November 8, 2022 – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences led by Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty; Dr. Prapas Kaewketpong, Assistant to the Dean for Special Affairs, and Ms. Chudapa Khlungsaeng, a staff member of the International Unit, travelled to the UK to sign an MOU between the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Signing for KKU was Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura, who was authorized by KKU President, while Professor Andrew Thorpe, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, signed for the University of Leeds. Among witnesses were Dr. Prapas Kaewketpong, Assistant to the Dean for Special Affairs from KKU; Professor Emma Cayley, Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, the University of Leeds. Attending the ceremony were Professor Manuel Barcia Paz, Dean of Global Development and Pro Dean of International Arts, Humanities and Cultures; Professor Duncan Wheeler, Director of International Activities and Chair of Spanish Studies; Professor Martin Seeger, Professor of Thai Studies; and Mrs. Ning Seeger, Teaching Fellow. The MOU signing was held at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, the University of Leeds, UK, is a world leading university and is placed at the 86th rank under the QS World Ranking 2023. The Dean of HU-SO thus sees the importance in academic collaboration with the University of Leeds, for the programs offered are similar, for instance, the English, Thai, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese languages, and programs in religions, philosophy, politics, and governing. The objectives of this MOU are for academic exchanges in the field of humanities and social sciences, exchanges of students and research.
Professor Andrew Thorpe said, “It is exciting that the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Khon Kaen University and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, the University of Leeds will be working together. I trust in you and I feel great to sign this MOU with your university. In fact, there can be MOUs with any institution. Some of them will be on the shelf or on the wall, and that is it. But this time, I believe that it’s going to be different. Therefore, I’m excited and can’t wait to see activities implemented by our two institutions together.”
The MOU signing ceremony ended with discussion of various activities that will happen in the future. Assoc. Prof. Orathai Pia-ura proposed the following activities at the meeting:
Exchanges of students in language and culture at the University of Leeds under a short-course program for 2-4 weeks so that the Thai students can improve their English skills and learn about the culture of England through joining activities with some students of the University of Leeds.
Sending lecturers of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of KKU to train at the University of Leeds on Up-skills and Re-skills in teaching.
Developing a dual program, from which students will receive the degrees of the University of Leeds and Khon Kaen University.
The meeting went on to discuss out-of-classroom activities such as learning about Leeds city’s community, visits of important places in Leeds and the vicinity, such as the football field, the art gallery or the historical museum, etc.
In addition to academic exchanges, Dr. Prapas Kaewketpong, Assistant to the Dean for Special Affairs discussed research collaboration with Professor Martin Seeger, who is an expert in Thai studies and Buddhism.
The MOU signing between the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Khon Kaen University and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, the University of Leeds is considered as relationship building at an international level that will lead to academic and research collaboration and students’ activities. The collaboration will increase the efficiency of work and studies of students and staff of the Faculty.
Information / Photos: Chudapa Khlungsaeng, from the International Affairs Unit
News: Pawadee Maphan, Communications Unit, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
