Khon Kaen University holds the MOU signing ceremony with Kochi University, Japan, for academic collaboration, developing academic knowledge and enhancing good understanding between the two universities into the future.
Thursday October 5, 2023 at 14:00 p.m. – Khon Kaen University held the MOU signing ceremony for with Kochi University, Japan to develop academic knowledge and enhanc good understanding between the two universities. The event took place at Sirikunakorn Room 5, 5th Floor, Sirikunakorn Building. Signing for KKU was the President Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., with witnesses on KKU’s part including Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jothityangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and the administrators; Asst. Prof. Angkana Boonyued, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Vice Deans; and representatives from the Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Katsutoshi Sakurai, President of Kochi University signed for Kochi University with the delegation including Dr. Kou Ikejima, Vice President for Education and Mr. Yasuhiro Ueno, Head of the Funding and Alumni Division.
The ceremony began with video presentation introducing Khon Kaen University and Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., the President welcomed the delegation. Next, Dr. Katsutoshi Sakurai, President of Kochi University gave a special speech about Japan and introduced Kochi University. This was followed by discussion and sharing of points of view between the two institutions, exchange of tokens of appreciation and group photograph. At the end, the delegates from Kochi University were transferred to the Center for Technology Learning for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment and the Fishery Farm, Faculty of Agriculture.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., the President said that he was greatly honored to sign an MOU with Kochi University today and thanked Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jothityangkoon, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture for bringing the two parties to join. Thanks was extended to Dr. Thepparit Tulapitak, who was the first person to coordinate between Khon Kaen University and Kochi University 25 years ago. Today, the MOU has been signed for the 6th time during the past period. Many students and staff have had good chances to join the exchange project and other academic activities with Japan institutions under the 87 MOUs. On top of everything, Kochi University and KKU have strong relationships and the activities that have completed brought very good impact to the two parties.
The two universities joined in arranging activities that matched the programs offered from 2012 to 2017, i.e., the International Field Science Course at Kochi University, attended by 20 officers who conducted research and academic collaboration. The group was granted monetary support from JST, Sakura Science Program. There was an online international seminar arranged together on advanced research in agriculture, forestry, marine sciences at Kochi University, supported by JST and Sakura Science Online Project in 2021 and 2022. This program was attended by over 100 officers. The participating students became interested in robot training in the field of medicine. In the future, the two institutions expect to send staff members to train more in robotic field to increase the efficiency in medical services and hospital management.
Dr. Katsutoshi Sakurai, President Kochi University said that he was pleased to meet with KKU administrators, for the academic collaboration between Kochi University and Khon Kaen University has been strong all through the past period. The new MOU will expedite collaboration in more leading programs in engineering and medicine such as robot training for medical purposes.
Kochi University has always been praised as one of the leading universities of Japan that offers program under the slogan, “From Regionality to Globality and from Globality to Regionality”. There is expertise in agriculture, education, science and technology. In addition, the university is accepted as one university in Japan that supports global advanced education and progress. Kochi University is well known in globalization aspect of the region through promotion of human resources with international capabilities and competence.
The activities that are going on under the MOU include: 1) exchange of lecturers, students and researchers, 2) research collaboration, 3) co-organization of conferences, and 4) academic service collaboration.
News / Photos: Banjamaporn Mamook
Source of information: Prawsaeng Siripanuwat, Division of International Affairs
