February 8, 2024 – Faculty = of Medicine, Khon Kaen University held the opening ceremony of the Exploring Synergies: Kick-off Meeting for the Thai-German Academic Network Project, at Sirikunakorn Room 3, 2nd Floor, Sirikunakorn Building. The ceremony was attended by administrators, lecturers, researchers and academics of the network universities, namely, Khon Kaen University, Kasetsart University, Chiangmai University and Prince of Songkla University. Academics from Universities in German and interested individuals also attended, both onsite and online.
The ceremony began at 9:00 a.m. with Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine reported about the background of the meeting.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University welcomed the distinguished speakers and attendants. Mr. Surapon Pechvara, Vice Chairman of Khon Kaen University, who presided over the ceremony, delivered the opening speech.
Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawutthipong, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine reported that this meeting was a good opportunity for officers, researchers and students from Khon Kaen University, Kasetsart University, Chiangmai University and Prince of Songkla University to develop new knowledge about medical technologies of the present and the future, about agriculture, animal science, and engineering. The aim was for sharing knowledge and experiences that will benefit the society. A number of world experts were joining as distinguished speakers in this meeting, which corresponded to the suggestion of Dr. Baroness Sansanee von Enzberg, showing close relationships of Khon Kaen University and Thai-German academic network. The collaboration has progressed a great deal after Dr. Baroness Sansanee visited the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, for the first time in 2016. Today, the Baroness kindly joined in the talk, which could be attended both online and onsite. It is hoped that the meeting would be a venue for surveying the plausibility and chances in co-learning with an aim to develop activities and joint projects in technologies of medicine, agriculture, engineering and animal science.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said in his welcoming speech that this meeting is a good and first step of Khon Kaen University for the common dedication towards innovations and progress. It is the sign that designates the development, changes and innovations in medicine, health, agriculture, and technologies in medicine, agriculture, engineering and animal science, which are important for the life of people and the society. The said fields are the good propellers in creating positive impact on the good living of the world people, and in facing the challenges of this era. In addition, this meeting was a cluster of world experts. The aim was to develop knowledge among lecturers, researchers, and to exchange in-depth information, develop strategies that would increase positive impact on the four fields. More importantly, the cooperation of the network universities would add to the academic values and build academic collaboration and efficient basis for joint operations.
Mr. Surapon Pechvara, Vice Chairman of Khon Kaen University, who presided over the meeting said that this meeting showed the strength of academic collaboration among the institutions in Thailand and German. The aim today was to compile technologies in medicine, agriculture, animal science and engineering together. This demonstrates the progress in a wide circle. Today, there were the famous speakers from German whose expertise would provide information about advanced research and technologies and their competency would set the innovative landscape of health care, of agriculture, of the bases for people’s living and economy. The experts transferred a lot of information that helped building understanding of plant biology and add to the efficiency of agricultural operations and other sustainable operations that benefits animals and the environment people share. In engineering, the knowledge presented today would lay the foundation for sustainable cooperation that would propel positive changes in medical, agricultural, animal science and engineering technologies.
The talks after the opening ceremony were: “Plant Ecophysiology” by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. agr. Christian Ulrichs Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin; followed by, “Animal Science and Genetics/Genetic Center” by Prof. Dr. habil. rer. nat. Gudrun A. Brockmann Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin; “Medical Systems Technology / AI & Informatics” by Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Christoph Hoeschen Chair of Medical Systems Technology Institute of Medical Engineering Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
In addition, there were talks via Zoom Meeting on “Medical Technology at the STIMULATE research campus,” by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Georg Rose Chair of Healthcare Telematics and Medical Engineering Institut für Medizintechnik (IMT): Healthcare Telematics Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg; “Advanced Semiconductor” by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. André Strittmatter Abteilung Halbleiterepitaxie Institut für Physik – FNW (Faculty of Natural Sciences): Advanced Semiconductor Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg; and “TGAN: the Future” by Baroness Sansanee von Enzberg Dr. h.c. (KU Thailand) Kasetsart Academic Representative in Europe, Official University Coordinator from Universities Consortium (MFLU, CMU, PSU, KU, KKU) for the Cooperation with German Educational Institutions, Thai-German Academic Network. The afternoon session featured discussions in 4 groups: Group 1 on “Plant Ecophysiology” led by Prof. Dr. rer. nat. agr. Christian Ulrichs Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin; Group 2 on “Animal Science and Genetics” led by Prof. Dr. habil. rer. nat. Gudrun A. Brockmann Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Berlin Venue: Kalapruek Meeting Room 5, 2nd Floor, Sirikunakorn Building: Group 3 on “It’s OWL Cluster Management NeEC & EEC” (Zoom meeting) led by Dr.-Ing. Martin Rabe Senior Business Development Manager Fraunhofer-Institut für Entwurfstechnik Mechatronik IEM, Paderborn; and Group 4 on “Health Care System: Medical Engineering/ AI & Informatics” led by Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Christoph Hoeschen Chair of Medical Systems Technology Institute of Medical Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
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The talks and discussions concluded at 15:00 p.m. The next activity was the signing ceremony of the Letters of Intent in Agriculture and Animal Sciences by Khon Kaen University, Kasetsart University, Chiangmai University, and Prince of Songkla University; and universities in German. Under the Letters of Intent, the network universities will join in the relevant fields, namely, innovations in medicine, health, agriculture, technologies in medicine, agriculture, engineering and animal science. There was the feasibility study conducted for the collaboration of the 4 universities in Thailand, for the collaboration will create positive impact on the well-being of the world and will enable us to face the challenges of the present day and the future.
News: Benjamaporn Mamook
Information Source: Prawsaeng Siripanuwat
Photos: Benjamaporn Mamook and Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
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