On Thursday, December 21st, 2023, at 1.30 p.m., Meeting Room No.9, 2nd floor of the Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University Bangkhen Campus, Dr. Damrong Sripraram, Vice President for Administration (in place of Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University) along with administrators and lecturers, namely Asst.Prof. Dr. Kobsak Wanthongchai, Dean of Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Wanwipa Vongsangnak, Deputy Director of Kasetsart University International College (KUIC), Asst.Prof. Dr. Nadhawee Bunnag, Representative of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Asst.Prof. Dr. Kritsadapan Palakit, Assistant Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Forestry, Asst.Prof. Ampika Bansiddhi, Deputy Head of the Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Asst.Prof. Dr. Anusorn Seubsai, Deputy Head of Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ms. Prattana Thirakiettikun, Head of International Collaboration, International Affairs Division, and representatives of International Affairs Division, welcomed and discussed academic collaboration with 5 administrators from Southwest Forestry University (SWFU), China, led by Prof. LI Yongqin, Chairman of the University Council: Mr. SUN Hao, Chairman of the College of Materials and Chemical Engineering Council; Prof. YANG Song, Dean, College of Biodiversity Conservation; Mr. WANG Haitao, the Division of International Cooperation & Exchange, and Mr. DAO Guoxin, Thai language Teacher, the College of Foreign Languages on the occasion of visiting Kasetsart University.

SWFU is the only university of forestry in western China, located in Yunnan Province. It consists of 21 colleges and awards over 164 degrees: 84 bachelor’s degrees, 76 master’s degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees, including Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, Materials and Chemical Engineering, etc. There are approximately over 31,000 students.

After observing the videos regarding the brief overview of both universities, Dr. Damrong Sripraram, Vice President for Administration delivered a welcome address and expressed appreciation for SWFU’s academic performance. This successful outcome proves that SWFU has been developing over the years. Furthermore, Dr. Damrong Sripraram was delighted that both universities have been maintaining a strong relationship since 1990 through various programs: Students and Lecturers Exchange Program, Research Program, International Forestry Conference, etc. Administrators from SWFU were pleased to further strengthen this long-term relationship.

Subsequently, both universities discussed the possibility of developing collaboration. SWFU suggested 1. Personnel Training (Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree) 2. Doctoral Degree Student Fund which supports Thai doctoral students’ tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses at SWFU with the main objective of encouraging knowledge on forestry in the Mekong River Region and fostering the relationship between China and Thailand 3. Student Exchange Program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degree) 4. Collaboration in setting up the Science and Biotechnology Research Cooperation Center in Forestry.

At the end of the discussion, both universities agreed to further discuss the programs as mentioned earlier in more detail at the next opportunity. Lastly, Dr. Damrong Sripraram, Vice President for Administration gave souvenirs to administrators from SWFU and took a group photo.