Kao Wei-yuan apologizes for U.S. job search controversy

Kao Wei-yuan, President of National Tsing Hua University, held a public briefing to apologize for traveling to the United States to participate in a selection process for a university presidency shortly after beginning his second term in May.

Kao admitted to being inconsiderate of the unique responsibilities of his position and acknowledged that his actions damaged the university's reputation. He clarified that the trip to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa was a campus visit for mutual evaluation and that no further developments or appointments resulted from it.

To demonstrate accountability, Kao has donated his May salary to a student dormitory optimization project and pledged to donate his salary every May for the remainder of his term, which ends in April 2030. He also stated he will fully cooperate with any investigations by the university's supervisory committee.

The controversy has drawn criticism from faculty and alumni regarding his integrity, with some calling for a vote on his leadership. Despite the situation, the university reported significant ongoing philanthropic support, including recent donations totaling over 76 million TWD and potential future contributions exceeding 1.5 billion TWD.