On 14 June 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in meeting room no. 9 on the 2nd Floor of the Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building at Kasetsart University Bangkhen Campus, Associate Professor Dr. Ladawan Puangchit, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kasetsart University (KU), chaired the welcoming remarks for the academic meeting between KU and Auburn University (AU). The event was attended by several administrators and lecturers from KU, including Assistant Professor Wing Commander Dr. Ngamlamai Piolueang, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Associate Professor Dr. Buncha Chinnasri, Assistant to the President for Quality Development; Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Assistant Professor Dr. rer. soc. Supapatpimol Simlee, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Assistant Professor Dr. Udomluk Koolsriroj, Associate Dean for International Affairs of the Faculty of Education; and Assistant Professor Dr. Korakit Choomgrant, Deputy Dean for International Affairs and Educational Development at the Faculty of Social Sciences. They welcomed the Auburn University delegation, which was led by Dr. Vini Nathan, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with Prof. Dr. Andrew Gillespie, Assistant Provost for International Programs, and 11 other administrators from various faculties of Auburn University.

Before the detailed academic discussions began, both sides exchanged brief overviews of their respective institutions. Prof. Dr. Andrew Gillespie provided an overview of Auburn University, noting that it was founded in 1859 in Auburn, Alabama, USA. Auburn University is renowned for its excellence in agriculture, natural resources, life and physical sciences, and engineering. It offers professional and doctoral programs in fields such as forestry and wildlife sciences, veterinary medicine, human sciences, nursing, pharmacy, liberal arts, mathematics, architecture, education, and business. Currently, Auburn University has over 31,000 students, including 29,000 domestic students and 2,000 international students, supported by over 5,000 university staff members. The university offers 150 undergraduate and graduate programs.

Prof. Dr. Andrew Gillespie expressed a keen interest in academic collaboration with KU through various mutual activities such as student exchange programs, lecturer and staff mobility, collaborative teaching efforts, and sharing knowledge, facilities, and resources for classroom instruction. The focus would be on agriculture, natural resources, life and physical sciences, and engineering to foster international academic collaboration.

At the conclusion of the discussions, administrators and lecturers at KU agreed to support Auburn University in several academic activities, including student and staff exchanges and collaborative teaching initiatives. Finally, Associate Professor Dr. Ladawan Puangchit presented a souvenir to Dr. Vini Nathan, and the event concluded with a group photo session.