Taiwan is surrounded by sea on four sides. The sea has given birth to abundant diverse cultures. The sea has also given important resources for the survival of humankind. “Creating a nation from the ocean” is one of the government's policy goals. The announcement of the Ocean Policy White Paper and the National Oceans Policy Guidelines and the enactment of the White Paper on Marine Education underscore the growing importance of and the attention being paid to marine education. Among the higher educational institutions in Taiwan, National Kaohsiung Marine University is the only one with the sea as an educational focus cultivating marine affairs professionals. In the decades since its establishment, the University has trained numerous outstanding marine professionals who have made significant contributions to the economic development of our nation. In order to increase the economic and trade development of southern Taiwan, the government established the Kaohsiung branch of the Provincial Keelung Marine and Fishery Senior Vocational school in 1946. Two years later, the Kaohsiung branch became the independent Kaohsiung Marine and Fishery Senior Vocational School. In a very short time, the School became the driving force behind the development of marine-related industries in southern Taiwan. With the rapid economic and trade development of the nation and the increasing demand for marine professionals, the School was elevated to the status of junior college in 1967. Graduates from two-year programs were competitively sought-after. In 1997, the government elevated the College's status to institute of technology allowing it to provide opportunities for advance study to vocational school graduates. At the same time, the school started to recruit university students. As graduates entered the workplace, the marine industries received a fresh burst of energy.