Presidential Citation to Commend Great Contributions by Former NCKU President Han-Min Hsia

Written by Hsu Tsu-Yueh. Image credit to Su Hong-Yi.
 
On June 18, 2021, Han-Min Hsia, former president of National Cheng Kung University, passed away at the age of 90. On December 17, Vice President Lai Ching-Te presented the Presidential Citation, commending Hsia’s contributions to NCKU and the society, to Shou-Mei Wang, the widow of Hsia, at the Ge-Chi Hall of NCKU.
 
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Vice President Lai Ching-Te presented the Presidential Citation to Shou-Mei Wang, the widow of Han-Min Hsia
 
Huey-Jen Jenny Su, current president of NCKU, expressed that in the 8 years president Hsia led NCKU, the university transformed into a comprehensive university with good competitivity, paving the way for future contributions and achievements. “President Hsia recruited outstanding teachers for the university, expanded the campus by 30.6 hectares, which is one sixth of the current campus area.” Many of the big decisions back then have been great breakthroughs even in today’s standards, which shows how Hsia truly was prospective and made grand contributions because of his views.
 
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Huey-Jen Su, current president of NCKU, expressed that NCKU transformed into a comprehensive university in the eight year Han-Min Hsia led the university
 
Lai commended that Hsia exerted his best efforts in consideration of the society and its people, his achievements as NCKU president stand to testify his dedication and benevolence, marking him a model figure for the nation. As an alumnus of the NCKU College of Medicine, Lai said, “If not for former president Hsia, who established the medical center in NCKU, I would not have had the chance to be part of this university. The following leaders and staff of the medical center kept true to President Hsia’s goals and continued to make great contributions to the nation and society in each era.”
 
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Vice President Lai Ching-Te expressed that he would not have been part of NCKU if not for Han-Min Hsia’s establishing the medical center
 
Wang expressed her appreciation for Lai’s visit to Tainan and thanked NCKU for applying for the Presidential Citation. “Han-Min grew up in an orphanage and was able to put his talents to good use all thanks to the support and cultivation from the nation and society. He took nothing for granted and did his best to give back to the society. He was a dedicated public servant, putting all his efforts to helping more people. The honor signified in the Presidential Citation doesn’t only belong to him, but to all the people that have helped him in every deed.”
 
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Group photo of Vice President Lai Ching-Te (third from the right) and Huey-Jen Su (first from the right) with family member of Han-Min Hsia
 
Hsia took office in August 1980. In the eight years he led NCKU, he expanded NCKU campus by over 36.6 hectares, paving the way for the way the Tzu-Chiang, Ching-Yeh, Li-Hsing, and Kuei-Jen Campuses. He established the southern Taiwan medical center, which consisted the NCKU College of Medicine and the NCKU Hospital, transforming the originally engineering-based NCKU into a comprehensive university.
 
During his time in office as NCKU President, Hsia stayed true to the value of being practical and professional, knowing no rest in working to manage the university. Aside from pushing forward several development plans for the university, Hsia also established the NCKU Alumni Association Center and expanded the alumni associations in each part of the world, creating an interactive connection between the alumni and their alma mater. The Alumni Association Center has now become an effective hub for communication that links numerous alumni together.
 
In addition to NCKU President, Hsia had also served as the President of the Provincial Kaohsiung Institute of Technology, Administrative Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education, Head of the Department of Technological and Vocational Education of MOE, Chairperson of the National Science Council at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Convener of the Board of Science and Technology, and more. He played a crucial role in improving the nation’s infrastructure in communications and contributed greatly to the educational system and scientific development of the nation. After his retirement, Hsia persisted in helping the society. He established the National Information Infrastructure Enterprise Promotion Association in 1996 to continue supporting the overall national development. He carried on to philanthropic deeds, and with his donations established God Care About Earth (GCAE) to promote charity works. Hsia, who dedicated his whole life to selfless giving, is a role model for people to look up to.
Provider: News Center
Date: 2022-02-07