Media veterans share insights with Taiwan’s next-gen talent

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — National Chengchi University's Master's Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology held its fall orientation Friday (Sept. 4). The event brought together university leadership, international media professionals, and faculty to welcome new students to the interdisciplinary, bilingual program.

NCCU President Tsai-Yen Li (李蔡彥) praised the program, known as GCIT (全創碩), noting it offers diverse opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, internships, and overseas study. He encouraged students to broaden their global perspectives and develop professional skills needed to navigate "a rapidly changing world."

International media professionals also addressed the students. Dimitri Bruyas, head of the English news team at TVBS, and Adrian Kennedy, senior editor at Bloomberg, shared insights from their journalism careers.

Bruyas, who has worked in Taiwan for about 27 years, told students that while the industry continues to evolve, the fundamentals remain constant. "Technology will change, but your ability to tell stories, verify facts, and connect with people, will always matter," he said.

He encouraged students to embrace new tools, including artificial intelligence, while staying curious and persistent. "AI tools make our work easier and faster," Bruyas added. "Help us make this media landscape more diverse, more open, and more competitive."

TVBS has launched a new tech brand called TVBS Tech, which aggregates coverage of technology and industry trends. The platform features reporting on the semiconductor industry, startups, and emerging technologies. It includes a podcast series called "Rise of the Silicon Desert — Investing in Arizona" (矽沙漠崛起－錢進亞利桑那), examining Taiwan's role in Arizona's growing chip manufacturing sector.

The NCCU program, established in February 2022, integrates resources from five NCCU colleges: the College of Communication, the International College of Innovation, the College of Informatics, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Law. It offers an English-medium instruction environment and a dual-mentorship system pairing students with academic and industry mentors.



GCIT Director Tammy Lin (林日璇) introduced the program's features and guided new students through academic planning. Students can choose between two graduation pathways: a capstone project or a thesis.

Nine faculty members introduced courses covering new media, international journalism, human-computer interaction, marketing technology, and global communication culture.

Dean of the International College of Innovation Vance Lo (羅光達), who took office in August, encouraged students to step beyond the classroom and approach cultural differences with an open mind.

The orientation also featured a visit to the virtual studio, where staff from Forevertek (人揚長遠) introduced virtual production technology and its applications.

The event concluded with a networking luncheon where senior students shared experiences in courses and internships. The program receives funding from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education's Higher Education Sprout Project (高等教育深耕計畫). ◼