From May 4–12, 2025, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University collaborated with the University of Leeds (UK) and the Faculty of Humanities at Chiang Mai University to organize a personnel development focused on enhancing skills in English and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to support teaching, learning, and working in the digital era. It aimed to strengthen essential 21st-century skills for faculty members and staff from all three institutions.
This training emphasized on two main topics:
- Application of AI in Education: Led by Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation and Professor of Digital Health and Education at the University of Leeds, this workshop covered the use of AI technology in teaching and learning, including designing course content, analyzing student behavior, and using digital tools to enhance teaching effectiveness.
- Upskill English for Academic Support Staff: Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has delivered an “Upskill English Communication” program. This program was designed specifically for supporting staff in international relations, secretarial positions, and public relations—groups that regularly coordinate with foreign agencies. Participants practiced their language skills in real-world scenarios, which aligns with the faculty’s “Human Resources Transformation” strategy to prepare the staff for working at an international level.
In addition, the collaboration included discussions between executives and professors from all three institutions to establish a framework for long-term academic cooperation, led by Professor Emma Cayley, Head of the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies and Professor of Medieval French, and Professor Martin Seeger, Professor of Thai Studies, from the University of Leeds.
Key areas for future partnership include:
- Joint Master’s Degree Programs: The joint “1+1” dual-degree system.
- Student Exchanges
- Joint Research: Collaborating on contemporary issues, such as humanities and technology, artificial intelligence in learning, and English in a globalized context.
- Professors Exchanges: A program for professors to engage in co-teaching and sustainable professional development.
A Major Step Towards Becoming an International Academic Hub
This project represents a significant step for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University in its eagerness to advance education and research to become globally relevant and by collaborating with other universities, both domestic and international, is a driving force to become a regional academic hub. This initiative also serves as an example of integrating the humanities with technology to help shape the future of Thai education.
