On March 13, 2026, the Graduate School of Khon Kaen University hosted the 1/2026 Meeting of the Council of Graduate Studies Administrators of Public and Autonomous Universities (CGAU) at the Rubkwan Room, Bayasita Hotel. The meeting brought together senior administrators from 15 leading higher education institutions across Thailand to discuss strategic directions for advancing graduate education toward international standards. The CGAU currently comprises a total of 25 member institutions nationwide.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, delivered the welcoming remarks and presented a keynote address titled “Strategic Policy Directions for Graduate Research Administration Toward Becoming a World-Class Research University.” In his address, he outlined strategies to elevate Thai universities toward world-class research status and emphasized the importance of developing a modern research ecosystem, promoting the sharing of laboratory resources among institutions, and redefining the role of universities as key drivers of innovation and the national economy.
The initiative to transform graduate education at Khon Kaen University into a research-driven model centers on redefining both perspectives and approaches to advanced education. Under this model, graduate students are designated as research assistants (RA), enabling them to engage directly in research activities while ensuring structured integration of teaching and research. Faculty members are encouraged to incorporate their research into instruction, with an emphasis on producing high-impact research outputs (e.g., T1 and Q1 publications) to strengthen global university rankings.
Assoc. Prof. Weeraphart Khunrattanasiri, Chair of the Council of Graduate Studies Administrators of Public and Autonomous Universities (CGAU), presided over the meeting and conducted the proceedings in accordance with the official agenda.
In the afternoon session, Prof. Dr. Kiatichai Faksri, Dean of the Graduate School at Khon Kaen University, shared institutional experiences through the session “EdPEx300 for Graduate School: Sharing from KKU and Networking.” Participants also joined a community-based study visit in Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kaen Province, providing an opportunity to learn from local community practices.
The meeting laid a strong foundation for collaboration among leading institutions, aiming to elevate the quality of graduate education to international standards. It also marked an important step toward building a national network to advance Thai higher education on the global stage.
Photo/News: Sittera Samosorn
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