NCKU Honors Distinguished Alumni Joshua Jih Pan, Pierre Chen, and Yung-Pei Chyn with Honorary Doctorates in Architecture and Technology
Edited by Rainee Cheng. Image Credit to NCKU News Center.
From left: Dr. Joshua Jih Pan, Dr. Pierre Chen, NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, Dr. Yung-Pei Chyn, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sheng-Chih Shen.
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held an Honorary Doctorate Conferral Ceremony on March 25, awarding an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture to Joshua Jih Pan, Founder and Principal Architect of JJP Architects and Planners. Honorary Doctorates in Engineering were conferred upon Pierre Chen, Founder and Chairman of YAGEO Corporation, and Yung-Pei (Y.P.) Chyn, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The degrees were awarded in recognition of the three alumni’s outstanding achievements in the fields of architecture and technology, as well as their profound contributions to the nation and society. Hosted by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen, the grand ceremony was attended by numerous distinguished guests.
President Shen noted in his remarks that all three honorary doctorate recipients had previously received the NCKU “Outstanding Alumni Award.” He emphasized that this is a hard-earned honor with an approval rate of less than one percent, and receiving an honorary doctorate is even rarer, representing the highest accolade bestowed by their alma mater. President Shen highlighted that these three distinguished alumni began their journeys at NCKU, shone in their respective professional fields, and stepped onto the global stage, leaving indelible marks that not only bring glory to NCKU but also earn worldwide recognition. Their rigorous and conscientious approach to life and work fully embodies the NCKU spirit and bears witness to the university’s educational philosophy: “Seeking no exaggeration, rejecting superficiality, and silently making significant contributions to Taiwan’s industrial foundation and transformation.” On behalf of all faculty, staff, and students, President Shen extended his deepest respect and sincere congratulations to the three senior alumni, touchingly concluding, “The three distinguished alumni stepped onto this campus as NCKU students back then, and today they return with the prestigious title of NCKU Honorary Doctorates. Welcome home.”
President Meng-Ru Shen (left) confers an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture upon Joshua Jih Pan (right), Founder and Principal Architect of JJP Architects and Planners.
Joshua Jih Pan, Founder of JJP Architects and Planners
A luminary in the architectural field, Dr. Joshua Jih Pan is the first Taiwanese architect to be elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). His representative work, the Chung Yuan Christian University Chang Ching Yu Memorial Library, is Taiwan’s first modern open-stack library and a crucial pioneer in green building practices. When tackling the architectural design, research, and integration of cutting-edge technology and highly specialized facilities, he demonstrates forward-looking and pragmatic design execution, having successfully led numerous high-tech and highly complex projects. These include Taiwan’s Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory and the ultra-high-brightness Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) synchrotron accelerator. He was also responsible for the architectural design of top-tier medical institutions, such as the National Taiwan University Cancer Center (NTUCC) and the NTUCC Radiation Science and Proton Therapy Center. Notably, over 75% of TSMC's manufacturing facilities in Taiwan were designed and supervised by JJP.
In his remarks, Dr. Pan expressed his profound honor and delight at being recognized by his alma mater and awarded an honorary doctorate more than half a century after his graduation. He believes that among all professions, architects—second only to doctors—have the most profound impact on humanity through the built environment. However, society’s recognition of this field remains insufficient. Expressing gratitude for his alma mater’s inspiration and guidance, he recalled his freshman year when a professor encouraged students to practice four principles, “Set your heart on the Way, base yourself on virtue, lean on benevolence, and immerse yourself in the arts,” in order to become excellent architects. This teaching has remained etched in his mind throughout his decades-long life and career, serving as a vital guiding principle.
Dr. Pan further pointed out that Chinese culture emphasizes the balance among “nature, humanity, the physical environment, and the self.” Ideal architectural design strikes a harmony among these elements, rather than serving as an arbitrary display of the architect’s personal style. Education following the Western Industrial Revolution has often emphasized that “man can conquer nature,” a mindset that has inadvertently led to global warming and various environmental issues. Every architect at JJP upholds the philosophy of “nature, humanity, the physical environment, and the self,” approaching every design project with prudence. Finally, Dr. Pan once again thanked his alma mater for its recognition and stated that he will always be proud of NCKU.
Dr. Pan is an alumnus of the NCKU Department of Architecture, Class of 1963, and received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2013. Deeply committed to NCKU's teaching and research, he established the JJP Joshua Jih Pan Architecture Lecture Series in 2019 to broaden the design perspectives and humanistic cultivation of architecture students. He has also actively encouraged JJP architects to participate in a series of events hosted by the NCKU Department of Architecture. In 2022, they organized the “NCKU Architecture JJP Student Vertical Studio Competition.” Furthermore, JJP consistently sponsors the undergraduate graduation design exhibition in June and the M.Arch II graduate exhibition in January, bringing practical experience to the campus, inspiring students' design imagination, and solidifying their professional architectural foundations.
President Meng-Ru Shen (left) confers an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering upon Pierre Chen (right), Founder and Chairman of YAGEO Corporation.
Pierre Chen, Founder and Chairman of YAGEO Corporation
Since dedicating himself to YAGEO in 1984, Dr. Pierre Chen, Founder and Chairman of YAGEO Corporation, has led the group through continuous capacity expansion, strategic acquisitions, and alliances with domestic and international enterprises. He transformed the company from a six-person component trading firm into the world’s No. 1 chip resistor manufacturer, a top-three global supplier of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs), and Taiwan’s largest passive component supplier. As of 2025, the group’s annual revenue reached a record high, with production and sales sites spanning 25 countries. Its business covers advanced technology sectors including automotive, industrial, medical, aerospace and defense, and AI. YAGEO also promotes environmental sustainability by implementing pollution prevention and resource recycling, while committing to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees.
