On 6 March 2026, Associate Professor Suthin Wianwiwat, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University, and Assistant Professor Tanyamat Srungboonmee, Head of the Department of Economics, held a discussion on academic collaboration with Professor Li Qing, Vice Dean of the School of Management Science and Engineering at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE) in the People’s Republic of China. The discussion aimed to expand international educational opportunities for students of the KKU Faculty of Economics.
This partnership represents an important step in strengthening students’ global competencies, aligning with Khon Kaen University’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029, which emphasises the development of Global Learners and the expansion of high-quality international academic networks. SWUFE is a leading institution, ranked 8th globally in Economics, Econometrics and Finance by the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) 2026, and 17th in the world for Economics and Business by U.S. News & World Report 2025.
A key highlight of the collaboration is a special agreement offering students from the KKU Faculty of Economics automatic admission into SWUFE’s Master of AI in Business (English-Taught Programme). To be eligible, students must have completed the Data Analytics and AI Module and maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.00. Under this agreement, the standard IELTS 6.5 requirement will be waived, removing a common language barrier faced by many Thai students. With an annual tuition fee of approximately THB 110,000, the programme provides an outstanding opportunity for students to pursue postgraduate study at a globally recognised university.
In addition to the master’s programme, SWUFE will also offer students from the KKU Faculty of Economics opportunities to participate in its Student Exchange Programme, available in both short-term and one-semester formats, to provide a well-rounded international experience. The collaboration also encompasses the development of joint research projects between the two institutions, which will help generate new knowledge at the intersection of economics, technology, and artificial intelligence to meet the demands of the global digital economy.
