Khon Kaen University’s College of Local Administration secures a strategic partnership with a global leader in public affairs and governance research.

On 13 November 2025, the executive team from the College of Local Administration (COLA) at Khon Kaen University, led by Assistant Professor Sirisak Laochankham, 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 the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), to participate in a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic and research collaboration.

 

CLASS at CityUHK (ranked QS #63 and THE #75 globally) is a leading institution in public affairs, globally renowned and prominent across Asia. COLA is immensely proud that CityUHK chose to establish this international academic partnership.

Following the signing, Professor Alfred HO invited the COLA executive team to serve as Guest Speakers at an international conference on Urban Governance and Innovation, which saw the participation of public affairs and public policy scholars from leading universities worldwide. This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving one of COLA’s crucial Objectives and Key Results (OKR) goals: establishing international research networks and gaining international recognition, aligning directly with Khon Kaen University’s mission.

The post-MOU discussions between COLA KKU and CLASS CityUHK focused on implementing ‘Proactive Strategic Quick-Win’ activities, with the following key collaborations agreed upon:

• Editor Writing Workshop: CLASS CityUHK agreed to co-host a one-week Editor Writing Workshop at CityUHK in May 2026. This workshop will select approximately 20 high-potential junior researchers from Khon Kaen University and its national network universities. 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 Hotline, People Participation in the Digital Era, and Public Innovation. The researchers will subsequently co-author articles for publication in leading international Scopus Q1 journals dedicated to Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Urban Governance, Artificial Intelligence in Government, Policy Innovation, and Public Management & Innovation. Eminent international researchers will serve as mentors during this workshop. (Details regarding participating network universities in PA/Public Policy/Polsc/AI will be announced.)
• International Cooperative Education (Co-op) Programme: CLASS CityUHK will explore the possibility of accepting 2–3 high-potential COLA undergraduate students (those with strong English proficiency and creative thinking skills) to undertake an international co-op programme at CityUHK, Hong Kong, for one semester in 2026. (COLA third-year students are encouraged to prepare.)
• Conference Co-Hosting: CLASS CityUHK has invited COLA KKU to serve as a Co-Host for the second Urban Governance and Innovation Conference 2026, scheduled to be held in Beijing, China, next year.
• Visiting Scholars Programme: CLASS CityUHK is pleased to consider sending high-calibre faculty members to COLA KKU for short-term Visiting Scholar positions. These scholars will contribute to teaching, curriculum development, research consultation, and academic lecturing.

The opportunity to collaborate and work closely with a global leading institution like CityUHK (World Ranking QS #63, THE #75) will enable COLA to gain quality networks and knowledge, directly elevating the capabilities of faculty members and students, enhancing international awareness and acceptance, and expanding cooperation on the global stage.

Assistant Professor Sirisak Laochankham, Dean of COLA, remarked that this agreement represents another strategic landmark for COLA in establishing a global research network, supporting the quality development of its academic staff and students, and aligning with Khon Kaen University’s vision of becoming a World-Leading Research and Development University.