Dr. Chen expressed his gratitude for NCKU’s cultivation. He stated that his education in the Department of Engineering Science encompassed interdisciplinary knowledge in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics, computer science, and management. This four-year training was crucial to his character development and humanistic cultivation. After graduation, he gave up studying in the US for family reasons and stayed in Taiwan to start his business. “YAGEO is the only job I have ever had,” he noted. He recalled that in 1986, he raised NT$2 million through a rotating savings club to transition into manufacturing. In 1993, he applied for an initial public offering (IPO) with an annual revenue of only NT$400 million. Concerned that a company of this scale could not withstand the economic fluctuations of the electronics industry, the review committee rejected the application three times before finally approving it on the fourth attempt. As his business strategies proved successful and the company grew, YAGEO has now become a prime success story used by the stock exchange to encourage corporate listings.
Drawing on his management experience, Dr. Chen encouraged young people not to limit themselves to a specific industry when choosing a career, noting that “even in a bad industry, there are good companies.” Furthermore, one should not be fixated on large enterprises. Identifying companies with development potential is much more crucial. He also advised against job-hopping frequently, which makes it difficult to accumulate strength and experience. Facing the AI trend, he urged students not to fear technology, but rather to understand and leverage it to enhance their service and problem-solving capabilities. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of always maintaining curiosity, as it is the greatest driving force for sustaining passion in one’s work. Dr. Chen concluded with humor that if he had studied hard back then, he could have earned his Ph.D. in four years. “Now, it took me 40 years of hard work to get it, which is indeed quite exhausting,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
Dr. Chen is an alumnus of the NCKU Department of Engineering Science, Class of 1980, and received the NCKU Outstanding Alumni Award in 2020. Last year, he was invited to deliver a speech at the NCKU Phoenix Lecture, sharing his entrepreneurial journey from Tainan to the world, which received an enthusiastic response. YAGEO Corporation and NCKU have maintained a close, long-term relationship. The two parties established the “YAGEO-NCKU R&D Center,” where YAGEO provides process experience analysis, allowing NCKU faculty and students to conduct experiments and research on YAGEO’s production lines, thereby promoting deep industry-academia exchange and collaboration. In 2021, the “YAGEO Educational Scholarship” was established to support the cultivation of talent in STEM-related fields.
President Meng-Ru Shen (left) confers an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering upon Yung-Pei Chyn, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of TSMC.
Y.P. Chyn, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of TSMC
With deep roots in the semiconductor field, Dr. Y.P. Chyn is a renowned integrated circuit (IC) technology expert in the industry. He spearheaded TSMC’s manufacturing excellence, ensuring the company maintains its global leadership in semiconductor process technology while providing reliable production capacity. Championing a team spirit of innovation, collaboration, and efficiency, he actively promotes industry-academia collaboration programs between TSMC and various universities in Taiwan. These efforts strengthen talent cultivation mechanisms, attract and retain top-tier global tech professionals, and further propel Taiwan’s position as a global talent hub for semiconductor technology.
In his remarks, Dr. Chyn humbly stated that his knowledge and capabilities pale in comparison to those of the other two honorees, Dr. Pan and Dr. Chen. “Receiving an honorary doctorate from my alma mater is truly a reflection of the widespread support and affection from all sectors toward TSMC,” he noted. He expressed gratitude for the positive influence his professors had upon him at NCKU and extended special thanks to TSMC Founder Dr. Morris Chang and past executives for their mentorship and trust. He also expressed deep appreciation to his wife for her enduring support and care, which has allowed him to dedicate himself fully to his career development without any reservations.
Dr. Chyn joined TSMC in 1987 when the company was still in its infancy. At that time, customers were limited, and talent recruitment was exceptionally difficult. However, a communication meeting between Founder Morris Chang and the management team left a lasting impression on him. During the meeting, the founder emphasized that TSMC’s operations must be grounded in the core value of “Integrity,” meaning the company must always deliver on its promises to customers.. This pivotal moment set the tone for TSMC’s three major competitive advantages: technology leadership, manufacturing excellence, and customer trust.
Dr. Chyn expressed profound admiration for Founder Morris Chang’s vision and steadfast leadership, which have made TSMC’s chip yield rates and production efficiency a global benchmark. The company has expanded its capacity each year and has established a manufacturing discipline that has been validated worldwide. To maintain its technology leadership, TSMC spares no effort in research and development investment. Dr. Chyn also shared that in 2018, the industry generally considered manufacturing 7-nanometer chips using the then-immature Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology to be too risky. However, Founder Morris Chang insisted on pushing forward. Thanks to the hard work of all employees, the endeavor ultimately succeeded, allowing TSMC to enable its customers to execute their most complex designs.
Dr. Chyn earned his Bachelor’s degree from the NCKU Department of Electrical Engineering in 1978 and his Master’s degree in 1982. He received the NCKU Outstanding Alumni Award in 2019. Dedicated to promoting industry-academia collaboration, Dr. Chyn has continuously fostered academic and technical exchanges between TSMC and NCKU. Over the past decade, the two institutions have accumulated 205 joint research projects. In addition, since the 2019 academic year, the TSMC Education and Culture Foundation has annually sponsored the NCKU “Cheng Hsing Admissions Program” to support the education and development of underprivileged students.
Provider:
NCKU News Center
Date:
2026-04-02
