On Friday, August 2nd, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Meeting Room No. 9, 2nd floor of the Kasetsart Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University Bangkhen Campus, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nikhom Laemsak, Senior Expert and Advisor of Princess Sirindhorn Center for Sustainable Development, along with administrators, including Prof. Dr. Dokrak Marod, Vice President for Research and Internationalization; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nisa Leksungnoen, Assistant to the President for Research and Internationalization; Asst. Prof. Dr. Sakhan Teejuntuk, Director of Princess Sirindhorn Center for Sustainable Development; Miss La-ongdao Kakandee, Princess Sirindhorn Center for Sustainable Development; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Asst. Prof. Dr.rer.Soc Supapatpimol Simlee, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Asst. Prof. Dr. Udomluk Koolsriroj,      Deputy Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Education; Asst. Prof. Dr. Wandee Kasemsukpipat, Vice Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Education; Asst. Prof. Dr. Kritsadapan Palakit, Assistant Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Forestry; Mr. Anusorn Kullawong, Director of Research Administration and Academic Services, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus; Miss Supannee Hongthong, Director of Office of Library; Asst. Prof. Dr. Songyos Chotchutima, Vice Dean for Academic Services and Physical; and the International Affairs Division personnel welcomed a delegation from Savannakhet University (SKU), Lao People's Democratic Republic on the occasion of visiting Kasetsart University. The delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khoune Sackbouabong, Acting President of Savannakhet University; Dr. Khamko Vonganatha, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Assistant President; Assist. Prof. Xayaphone Phimasone, Head of the Academic Affairs and Scientific Management Office; Mr. Sithanth Chansamouth, Acting Director of the Central Library; Mr. Chittkhone Insixiengmai, Head of the Administrative Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment; Assist. Prof Anouxay Soukharath, Convention Division, International Relations Office; and Mr. Somphit Phetyalath, Staff, Savannakhet University.

SKU was established in 2009 as the fourth university under the Ministry of Education and Sports. KU has had a strong relationship with SKU for almost a decade, since 2016. KU has supported academic development at SKU, including research and scholarships, initially focusing on three majors: Economics, Transportation Management Systems, and Food Security. Additionally, KU's executive team visited SKU in 2018. The purpose of this visit to KU was to renew the MoU and to tour the Faculty of Agriculture and the Office of Library, studying the laboratories and the library services.

After the participants from both sides introduced themselves, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sakhan Teejuntuk and the other KU participants discussed the current progress of the cooperation between KU and SKU, as well as future plans, such as:

(1) Establishing an international research station in Paksong City, Champasak Province (Nong Hin), similar to the Doi Pui Research Station of the Faculty of Agriculture in Chiang Mai.

(2) Restoring and conserving watershed areas in Laos.

(3) Promoting the Mekong-Lancang Fund as a major funding source in the future to support small-scale farmers.

(4) Enhancing the skills of Lao workers in Thailand by supporting their higher education.

(5) Developing SKU personnel, such as providing doctoral scholarships.

(6) Other projects.

Following that, the ceremony for renewing the MoU between the two institutions took place, followed by the presentation of a souvenir to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khoune Sackbouabong by Asst. Prof. Dr. Nikhom Laemsak and a group photo session. After the signing, the delegation from SKU had lunch at the Office of Library and toured the library and the Faculty of Agriculture as planned.