On 13 November 2568, the management team of the College of Local Administration (COLA), led by Assistant Professor Sirisak Laojanokham, Dean, was invited by Professor Alfred HO, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) and Director of the Institute of Global Governance and Innovation for a Shared Future at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). CityUHK is ranked highly globally (QS #63, THE #75). The parties convened a formal signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering academic and research collaboration.
CLASS at CityUHK is one of Asia’s and the world’s leading institutions in public affairs, located in Hong Kong. It is a source of great pride that CityUHK invited COLA KKU to establish this international academic partnership. Following the signing, Professor Alfred HO, Dean of CLASS-CityUHK, invited the COLA management team to serve as Guest Speakers at an international conference on Urban Governance and Innovation, which was attended by academics in public affairs and public policy from leading universities worldwide. This collaborative activity is a key Objective and Key Result (OKR) milestone for COLA in establishing international research networks and achieving international recognition, in line with Khon Kaen University’s policy.
The post-MOU discussions between COLA KKU and CLASS-CityUHK focused on implementing proactive, strategic, and quick-win collaborative activities, which include:
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Editor Writing Workshop: CLASS-CityUHK has agreed to co-organise a one-week Editor Writing Workshop at CityUHK, scheduled for May 2569. This workshop will select approximately 20 high-potential junior academics and researchers from KKU and its affiliated national network universities. The participants will conduct comparative studies (focusing on Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Mainland China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam) in areas such as AI for Government Service, Urban Governance Innovation, Government Hotlines, People Participation in the Digital Era, and Public Innovation. The goal is to co-author research papers for publication in leading Scopus Q1 journals focusing on Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Urban Governance, Artificial Intelligence in Government, Policy Innovation, Public Management, and Innovation. Leading international researchers will serve as mentors at the workshop. (Details regarding network universities in PA/Public Policy/Polsc/AI are forthcoming.)
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International Internship Programme: CLASS-CityUHK will consider accepting high-potential COLA undergraduates (with good English proficiency and creativity) for an international co-operative education internship at CityUHK in Hong Kong for one semester during 2569 (approximately 2–3 third-year COLA students are encouraged to prepare).
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Co-Hosting Conference: CLASS-CityUHK has invited COLA KKU to co-host the second Urban Governance and Innovation Conference in Beijing, China, next year (2026).
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Visiting Scholar Programme: CLASS-CityUHK is open to sending high-calibre faculty members to COLA KKU as short-term Visiting Scholars. These scholars would co-teach, advise on curriculum development and research, and deliver academic lectures.
Collaborating and working with a world-leading institution like CityUHK (QS #63, THE #75) provides an invaluable opportunity to learn, build quality networks, and upgrade the capabilities of COLA faculty and students, thereby enhancing recognition and expanding global cooperation.
Assistant Professor Sirisak Laojanokham, Dean of the College of Local Administration, stated that this cooperation agreement is another strategic milestone for COLA KKU in establishing global research networks, supporting the quality development of faculty and students, and aligning with Khon Kaen University’s goal of becoming a World-Leading Research and Development University.
