Executive Vice President Wanjiun Liao made history as the first female professor appointed by the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at NTU. She later went on to become the first female EE Chair and the first female Director-General of the Engineering and Technologies Department in the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan. Professor Liao was also honored with the Distinguished Women Medal. In this interview, she shares her journey of choosing an unconventional path and dedicated decades to a field where women are a minority, and her plans to make NTU a more gender-friendly campus as Executive Vice President.
Listening to One’s Inner Voice in Decision-Making
Professor Liao's parents had always envisioned a stable career path for her since her childhood. However, she had a strong desire to follow her own path and faced three major life choices.
At the age of 18, she encountered her first significant decision: whether to attend a teacher-training university, commonly known as a “normal university,” or pursue a path in a regular university. Professor Liao candidly expressed her desire to break from the conventional norm followed by most of her peers. While there was nothing wrong with becoming a high school teacher and leading a stable life, it lacked the excitement and challenge she sought. She worked hard to persuade her parents and gained admission to her first choice, the Department of Computer and Information Science at National Chiao Tung University (NCTU). Her university experience exposed her to innovative and intriguing knowledge. During her senior year, she embraced the opportunity to enter a direct admission master's program and decided to stay at NCTU for graduate studies.
The second decision presented itself as Professor Liao was nearing the completion of her master's degree. She had to determine whether to continue her academic journey by pursuing a PhD or embark on a career in the industry. She was uncertain because she lacked enthusiasm for research despite excellent grades. She thus wondered, "Am I simply good at being a student, or do I really have what it takes to be a researcher?" Ultimately, she chose to work at the Institute of Communications Engineering of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (now the Chunghwa Telecom Laboratories), a decision, according to Professor Liao, that allowed her to better understand herself. During her time at the Institute, Professor Liao worked on telecommunications networks and discovered her true area of interest. The discovery propelled her to pursue a PhD in the United States, where she faced the real challenges of research and received significant academic training that would shape her future work.
The third major choice for Professor Liao was deciding whether to return to Taiwan or work in the United States after completing her PhD. While her initial plan was to work in the United States for a few years to engage in cutting-edge research, with first-class scholars and keep abreast of the latest developments in the industry. However, her family’s expectations led her to return to Taiwan. Teaching in the Department of Electrical Engineering allowed her to pursue her passion for nurturing young talents and conducting research while also presents many opportunities to connecting with international society and industry. This choice presented numerous opportunities to contribute to ICT development on a national scale, leveraging her expertise and making a difference in her home country.
Professor Liao concluded that when faced with life-altering choices, two critical factors are key: "know what you want" and "make it happen." Mere contemplation without action yields no results, but once a choice is made, taking responsibility for that decision is crucial. In her speeches at various high schools, Professor Liao encourages students to recognize their unique characteristics and persist in their chosen paths, as imitating someone else’s life is challenging. Learning from the experiences and embracing one’s individuality is essential.
Social responsibility as a Core Value
Having spent years in a professional field with a gender imbalance, Professor Liao hopes to be recognized for her professional knowledge and academic achievements, not her gender. She desires to be known as Professor Liao from NTU EE, not as "the female professor" from NTU EE. Actively involved in the IEEE Communications Society, an international academic organization, her gender has never limited her. In fact, at times, it has been an advantage as there are relatively few active female academicians from the Asia-Pacific region, making her more memorable on numerous occasions. Additionally, she frequently serves as a project review committee member or convener for various government units, assisting the government in promoting forward-looking science and technology initiatives. Professor Liao humbly downplays her uniqueness, emphasizing the increased social responsibilities that come with her role. She frequently shares her experiences with young female scientists and encourages female high school students to explore STEM fields. Recognizing the limited science and technology education below the university level in Taiwan, she takes every opportunity to share her knowledge about ICT (information and communication technology) with high school students, emphasizing that anyone with an interest in STEM, a willingness to tackle challenges, and a desire to innovate has the potential to excel in the field, regardless of their gender.
Equality beyond Gender
With experience studying in both Taiwan and the United States and an active role in her career at home and abroad, Professor Liao highlights that international discussions on equality have expanded beyond gender to encompass various aspects, including age, region, and race. While the gender imbalance persists in electrical engineering worldwide, NTU EE has made progress, with the number of female professors increasing from one to eight. The gender ratio among students has also improved, evolving from 13:1 to 6:1 during Professor Liao’s tenure at NTU EE. Currently, Taiwan has the Society of Taiwan Women in Science and Technology (TWiST), an organization that brings together many outstanding women in the field of science and technology to share their experiences and encourage future generations to enter the industry.
In Professor Liao’s vision of gender equality at NTU, several key aspects are crucial. First, "opportunities" should be equally accessible to both students and faculty members, both genders should enjoy an equal share of opportunities on different occasions such as promotions, allocation quotas, appointments, and all aspects related to personal and professional growth. The University should prioritize inclusivity and respect for individuals of diverse genders, backgrounds, and professions. Another key component is "the system," which should consider the nature of different expertise and ensure that opportunities are available to various groups, fostering a campus free from bias or discrimination. "When the emphasis on gender equality becomes unnecessary, a truly gender-friendly campus is realized," Professor Liao aptly notes. As early as 1985, NTU established the Women's and Gender Research Program, the first institution in Taiwan dedicated to research on women's issues. The data and experiences gathered by the Center over the years make a substantial contribution to the University's dedication to gender equality on campus.