On 8 August 2023 at 1:00 p.m., in the IAD meeting room, on the 10th floor of the Kasetsart Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University. Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University attended the online Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Kasetsart University and Philippine Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs), which consist of 3 universities of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines: Mariano Marcos State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College. The MOU is signed by the President of Kasetsart University as the authorized signatory and witnessed by the Director of the Institute of Food Research and Development (IFRPD). The delegation from the Philippine Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs), which consist of 3 institutions of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines consisting of Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, President, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU); Dr. Jaime I. Manuel JR., President, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU); and Dr. Gilbert R. Arce, President, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC); and witnessed by Dr. Dioniso B. Bucao, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU); Dr. Angelina T. Gonzales, Don Mariano Marcos. Memorial State University (DMMMSU); and Dr. Remely A. Sanidad, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC).

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On this occasion, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University along with executives and personnel of the Institute of Food Research and Product Development (IFRPD) and personnel from the International Affairs Division attended the virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony together with the administrators and executives from 3 universities of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines.

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Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University expressed his gratitude and congratulated today’s MOU signing ceremony between Kasetsart University and 3 universities of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines, namely Mariano Marcos State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, hope that today's signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOU) will lead to building fruitful academic cooperation and creating mutual benefits for all parties in the field of Probiotics and Functional Foods. In today’s MOU signing ceremony, the Institute of Food Research and Development (IFRPD) is the main coordinator with the administrators of each university in this collaboration with Kasetsart University. All parties agree on the following general forms of cooperation: 1. Conduct research collaborations in the area of mutual interest; 2. Exchange of visiting scientists/researchers for short-term research engagements; 3. Conduct of cooperative symposia, seminars, workshops conferences, and other capacity building initiatives; and 4. Share academic and research materials and publications.

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Later, the administrators and executives from 3 universities of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines consisting of Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, President, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU); Dr. Jaime I. Manuel JR., President, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU); and Dr. Gilbert R. Arce, President, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), expressed their gratitude and pleasure for today’s online Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Then, each university presented background information and a video presentation of each university respectively. After the MOU signing ceremony, the meeting discussed cooperation activities that will take place in the future, especially on the Probiotics and Functional foods for the health and Wellness of the people in Thailand, the Philippines, and the ASEAN region such as the exchange of students, researchers, scientists, the exchange of faculty staff in teaching and joint research, internship, publications, collaboration in academic conferences and workshops, etc. Today’s signing of the MOU will lead to very close cooperation between KU and 3 universities of higher education in the Republic of the Philippines soon.