On June 12, 2025, in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, led a KKU executive delegation—including Associate Professor Denpong Soodphakdee, Vice President for Education and Digital; Associate Professor Ratchaphon Santivarakorn, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; and Associate Professor Komkrit Pitiruke, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and Organizational Development—to attend The Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange (BRST) at the Tianfu International Convention Center in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
The event was co-hosted by Sichuan Shudao Smart Transportation Group Co., Ltd., Sichuan Shudao Railway Investment Group Co., Ltd., and Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU)—China’s top-ranked university in Transportation Engineering.
As part of the conference, the KKU President was honored as one of four keynote speakers, delivering an address titled:
“KKU’s Exploration and Pioneering of Co-Educating Engineering Talents in the Field of Transportation (High-Speed Rail) in Thailand.”
His speech highlighted KKU’s vital role in advancing Thailand’s railway engineering workforce.
Following the conference, Khon Kaen University and SWJTU signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish a 2+2 Double Degree Program in Railway Engineering. The agreement marks a concrete step forward in joint personnel development and was witnessed by high-level representatives from various countries.
SWJTU is currently ranked No. 1 in China (A+ level) for Transportation Engineering and is recognized as a global leader in railway technology. This collaboration with KKU represents a significant milestone in forging high-potential international academic partnerships.
During the visit, KKU executives also held discussions with Prof. Yan Xuedong, President of SWJTU, on expanding faculty exchanges and co-research funding opportunities. They also met with the second cohort of KKU engineering students currently undergoing high-speed rail training at SWJTU.
The KKU delegation toured the State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System and observed the Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) system—an advanced train propulsion technology that drastically reduces friction and enables ultra-high speeds.
This international engagement and agreement reflect Khon Kaen University’s strategic commitment to developing human capital in railway systems aligned with future industry needs, while strengthening its global academic alliances.
