On Friday, June 13, 2025, the Graduate School of Khon Kaen University (KKU) hosted the official orientation ceremony for new graduate students for the first semester of the 2025 academic year. The event was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chupong Thongkamsamut, Vice President for Physical and Environmental Affairs, and was attended by over 700 administrators, staff, and newly admitted students at the Saisuree Chutikul Conference Hall, Faculty of Education.
The orientation began with a warm welcome and opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Kiatchai Fuksri, Dean of the Graduate School, who emphasized that the purpose of the event was to equip students with essential academic information and guidance. It also served as a foundation for understanding the role of the Graduate School and its affiliated offices in supporting students toward academic success.
“I firmly believe that when you graduate and leave the gates of KKU, you will carry with you both core skills and soft skills, along with the knowledge you’ve gained inside and outside the classroom—ready to apply them in your work and to drive the nation forward,” said Prof. Dr. Kiatchai.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chupong, in his address, welcomed and congratulated the students, pointing out that a key reason for students failing to complete their programs is selecting a thesis topic that does not match their interests. He advised that an effective research topic must satisfy four key factors: it must be something you love to do, something you are good at, something that benefits society and the community, and something that is useful and applicable upon completion. He emphasized that when these four factors are present, students are more likely to complete their studies happily and successfully.
“Khon Kaen University is fully committed to supporting your research journey and ensuring your topics align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so that your work has long-lasting value and contributes meaningfully to society,” he added.
The event also featured a special session titled “Gen AI for Graduate Studies: Achieve More, Faster” led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Porama Kwangmuang, Assistant Dean for Research and Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Education. He introduced effective techniques for using AI as a powerful assistant in conducting academic research.
This was followed by a Feature Explainer session, “GS KKU Life Journey”, where staff from the Graduate School introduced various support services and digital tools provided by KKU to enhance the graduate student experience.
Thanychanok Pakarat, a graduate student from the Faculty of Engineering, shared her thoughts on the orientation. She said she was glad that KKU organized this event because it gave her access to key information, introduced useful tools—especially AI tools for research—and allowed her to meet new friends. Originally from Bangkok, she has a strong interest in the industrial and logistics sectors. After researching academic options and finding that KKU’s Faculty of Engineering offered relevant programs, she decided to pursue her graduate studies at Khon Kaen. She hopes to gain both knowledge and experience that can help her grow her personal business in the future.
For the first semester of the 2025 academic year, a total of 1,754 people applied for graduate studies at KKU. Of those, 1,366 students were officially admitted. This includes 243 doctoral candidates, 16 higher graduate diploma students, and 1,107 master’s students. Among these new students, 186 are international students from a range of countries including China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, South Korea, Nepal, and Japan.
