Cheng Ying-yao

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.^[6][7] During his presidential tenure, Cheng in 2019 proposed that NSYSU merge with Kaohsiung Medical University.^[8][9] The following year, Cheng commented on, then penned an open letter about, the university's handling of plagiarism allegations against alumnae Li Mei-jhen.^[10][11] In 2022, NSYSU became the first university in Taiwan to offer mental health leave to its students,^[12] and inaugurated the College of Semiconductor and Advanced Technology Research.^[13]

In the mid-2000s, Cheng headed the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Education.^[14][15] He later served two terms as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party-affiliated New Frontier Foundation [zh].^[16]

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.^[17]

On 8 January 2026, Cheng was sanctioned by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the People's Republic of China as a "diehard "Taiwan independence" separatist" for "organising the compilation of ‘Taiwan independence’ textbooks, poisoning the minds of young people on the island and obstructing cross-strait educational exchanges and cooperation".^[18]