The College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University (COLA KKU), in collaboration with the Executive Master of Public Administration Program (EMPA) from the Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University (PSU), USA, organised the “Thailand Case Study International Field Trip Program 2025.” The programme took place from 25 October to 1 November 2025, in Bangkok, Chonburi Province, and Khon Kaen Province.
This programme marked the fifth consecutive year of collaboration, designed to promote international academic partnership and foster the exchange of knowledge concerning public affairs administration, public policy, and local development. Fourteen faculty members and students from PSU’s EMPA programme participated, alongside faculty members and students from COLA KKU.
Intensive activities were conducted throughout the week:
26 October 2025: The participants visited Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (Temple of Dawn), where Phra Sriwatcharasarnbundit, Assistant Abbot of Wat Arun Ratchawararam (Assistant Professor, Ph.D.), served as the lecturer, providing a guided tour of the temple and its significant ancient monuments, including the main Phra Prang (Khmer-style stupa), the Ubosot (chapel), and various crucial Buddha images housed within the temple complex.
27 October 2025: The delegation conducted a study visit and attended a presentation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the topic, “Thai Foreign Policy in an Age of Global Volatility.” Following this, Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council, delivered a special lecture titled, “Social and Economic Challenges during Geo-political Turbulences.”
28 October 2025: The programme included lectures by Dr. Tiffany Chen, Policy Analyst from UNDP-Thailand, on the topic “Thailand Policy Lab,” and Warunthorn Puthong, Economist at the World Bank Thailand Office, on “The Thai Economy: Challenges and Opportunities.” Later that day, the delegation conducted a study visit to Khao Kheow Open Zoo to examine its management and learn lessons on Collaborative Governance from a COLA alumnus.
29 October 2025: Participants visited and studied the management of Laem Chabang Port and the development of Thailand’s special economic zone, followed by a presentation from a representative of the Port Authority of Thailand. In the afternoon, the delegation visited Saensuk Municipality, Chonburi Province, to learn about the role of local government organisations in managing coastal areas and the marine urban environment.
30 October 2025: The delegation met with the President of Khon Kaen University, Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., and Vice President for International Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Nawarat Wara-aswapati, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., to discuss avenues for ongoing academic collaboration between the two institutions. Following the meeting, the “COLA Bridging Voices English Talk” activity was held, allowing over 50 COLA students to practice English and engage in cultural exchange with the EMPA students from Portland State University.
31 October 2025: The programme concluded with a visit to the Na Por Sawat Indigenous Liquor Community Enterprise in Khon Kaen Province, where participants learned how local wisdom is used to drive grassroots economic development, transforming traditional knowledge into a regional prototype product.
The implementation of the 2025 programme is integral to COLA’s developmental strategy, which aims for the college to become “A Leading ASEAN Institution in Public Affairs Dedicated to Creating Value for All.” This initiative also aligns with the Khon Kaen University Strategy (2026–2029) focusing on the goal of becoming a World-Leading Research and Development University.
The “Thailand Case Study International Field Trip Program 2025” serves not only as a platform for international knowledge exchange but also as a profound symbol of friendship, cooperation, and shared learning. It contributes to the creation of a new generation of public sector leaders and public affairs administrators equipped with a genuine global perspective and a local heart.
