COLA KKU Partners with Vietnam’s National Politics and Public Administration Institutes to Advance Academic Cooperation in Public Affairs and Policy

16 February 2026
15:16

The collaboration aligns with celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of Thai–Vietnamese Diplomatic Relations.

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam demonstrates high potential for development, experiencing rapid, exponential growth. This capacity, driven by its skilled workforce, political stability, anti-corruption policies, and rapid bureaucratic reforms, continuously attracts foreign investors, fuelling sustained economic development. Furthermore, strategically, Vietnam is geographically close to Thailand; although they do not share a border, they are connected by key strategic transport networks within the Mekong Subregion. This context presents a significant opportunity for the two nations to strengthen relations and cooperation in various dimensions, particularly as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

On 4 February 2026, Assistant Professor Dr. Sirisak Laochankham, Dean of the College of Local Administration (COLA), engaged in academic cooperation discussions with the Director-General of the International Cooperation Department at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA). The HCMA is a high-level institution for politics and administration, supervised directly by the Communist Party of Vietnam. Its primary function is teaching and training senior Party and government leaders, as well as high- and middle-level executives destined for crucial government, political, and civil service roles. Graduation from the HCMA is mandatory for all senior Vietnamese government officials, with over 200 alumni currently serving on the Party Central Committee. The HCMA President is also a member of the Party Central Committee Politburo.

HCMA executives expressed keen interest in cooperating with COLA, recognising that Vietnam is currently engaged in rapid bureaucratic reform and local governance restructuring—a vital national development strategy. The two institutions have agreed to collaborate on the following initiatives in the future:

Co-hosting the 2nd International Conference on Public Affairs in Khon Kaen in November 2026. The HCMA will send reputable experts to serve as speakers, focusing on the reform of Vietnam’s public administration system.
Jointly implementing short-term exchange programmes for institutional leaders, faculty members, and students.
Exchanging experiences and transferring knowledge regarding local administration and public affairs to Vietnamese local leaders.
Conducting joint research on comparative politics and policy, particularly focusing on local governance, public policy, and regional economics across Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

This collaboration marks a crucial opportunity for COLA to learn from and partner with the institution responsible for producing and developing Vietnam’s national leaders. COLA extends its gratitude to Mr. Đinh Hoàng Linh, Consul General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, for facilitating the initial contact and establishing cooperation between the two academies.

Subsequently, on 5 February 2026, COLA executives continued their academic negotiation by meeting with the National Academy of Public Administration and Governance of Viet Nam (APAG), Vietnam’s premier institution for public affairs management. Both COLA and APAG are established members of EROPA (Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration). This new partnership aligns perfectly with COLA’s vision to become the leading ASEAN institution in public affairs, creating societal value. The COLA delegation was warmly received by the APAG Vice President and accompanying executives.

This official visit marks the first physical visitation by COLA to APAG, following previous joint academic activities, such as co-hosting international public affairs conferences and sending COLA faculty to deliver lectures at APAG gatherings. APAG’s structure is similar to COLA’s evolution, as it offers both teaching and training for government personnel (from local to central levels), alongside regular academic degree programmes.

The two academies discussed prospective cooperation activities scheduled for the near future:

Co-hosting the 2nd International Conference on Public Affairs 2026, which will coincide with COLA’s 20th anniversary celebration, scheduled for 19–20 November 2026. APAG has confirmed that the institution’s leaders will attend the conference.
Jointly designing and delivering study tours and practical training workshops for Vietnamese local government executives and personnel. This initiative aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge regarding local governance in Thailand, coupled with short-term student exchange programmes.
Supporting joint comparative research projects on local governance and public administration reform in Vietnam. The results of this research are intended for presentation at the forthcoming International Conference.
APAG extended an invitation for COLA to participate in the Public Governance conference scheduled to be held in Hanoi later this October.

Both institutions have agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be formally signed at the university level in the near future. COLA has also invited senior APAG executives to visit Khon Kaen University and the College of Local Administration on this occasion.