ISU and Château De Jourdeness Enter New Chapter of Excellence in Wellness and Biotechnology through Collaborative Innovation
ISU and Château De Jourdeness in Chiayi officially entered a strategic partnership on November 14, 2025, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This collaboration marks the beginning of a new chapter in beauty, biotechnology, wellness, and the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent. Moving forward, both parties will foster closer industry–university collaboration by combining ISU’s research capabilities with the enterprise’s practical industry experience to drive innovative applications and promote professional exchange. Spanning from Kaohsiung to Chiayi, ISU aims to leverage education as a cornerstone to deepen connections across academia, economy, and the cultural and creative sectors. By cultivating academic influence that balances local engagement with a global perspective, ISU continues to evolve as a premier comprehensive university, attracting talent and partners from both near and far.
Located in Dalin, Chiayi, Château De Jourdeness is renowned for its distinctive brand presence and research and development capabilities. Complementing this, ISU offers a comprehensive and diverse academic landscape spanning seven specialized colleges: the College of Intelligent Science and Technology, the College of Engineering, the College of Medicine, the College of Medical Science and Technology, the International College, the College of Management, and the College of Communication and Design. In the 2025 Global University Rankings published by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), ISU ranked in the top 8.3% globally, a position it has maintained for seven consecutive years. This academic excellence is further evidenced by the ten faculty members named to Stanford University’s list of the “World’s Top 2% Scientists,” showcasing the university’s significant research impact. Beyond global recognition, ISU consistently earns top honors in Taiwan. In the 2025 “Corporate Favorites” survey by Global Views Monthly, ISU was ranked number one among both public and private universities in Southern Taiwan in the medical and healthcare category. The university was also recognized as a private institution with a highly promising future, particularly in its leadership in AI and sustainability education. As highlighted in the 2026 Future Talent Report by Global Views Monthly, ISU is spearheading the “X+AI” course, an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to integrate AI into every professional field. By nurturing a new generation of innovative professionals, ISU has established itself as a critical talent base for the country. The partnership between ISU and Château De Jourdeness transcends a traditional collaboration by serving as a bridge between knowledge creators and industry practitioners who bring expertise to daily life, marking a deep integration of academic energy and industrial innovation.
During the ceremony, President Guu of ISU and General Manager Chia-Chi Chen of Jourdeness Group officially signed the agreement at Château De Jourdeness. The towering spires and elegant gardens visible through the windows served as a symbolic backdrop to the event, representing the convergence of knowledge and enterprise, academia and daily life, and education and lifestyle. “ISU is a pivotal comprehensive university in Southern Taiwan, with long-standing recognition for its research and industry-academic capabilities. Our partnership with Château De Jourdeness goes beyond a mere physical connection. We envision an academic platform that attracts talent from near and far, allowing expertise and knowledge to integrate into industry and society truly,” stated President Guu. “The core of the wellness industry lies in the fusion of technology, aesthetics, and lifestyle. Jourdeness Group values cross-disciplinary thinking, and we look forward to collaborating with ISU to build a practical platform that combines R&D strength, brand influence, and aesthetic appeal. This will allow our talent and achievements to gain visibility in the real market and continue creating value,” General Manager Chen added.
In recent years, Jourdeness has expanded from skincare into the wellness industry by focusing on R&D capabilities and brand storytelling. This transition is not merely an extension of a product line but a conceptual shift in the definition of beauty, which is now viewed as a philosophy of life encompassing mindfulness, sensory perception, and holistic balance. Along this path of transformation, ISU offers vital momentum in talent through its diverse colleges and interdisciplinary educational strengths, fostering a collaborative environment for shared thinking, experimentation, and problem-solving. ISU emphasizes that this partnership is not a traditional internship model. Instead, it represents a new form of industry–university collaboration in which both parties define problems and co-create solutions. Moving forward, the College of Medicine will participate through efficacy verification and healthcare perspectives, while the College of Management integrates brand management and sustainable strategic thinking. The College of Engineering will contribute to material and process innovation, and the College of Intelligent Science and Technology will implement AI-driven navigation and interactive experience systems. Furthermore, the College of Communication and Design will infuse creativity into brand language, visual storytelling, and venue atmosphere, while the International College will provide a global management and marketing perspective. This model ensures that learning is not confined to the classroom but is cultivated and validated within the real market. Students are not just receiving an education but are actively participating in the workings of the world, demonstrating the learning style of a new generation at the intersection of knowledge and practice.
