Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
One of the key signifiers of Tuskegee’s Renaissance Era is how the university is preparing students earlier than graduation to be career-ready, leaning into the same founding principles Booker T. Washington led with more than 100 years ago. Now, students are mastering emerging technology and developing the skills needed to solve industry needs — like those of American Samkwang.
Samkwang leadership, led by Jinwoo Kim, president and CEO of Samkwang – American Samkwang, Inc., recently visited Tuskegee leaders to discuss opportunities to strengthen collaboration and to outline next steps for a more formal partnership.
“This is my third visit to Tuskegee,” said Kim. “Each time I grow more attached. I look forward to finding ways for our relationship to grow and to recruit capable students in the future.”
Samkwang operates manufacturing facilities in South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, and the U.S., supplying a wide range of plastic-injection products for global customers including Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, Stanley Black & Decker, and Johnson Controls.
Kim stressed the need for students with not only a firm skillset in mechanical and electrical engineering and operational and management know-how for assembly lines, but also the business and financial backgrounds to manage procurement and supply-chain issues.
“The students you are looking for, we have them right here,” said Dr. Van Sapp, Vice President for External Affairs, noting that both our College of Engineering and our College of Business and Information Science are cultivating the best and the brightest to be workforce-ready long before they graduate.
The discussion included the possibility of co-op opportunities during the academic year.
“Co-ops provide an opportunity for faculty, all seasoned professionals, to support the students in real time, to quickly problem-solve with students, and to support their success on the job,” said Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences.
The group visited the 170,000-square-foot Samkwang facility recently opened on Wire Road in Macon County.
"As we move forward in the Tuskegee Renaissance era, we are embracing a culture that says our curriculum must be aligned with market trends," said Dr. Thierno Thiam, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Thiam added, "Samkwang, because of its proximity to Tuskegee University, offers our students a hands‑on experience that increases their marketability."
Dr. Thiam and Kim signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the discussion as they look ahead to next steps.
“Our talented students, and the faculty here to support them, are ready to make a measurable impact on the productivity at the Samkwang facility in Macon County and to support their operations around the world — we are creating global citizens at Tuskegee.”
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