Professor Wen-Chang Chen Takes Office as NTU’s 13th President

Professor Wen-Chang Chen (陳文章) took up the post as NTU’s 13th president on January 7. The ceremony was overseen by the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Political Deputy Minister of Education Mon-Chi Lio (劉孟奇). Former Presidents Chen Sun (孫震), Wei-Jao Chen (陳維昭), and Pan-Chyr Yang (楊泮池) all gave congratulations to President Wen-Chang Chen during their warm speeches. The handover ceremony was heart-touching and filled with laughter and tears.

Former President Chung-Ming Kuan expressed his gratitude to the administrative team and all the NTU staff for their assistance and support in promoting the Future University programs, enhancing global connections, raising funds for faculty and students, and standardizing the NTU regulations. Four years ago, former President Kuan stated at the handover ceremony that he would go all out in this position. Now, he believes that he has fulfilled his promise. He can hand over the baton to President Wen-Chang Chen without regret and sincerely wishes NTU and President Chen a bright and promising future in the coming years.

During his inauguration speech, President Chen stated that the succession of presidency is like a relay race. He will make great efforts to maintain NTU’s leading position in Taiwan’s higher education. He also emphasized his vision for NTU’s next four years: “to lead NTU to the forefront of higher education globally and celebrate the glory of a century.” Based on this vision, he put forward the four main missions: 1. Adhere to academic freedom, pursue truth, and shape a spirit that is respected by the international community; 2. Cultivate leaders with creativity, leadership, execution, and an altruistic spirit in various professional fields; 3. Encourage faculty and students to face challenges bravely, solve essential issues of human sustainability, and lead the direction of world development; 4. Actively assist the development of the country, lead the social trend of thought, and become an influential think tank for Taiwan’s development.

President Wen-Chang Chen was born in Taichung County in 1963. He received his doctorate degree from the University of Rochester in 1993. He is now President of NTU, Chair Professor of NTU, and Distinguished Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science and Engineering. His past positions include Dean of the College of Engineering at NTU; President, Federation of Asian Polymer; President, the Polymer Society (Taipei); Polymer Program Coordinator, National Science Council (Taiwan, ROC), etc. His major awards and Honors include Honorary PhD, University of Grenoble-Alps; National Chair Professorship (Engineering and Applied Science), Ministry of Education (Taiwan, ROC); Academician, Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials (APAM); Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), etc.