Cheng Ying-yao

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

Early life and education
Cheng was raised in Penghu. 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.

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

Political career
In the mid-2000s, Cheng headed the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Education. He later served two terms as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party-affiliated New Frontier Foundation.

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