KKU President Meets with Dual-Degree Students at Southwest University, PRC

14 December 2025
09:12

On 3 December 2025, a delegation from Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, visited Southwest University (SWU) in the People’s Republic of China.

The President was accompanied by Assistant Professor Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Associate Professor Issara Kanjak, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Education; Associate Professor Orathai Piayura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Assistant Professor Uthaiwan Danvivath, Acting Director of the Thai side of the Confucius Institute; and faculty members from both participating faculties.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with and offer encouragement to the 98 Khon Kaen University students currently enrolled in the Dual Degree Programme at SWU.

During the meeting, the President engaged with the students, inquiring about their studies, daily lives, and perspectives on their overseas educational experiences. He provided insights and advice aimed at enhancing their linguistic skills, cultural understanding, and development as global citizens—a key objective of the academic collaboration between the two universities.

Following the student engagement, the KKU delegation attended a consultation meeting at the International College conference room at Southwest University. During this session, the delegation received a summary report on the Confucius Institute’s operational results for 2025 and exchanged ideas on developing cooperation for the Dual Degree Programmes offered by the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Discussion also covered preparations for celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University in 2026.

Furthermore, both institutions discussed strategies for expanding collaboration across various disciplines to elevate the standard of academic and cultural partnership between Khon Kaen University and Southwest University, thereby fostering stronger ties between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China.