Introduction

President Yuan-Kuang Guu grew up in Pingtung City from a young age. After graduating from a graduate program at National Taiwan University and completing his military service as a reserve officer, he immediately entered the workforce, where he was responsible for constructing two food factories and held positions such as factory manager. In 1985, he made the transition to the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology as a faculty member, commencing his academic career in teaching and research within the university setting. In pursuit of further academic growth, he successfully obtained a government-funded scholarship from the Ministry of Education in 1987. He completed his studies in 1991 and returned to his alma mater’s Department of Food Science to contribute his expertise. Over the years, he has held key leadership positions at the university, including the Senior Executive Officers of General Affairs and Technology Cooperation, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing research and international collaboration.

In August 2004, President Guu was seconded to the Pingtung County Government as the Deputy County Mayor, responsible for assisting with county administration planning and development. His decision to enter politics as a scholar received widespread recognition and support from various sectors. In August 2006, he received the support of his peers and was appointed as the President of the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. During his 8-year term, he transformed the university into a paradigmatic science and technology institution with a focus on “Tropical Technology Agriculture.” In August 2014, President Guu was selected by the Ministry of Education to lead the newly merged National Pingtung University as its President. Over the following 8 years, he led faculty and staff from both institutions to achieve outstanding results in higher education, University Social Responsibility (USR), regional revitalization, and the Study of Pingtung. In July 2022, he completed his term as President and was immediately appointed as a Distinguished Professor at Meihao University, continuing to contribute to academic administration, teaching, and research.

Upon joining I-Shou University, President Guu aims to leverage the administrative experience accumulated over the past 16 years as the President of national universities. In collaboration with internal executives, professors, and administrative staff, he strives to establish ISU’s distinctive characteristics and elevate it to become the most competitive comprehensive university in central and southern Taiwan.