Taiwan Tech held an honorary doctorate conferment ceremony today (May 7), awarding an Honorary Doctorate in Management to President Santiago Peña Palacios of the Republic of Paraguay. The ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao and attended by senior officials from both Taiwan and Paraguay, including Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming-Chi Chen, Paraguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, and Secretary-General of the Presidency Francisco Javier Giménez. Together, they celebrated the achievements of Taiwan-Paraguay cooperation in higher education and talent development and the strong ties between the two nations.
Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Management upon President Santiago Peña in the presence of Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao during the ceremony held on May 7.
With a professional background in economics and finance, President Peña previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Paraguay and as Minister of Finance. Since taking office, he has continuously advanced bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Paraguay. In addition to speaking out in support of Taiwan and advocating for Taiwan’s international participation on numerous occasions, he has actively promoted collaborative initiatives in education, science and technology, healthcare, agriculture, trade, and economic development. President Peña regards education as a cornerstone of national development and has long supported the establishment and operation of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP). Through this partnership, he has maintained close ties with Taiwan Tech. In 2025, he also recorded a congratulatory video message for taiwan Tech’s 50th anniversary celebration, demonstrating the importance he places on cooperation between the two institutions.
In his remarks, President Peña stated that the honor was not only a personal achievement but a reflection of the Paraguayan people’s enduring pursuit of progress and a symbol of the decades-long friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan. He recalled personally participating in discussions regarding the establishment of UPTP while serving as Minister of Finance in 2017. Seeing the project flourish and produce generations of talented young professionals has been a source of immense pride.
President Peña emphasized that UPTP is more than an academic institution; it is a strategic investment in Paraguay’s future. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Taiwan Tech for its pivotal contribution. Through its unwavering commitment, academic excellence, and visionary leadership, Taiwan Tech has played an indispensable role in advancing and strengthening the development of the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University.”
President Peña noted that Paraguay is steadily transforming into a nation driven by talent, technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and innovation. The key to this transformation lies in building a strong university system, developing high-quality research capabilities, and fostering international partnerships. For this reason, cooperation with Taiwan is of critical importance. He also expressed hope that the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay would continue to deepen, with younger generations becoming the protagonists of a new era founded on learning, innovation, and mutual friendship.
President Santiago Peña delivered remarks during the ceremony.
Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao stated in her address that President Peña’s vision is guided by the belief that a nation’s strength is measured not by the abundance of its natural resources but by the quality of its citizens’ education. She noted that this philosophy closely aligns with Taiwan’s own values. Quoting the Chinese proverb, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person”, Vice President Hsiao thanked Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen and the university’s faculty members for their dedication to the UPTP cross-border education initiative. She noted that the program’s graduates have become important bridges connecting Taiwan and Paraguay and have helped make education a driving force for national development and opportunity creation for younger generations.
Vice President Hsiao also shared that she first met President Peña in Washington, D.C., before he was elected president. “He was an exceptionally dedicated, results-oriented, and hardworking leader”, she recalled. “To this day, his passion for serving the people of Paraguay continues to inspire me deeply.”
She concluded by describing what she called the “Five Ps” that define the Taiwan–Paraguay relationship: President Peña, Passion, People, Paraguay, and a Principled Partnership with Taiwan. Together, she said, these five Ps make the relationship “Perfect.”
Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao delivered remarks at the ceremony.
Since the signing of the Letter of Intent for the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University (UPTP) at the end of 2017, Taiwan Tech has been entrusted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibilities including faculty deployment, curriculum planning, integration of educational resources, and scholarship support. UPTP has enrolled eight cohorts of students and currently offers degree programs in Civil and Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Computer Science and Information Engineering. Its educational model consists of two years of study in Paraguay, one and a half years of study in Taiwan, and six months of internship training, cultivating engineering professionals with both international perspectives and practical expertise.
To recognize President Peña’s outstanding contributions to education and public service, as well as his support for Taiwan, Taiwan Tech awarded him the Honorary Doctorate in Management. The honorary doctorate citation was formally read by Yu-Chung Tsao, Dean of the College of Management. In his remarks, Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen highlighted the achievements of the UPTP partnership. To date, 462 UPTP students have participated in exchange studies at Taiwan Tech, while 296 graduates have gone on to contribute to Paraguay’s industrial development and national construction efforts. He expressed hope that continued academic collaboration would further strengthen the friendship between Taiwan and Paraguay.
Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen delivered remarks during the ceremony.
Dean Yu-Chung Tsao of the College of Management read the honorary doctorate citation for President Santiago Peña.
Group photo of distinguished guests. From left to right: Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen, Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng, Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao, President Santiago Peña of Paraguay, Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, UPTP President Carlos Duarte, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming-Chi Chen.
The honorary doctorate ceremony was witnessed by Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao and attended by senior officials from Taiwan and Paraguay, including Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng, Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, and UPTP President Carlos Duarte.
Group photo from the honorary doctorate conferment ceremony for President Santiago Peña.
Currently, 110 Paraguayan students are studying at Taiwan Tech, including 80 UPTP exchange students and 30 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree students. Following the ceremony, President Peña held a discussion session with nearly 80 Paraguayan students on campus, expressing concern for their academic progress and daily lives. He encouraged them to make the most of their educational opportunities in Taiwan and to bring their knowledge and experience back to Paraguay to contribute to the nation’s future development.
President Peña met with nearly 80 Paraguayan students following the ceremony. The photo shows a group picture taken after the discussion session.