Honors College High Table Dinner Reflects the Spirit of Liberal Arts Education
Written by: Tutor Liang Ziqing
Liberal Arts education is a hallmark of Honors College's learning approach, originating from the basic subjects that a free person in ancient Western cities was expected to study. Modern liberal arts education emphasizes the learning of life skills, which is not only acquired in school classrooms but also through experiential activities. The High Table Dinner is based on the traditional formal hall dinners at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and it is an important learning activity at Honors College every semester. It reflects the Western society’s attention to dining etiquette and protocols, making it an excellent way for Eastern students to experience Western culture. In addition to requiring formal attire, the High Table Dinner also has higher standards for table manners, protocols, and procedures.
The Honors College High Table Dinner for the 111th academic year, first semester, was held on the evening of November 28, 2022, at the Fu-Hwa International Culture and Education Center. The program on the day included welcoming guests to the venue, singing the school anthem, dining and socializing, a keynote speech followed by student talent performances, a group photo, and post-event networking. Over 30 college students participated in tasks such as publicity design, venue setup, event coordination, and performances. Therefore, the High Table Dinner was not just a banquet but also an important platform for students to learn formal dining etiquette and practice event management.
At the High Table Dinner that evening, many distinguished guests gathered, including Dean Lin Mei-Jun of the Office of Student Affairs, Dean Wang Zhen-Zhe of the Honors College, Dean Chen Jie-Shan of the College of Science, Dean Liu Mei-Hui of the Office of Academic Affairs, Director Liao Xue-Cheng of the Library, and Director Kang Min-Ping of the Secretariat Public Affairs Center, among others. Additionally, faculty from the Office of Student Affairs and Honors College, Tutors, and students were all present. This was also the first time that former Tutors and alumni were invited to the High Table Dinner, either in person or through recorded messages, to express their blessings. The goal was to foster exchange, share personal growth experiences, and pass on the learning and emotional bonds formed in the college.
In addition to experiencing high-standard dining etiquette, the Honors College, dedicated to liberal arts education, arranged a keynote speech to allow students to engage with industry experts and broaden their horizons. This interaction enables students to keep up with the development of technology and humanities and ensures that they continue lifelong learning without being left behind by the times.The keynote speaker for the evening was Li Yan-Rong, Associate Manager of the Management Center at MSI Technology. Li encouraged the faculty and students with her talk titled "Come on! Step Across!" She urged everyone to recognize that in this rapidly changing era, our expertise may be replaced by machines in a few decades. Therefore, the most important skill students should learn is to step out of their comfort zone, embrace new things, and face unknown challenges with an open mind. She emphasized the importance of learning, improving, and growing through difficulties, fostering resilience to adapt to challenges.
The dinner also provided an opportunity for the college students to showcase their talents. College student Xu Zhaoxi performed a diabolo act, while Wang Weiming and Lin Shipeng sang Karen Mok's "Slowly Falling for You." Additionally, Chen Zongsheng and Lin Shipeng performed a singing and dancing act of "Queendom." These performances highlighted the students' liberal arts learning across various fields beyond their academic expertise, enriching the content of the High Table Dinner.
Campus reporters also covered this wonderful High Table Dinner eventhttps://pr.ntnu.edu.tw/ntnunews/index.php?mode=data&id=21230&type_id=72
