KHON KAEN – The Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University (KKU), as a co-supporting institution, has expressed its congratulations to the undergraduate and graduate students who won awards at the 2026 “Setthatat” economic and financial paper competition.

The “Setthatat” project is a prestigious national research competition organized through a partnership between the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and nine of the country’s leading academic institutions. The supporting universities include Chiang Mai University, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Ramkhamhaeng University, Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Prince of Songkla University, Khon Kaen University, and Srinakharinwirot University. The initiative aims to strengthen Thai students’ economic analysis and research skills while giving them a national platform to showcase their work.

The top honours for the 2026 competition went to:

Undergraduate Category Winner: Mr. Pran Uchupalanun from Assumption University, for his paper titled “Measuring Geopolitical Risk in Small Open Economies: Evidence from Thailand.”

Graduate (Master’s-Doctoral) Category Winner: Ms. Nattakritta Amornsupakij from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), for her paper titled “The Thailand Economic Surprise Index (TESI): Construction, Market Impact, and Exchange Rate Predictability in Thailand.”

Associate Professor Sutin Wianwiwat, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Khon Kaen University, praised the winners for their academic excellence. “The award-winning papers this year reflect outstanding academic quality, showcasing both creative research questions and rigorous methodologies applied to the Thai economic context,” he said. “These works serve as excellent models for the next generation of economics students to develop high-quality, practical research.”

The Dean also highlighted the significance of the collaborative network. “The ‘Setthatat’ project is a vital platform made possible by the collaboration between the Bank of Thailand and nine leading economics faculties. Khon Kaen University is honoured to be part of this network. We hope this project inspires our own students to hone their research and analytical skills, participate in future competitions, and bring recognition to our institution.”

The annual competition continues to build academic networks across Thailand, fostering high-calibre economists and financial researchers who advance the country’s economic knowledge.