Cheng Ying-yao (Chinese: 鄭英耀; born 12 October 1955) is a Taiwanese academic administrator and politician who served as the Education Minister of Taiwan since 2024.

Cheng Ying-yao
鄭英耀
Official portrait, 2024
31st Minister of Education
Assumed office
20 May 2024
Prime MinisterCho Jung-tai
Preceded byPan Wen-chung
7th President of National Sun Yat-sen University
In office
1 August 2016 – 20 May 2024
Preceded byWu Chi-hua (acting)
Succeeded byKuo Chih-wen (acting)
Personal details
Born (1955-10-12) 12 October 1955 (age 69)
Penghu County, Taiwan
Political partyIndependent
EducationNational Pingtung University (BA)
National Kaohsiung Normal University (MA)
National Chengchi University (PhD)

Early life and education

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Cheng was raised in Penghu.[1] After graduating from the Pingtung Normal College, he became an elementary schoolteacher, and subsequently completed a master's in education from National Kaohsiung Normal University in 1985, followed by a doctorate in education at National Chengchi University in 1992.[2][3][4]

Academic career

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Cheng began his career at National Sun Yat-sen University in 1985,[3] first as a professor and successively serving as the dean of students and social sciences before assuming the university presidency.[5][6] During his presidential tenure, Cheng in 2019 proposed that NSYSU merge with Kaohsiung Medical University.[7][8] The following year, Cheng commented on, then penned an open letter about, the university's handling of plagiarism allegations against alumnae Li Mei-jhen.[9][10] In 2022, NSYSU became the first university in Taiwan to offer mental health leave to its students,[11] and inaugurated the College of Semiconductor and Advanced Technology Research.[12]

Political career

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In the mid-2000s, Cheng headed the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Education.[13][14] He later served two terms as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party-affiliated New Frontier Foundation [zh].[15]

Cheng was named Minister of Education in Cho Jung-tai's incoming cabinet on 12 April 2024.[2] At the time of his appointment to the Executive Yuan, Cheng held no party affiliation.[16]

References

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  1. ^ 黃, 旭磊 (9 June 2018). "接任教育部長呼聲高 鄭英耀這麼說…". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hou, Elaine; Lai, Sunny; Hsieh, Hsing-en; Yeh, Kuan-yin (12 April 2024). "New education, justice and culture ministers announced".
  3. ^ a b "鄭英耀出任教育部長 卓榮泰:盼給青年優質學習環境" (in Chinese). Radio Taiwan International. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Dr. Ying-Yao CHENG President, National Sun Yat-sen University Kaohsiung, Taiwan" (PDF). National Sun Yat-sen University. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Kaohsiung looks to Athens games for sports lessons". Taipei Times. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ Lin, Sean; Tsao, Po-yan (7 August 2014). "KAOHSIUNG DISASTER: Activists, residents call on premier to step down". Taipei Times.
  7. ^ Yang, Chin-cheng; Lin, Rachel (4 March 2019). "Ministry to suspend courses at watchlisted institutions". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ Huang, Hsu-lei; Hsiao, Sherry (7 April 2019). "Merger not decision of one party: KMU". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ Chung, Jake (23 July 2020). "KMT's Jane Lee copied 96 percent of thesis: report". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ^ Fang, Chih-hsien; Xie, Dennis (27 July 2020). "University president says school can win back trust". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ Lin, Rachel; Yang, Chin-chieh (25 September 2023). "More schools let students take mental health leave". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ Wang, Jung-hsiang; Hetherington, William (23 July 2022). "NSYSU semiconductor talent cultivator launched". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. ^ Huang, Jewel (15 June 2004). "Kaohsiung wins bid to host World Games 2009". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  14. ^ Wang, Flora (22 May 2007). "Renaming of school podiums sparks ruckus in Kaohsiung". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  15. ^ "聲稱「影武者出手」 陳學聖遭酸「公眾人物不應隨意揣測」 原文網址: 聲稱「影武者出手」 陳學聖遭酸「公眾人物不應隨意揣測」". Newtalk (in Chinese). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  16. ^ 蔡, 晉宇 (12 April 2024). "卓榮泰組民主大聯盟…第二波新內閣名單 5位閣員4位無黨籍". United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 April 2024.