| Cheng Ying-yao | |
| Office1: | 31st Minister of Education |
| Primeminister1: | Cho Jung-tai |
| Term Start1: | 20 May 2024 |
| Predecessor1: | Pan Wen-chung |
| Office2: | 7th President of National Sun Yat-sen University |
| Term Start3: | 1 August 2016 |
| Term End3: | 20 May 2024 |
| Predecessor3: | Wu Chi-hua (acting) |
| Successor3: | Kuo Chih-wen (acting) |
| Birth Date: | 1955 10, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Penghu County, Taiwan |
| Nationality: | Taiwanese |
| Party: | Independent |
| Education: | National Pingtung University (BA) National Kaohsiung Normal University (MA) National Chengchi University (PhD) |
Cheng Ying-yao (; born 12 October 1955) is a Taiwanese academic administrator and politician who served as the Education Minister of Taiwan since 2024.
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]
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.[4] [5] During his presidential tenure, Cheng in 2019 proposed that NSYSU merge with Kaohsiung Medical University.[6] [7] The following year, Cheng commented on, then penned an open letter about, the university's handling of plagiarism allegations against alumnae Li Mei-jhen.[8] [9] In 2022, NSYSU became the first university in Taiwan to offer mental health leave to its students,[10] and inaugurated the College of Semiconductor and Advanced Technology Research.[11]
In the mid-2000s, Cheng headed the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Education.[12] [13] He later served two terms as leader of the Democratic Progressive Party-affiliated .[14]
Cheng was named Minister of Education in Cho Jung-tai's incoming cabinet on 12 April 2024.[15] At the time of his appointment to the Executive Yuan, Cheng held no party affiliation.[16]