines, felt the campus's diversity and vitality, and is even more excited about her new life at NCCU. Jeffrey Karl Mann from the United States mentioned that although the bustling city atmosphere was a new experience for him, NCCU's highly international environment made him feel completely at ease.

Prof. Katherine Chen, who heads the Office of International Cooperation at NCCU, stated that NCCU's total number of international students is around 600 to 700. Providing considerate, efficient, and culturally respectful administrative services is essential in supporting international students. This year, the OIC has also expanded its Host Family Program, with retired and current faculty and staff taking care of new international students, and there are plans to include alumni in the support network in the future. Additionally, starting last year, the OIC has collaborated with all campus administrative units to promote administrative internationalization. Each unit now has a bilingual service window, and campus service letters and announcements are gradually being bilingualized to create an international-friendly campus environment.

She also emphasized that the first week of the semester is the busiest for international students. The entire university, from the OIC to various departments, as well as faculty, staff, and local students, is working diligently to prepare various welcoming activities. To accommodate the large amount of luggage brought by students, this year the OIC offers a free luggage transport service to the dormitories on campus for students with an OIC-issued luggage tag. With this support, even the rugged mountain paths become less daunting.
For more exciting activities, please follow the OIC's Instagram (@oic.nccu) and stay updated with all important information related to the start of the semester!