Professor Yi-Chen Lan named new President of Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan

Western Sydney University warmly congratulates Professor Yi-Chen Lan, who has been named the President-elect of Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan.

Currently Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Development and Provost of the Vietnam campus, Professor Lan will leave the University after 23 years of exemplary service to take up his new role on 1 February 2024.

Recently announced by Fu Jen Catholic University’s Board of Trustees as the new President-elect, Professor Lan’s appointment is expected to be formally approved by the Holy See and the Ministry of Education in Taiwan in November.

Fu Jen Catholic University was first founded in 1925 in Beijing and then re-established in Taiwan in 1961. Located in Xinzhuang District in New Taipei City, it is a top-ranked comprehensive university with 26,000 students and more than 200,000 alumni.

An esteemed University leader, Professor Lan has had a long and proud history with Western Sydney University – first as a student and alumnus, then as an academic and executive.

He first came to the University from Taiwan in 1994 to study computing and information systems as an international undergraduate student. He completed his Honours degree in 1998 and PhD in 2004, going on to became Professor of Information Management within the University’s School of Business and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Development.

Professor Lan has given back to the University in many ways, including establishing the George WH Lan Scholarship – named in honour of his father – to help support students from all backgrounds to realise their dream of university study.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Barney Glover AO thanked Professor Lan for his outstanding service, philanthropy and leadership.

“Professor Yi-Chen Lan has made a significant and sustained contribution to the development of Western Sydney University over many decades. He has been particularly instrumental in strengthening our international presence and deepening our engagement and partnerships with key institutions overseas. This includes establishing our Vietnam campus in partnership with UEH University, helping it to become an important driver for economic and social development in the region,” said Professor Glover.

“Together with the Institute of International Education he also established a humanitarian scholarship initiative to support refugee and displaced students from Myanmar to study at the Vietnam campus, for which he was recently recognised with a prestigious Centenary Medal (opens in a new window).

“His passion for the transformative impact of higher education has been the hallmark of his career, and I have no doubt he will carry this same student-centred focus into his new role as President. On behalf of the University community, I warmly wish Professor Lan all the best on this next chapter in his career – I know he will continue to be a strong supporter and friend of this University for years to come.”

Professor Lan said he is excited to take up his new role.

“I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to lead Fu Jen Catholic University and look forward to further building on its success, including strengthening its focus on internationalisation and its commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals underpinned by the Catholic ethos,” said Professor Lan.

“I am thankful to Western Sydney University and all the tremendous opportunities, working together with so many colleagues to make a real difference to the lives of our students and our local communities.”

ENDS

26 September 2023

Amanda Whibley, Manager, Media and Public Relations

Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas