Lin Jianzheng's Perspective: Reappointed for 3 Days and Then Applied for a U.S. University Presidency - Examining the Institutional Gaps in Taiwan University Governance from the Gao Wei-yuan Incident

Gao Wei-yuan, the president of National Tsing Hua University, was reappointed on March 17, 2023, with the support of more than half of the university's professors and associate professors. His second term was scheduled to begin on May 1, 2023, and end on April 30, 2030. However, just 3 days after his reappointment took effect, he applied for the presidency of the University of Hawaii at Manoa but was not selected. The news sparked widespread criticism. Academician Chu Ching-yi of the Academia Sinica publicly criticized the action as "shameless" and even suggested that it was worth starting a student movement. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Lin Chuin described the situation as "riding a donkey while looking for a horse." The Ministry of Education responded that the action did not violate any laws, and the university administration emphasized that it was a personal decision and that university operations were not affected. Analyzing public opinion, critics argue from the perspectives of integrity, commitment, and responsibility, while supporters advocate for academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Neutral observers propose risk analysis, information symmetry, and the establishment of a minimum term of office. The Ministry of Education's response, which relies on "legality," respects university autonomy but tends to avoid substantive evaluations. Critics point out that the candidate may have hidden the fact that he was considering other positions during the reappointment vote, which is a breach of trust. Supporters argue for the freedom of academic professionals to choose their careers. Neutral observers suggest establishing mechanisms for information disclosure and setting a minimum term of office.