Originally an outpost for aboriginals, Tainan City was settled by the Dutch over four hundred years ago before the city became the island’s capital during Japanese occupation. Regarded as an enclave for the Taiwan elite in recent years, the city is a key destination for foreign investment. One of NCKU’s branch campuses is just a five minute drive from the Tainan Science Park. Here Bio-technology firms andcomponent manufacturersare establishing businesses and NCKU is the organizing institution and one of the Park’s main supporters.

‘It is important students understand and appreciatepeople from various backgrounds in order to gain a better understanding of equality’, says Dr. Huey-Jen Jenny Su, President of NCKU. ‘By encouraging our students to have an openmind, we are confident that our graduates will succeed and face the challenges of ourrapidly changing world. Our students are well-equipped to grasp international opportunities and become successful’.

In addition to welcoming the western-world to Asia, NCKU is also expanding its global footprint. Rather than establishing partnerships with other universities, NCKU has created ‘Alliance Hubs’ in order to better connect international partners. Currently operating in Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila, these hubs generate collaborations between students, faculty, research partners and local governments who are using the Hubs to share ideas. This year NCKU will establish Hubs in North America and Europe.

‘Our Alliance Hubs and international exchange programs enable us to educate graduates who want to make a positive impact on our world’, says President Su. ‘The majority of our faculty was educated in North America and Europe and today we act as a bridge connecting both Europe and North America to Asia. This makes NCKU a strong player within the global education sector. In the future we intend to strengthen our relationships with governments, education institutions, students and global citizens as they engage with the Asian region’.

web.ncku.edu.tw

As a socially-responsible company, Kingwhale is committed to reducing its environmental impact through its proprietary Low Impact Technology (L.I.T®).  Kingwhale’s L.I.T® uses 15% less dyestuffs, 22% less electricity for heating and cooling, half the amount of thermal energy usually required to create steam and 60% less water than conventional dyeing processes.

‘L.I.T® is at the core of Kingwhale’s commitment to sustainability,’ says James. ‘With our patented L.I.T® technology, Kingwhale has established itself as an innovator in manufacturing environmentally friendly textiles. We are about more than just producing low impact products – being genuinely low impact also means we take into account how we care for our products, employees, customers and the environment. Focusing on innovation and material science comes naturally to us – it enables us to develop new products and processes that continuously lower our environmental footprint. Ultimately, our passion for sustainability is what drives our commitment to excellence as a company’.

Vertical integration across markets has also played a key role in the company’s success. Kingwhale has mills in Taiwan, Vietnam, and had the foresight to enter the lucrative North American market by establishing a mill in North Carolina. By localizing production in key markets, Kingwhale is better able to serve customers and the company is looking to expand its global footprint over the coming years.

‘We are an environmentally-sustainable, diverse and dynamic company, dedicated to delivering the finest products’, concludes James. ‘Regardless of political, economic and environmental challenges, we embrace the vibrancy of the global market place and will move forward in line with our growth strategy and desire to position Kingwhale as a leader in the global textile industry’.

www.kingwhale.com