SKKU Confers Honorary Doctorate in Education upon President Tsai-Yen Li of National Chengchi University, Taiwan

-Recognized for contributions to digital innovation in education and promotion of international cooperation

-Reaffirming 60 years of friendship and collaboration between the two universities

▲ (From left) President Yoo Ji-Beom of Sungkyunkwan University and President Tsai-Yen Li of National Chengchi University

On October 21 (Tuesday) at 4 p.m., Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Education upon President Tsai-Yen Li of National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan, in a ceremony held at the First Conference Room of the 600th Anniversary Hall.

The ceremony was attended by President Li and his spouse, along with a delegation of ten representatives from NCCU, celebrating the long-standing friendship between the two universities.

President Tsai-Yen Li has served as a professor in the Department of Computer Science at NCCU since 1995, dedicating more than 30 years to education, research, and university administration. Since assuming the presidency in 2022, he has pursued the core vision of “Digital Empowerment,” leading the digital transformation of education, research, and administration across the university. He has also established an innovative governance system that integrates information technology into a traditionally humanities- and social-sciences-oriented institution.

From 2014 to 2016, President Li served as Director-General of the Department of Information and Technology Education under Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, overseeing national ICT initiatives such as the “Digital Campus for Primary and Secondary Schools” and the “University Programming Education Enhancement Project.” These efforts have been widely recognized for strengthening the digital foundation of Taiwan’s education system and fostering innovation in learning environments.

As Chairman of the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), President Li has also played a key role in expanding Taiwan’s global academic network by leading international initiatives such as the Study in Taiwan Education Fair, the Taiwan–Japan University Presidents’ Forum, and the U.S.–Taiwan Education Cooperation Program.

Earlier that same day, the two universities co-hosted the “SKKU–NCCU Academic Workshop” at SKKU’s International Hall. The workshop, themed around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and East Asian Studies, featured 12 faculty presenters from both institutions. It served as a platform for Korean and Taiwanese scholars to discuss academic transformations in the AI era and explore new possibilities for the humanities.

President Yoo Ji-Beom remarked, “President Tsai-Yen Li is an educator who embodies both academic leadership and social commitment. He has led NCCU’s digital innovation and internationalization, significantly contributing to the advancement of Taiwan’s higher education competitiveness. In recognition of his achievements and dedication, we are honored to confer upon him the Honorary Doctorate in Education.”

Since signing their first international exchange agreement in 1964, SKKU and NCCU have maintained over 60 years of partnership through student and faculty exchanges as well as academic collaboration. Beginning in 1975, the two universities have continued their tradition of mutually conferring honorary doctorates upon their presidents, reaffirming their enduring friendship and cooperation.