SPE Welcomes First Cohort of Students and Faculty

 

On August 26, SPE held its welcome mixer for its first cohort of students and newly appointed faculty members. As Taiwan’s first graduate school to offer an all-English curriculum in the fields of political economy and finance, SPE marks a significant milestone in higher education. SPE currently offers two master’s degree programs: the Master’s Program in Finance and the Master’s Program in Political Economy. A total of 51 students has enrolled in the first intake, including 30 students in the Political Economy Program (17 domestic and 13 international) and 21 students in the Finance Program (12 domestic and 9 international). The School also welcomed five new full-time faculty members this semester. 

 

(From left to right) Professor Hsin-Chun Wang, Professor Hans H. Tung, SPE Associate Dean Chia-Wei Kuo, SPE Associate Dean I-Hsuan Hong, and NTU Vice President Wang-Ruu Tseng

 

The event opened with remarks from Professor Bennett Fu, Director of the Center for Global Affairs. NTU President Wen-Chang Chen, NTU Vice President Wang-Ruu Tseng, SPE Associate Dean Chia-Wei Kuo, and SPE Associate Dean I-Hsuan Hong offered words of encouragement to the students, while Program Directors Professor Hsin-Chun Wang (Finance) and Professor Hans H. Tung (Political Economy) shared reflections on their own academic journeys.

 

   

NTU President Wen-Chang Chen (left) and Vice President Wang-Ruu Tseng (right) offered words of encouragement to the students.

 

Professor Fu introduced SPE’s symbolic color—Very Peri, Pantone’s Color of the Year 2022—which represents the global zeitgeist and a moment of transformation. He further explained the School’s motto “SPE Scientiae, SPE Civitatis” and announced the winners of the bilingual motto translation and tagline competitions. The English translation contest was won by Tim Steczka of the finance program, with “Trust in Knowledge, Hope in Society.” The Chinese translation award went to Li-Tzu Chang of the political economy program, for “以所問治世，望所學濟民”. The tagline contest was won by Natamon Aumphin of the political economy program with “Lead the Change, Redefine the World.”

 

Professor Fu explained the Chinese translation of SPE’s motto.

 

This semester, SPE also welcomes five new faculty members: Associate Professor Tim Kooijmans, Assistant Professor Yi-Hsin Lo, and Assistant Professor Jonathan Hsu in the Finance Program; and Assistant Professors Francesco Cenerini and Mariam Malashkhia in the Political Economy Program. Each professor introduced their upcoming courses and warmly invited students to engage in academic exchange.

 

(From left to right) Assistant Professor Yi-Hsin Lo, Assistant Professor Jonathan Hsu, and Associate Professor Tim Kooijmans of the Finance Program.

 

(From left to right) Assistant Professors Francesco Cenerini and Mariam Malashkhia of the Political Economy Program.

 

To help international students adapt to life in Taiwan, SPE has launched the Peer Guide Program, recruiting students with strong communication and intercultural skills to provide pre-arrival assistance, orientation support, campus tours, regular consultation hours, cultural activities, and emergency reporting. The initiative aims to strengthen on-the-ground support and foster a welcoming, inclusive learning environment.

 

SPE Peer Guides introduced themselves to the students.

 

The mixer also featured a spread of freshly baked pizza, crispy fried chicken, delicate cream puffs, and a variety of refreshing beverages. Faculty and students mingled over food in a lively atmosphere, exchanging academic interests and aspirations for the future. The event concluded on a warm and celebratory note, setting an inspiring tone for the School’s very first semester.