Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Assoc. Prof. Pensri Jaroenwanit, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialisation, joined the Third Mobile Meeting of the Student Potential Development Committee of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) for the 2026 academic year. The delegation included Mr. Triwut Vasanam, Head of the Student Development Section, Student Development and Alumni Relations Division, and Mr. Sittiporn Phumpasee, a fourth-year student from the Faculty of Education and President of the KKU Student Council for the 2026 academic year. Held under the theme “University for Mankind,” the event ran from 3 to 5 September 2026 at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Hatyai Campus, Songkhla Province.
The opening ceremony was held on 3 September 2026 at Prince of Songkla University’s 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the Throne International Convention Centre. Asst. Prof. Niwat Keawpradub, Ph.D., President of Prince of Songkla University, welcomed university executives, staff, and student representatives from higher education institutions nationwide. Assoc. Prof. Thanita Lerdpornkulrat, Ph.D., Chair of the CUPT Student Potential Development Committee, then presented on future strategic directions for student development. A key highlight was a panel discussion titled “Fostering Student Public Consciousness in the Face of Global Climate Change,” featuring student leaders from Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University, Mahidol University, and Prince of Songkla University. Mr. Sittiporn Phumpasee represented KKU on the panel, sharing perspectives alongside peer institutions. Participants later took part in the “Hatyai Site Visit,” studying the urban recovery and historical context of Hatyai following past major flood disasters. The visit offered experiential learning from real-world situations and was followed by network-building activities.
On the second day of the meeting (4 September 2026), university executives convened for the formal CUPT Student Potential Development Committee session. Meanwhile, staff and student delegates participated in the “Songkhla World Heritage Site: The Heritage of Songkhla” community learning study and an interactive workshop on “The Role of Students in Developing the Soft Power of Songkhla.”
On 5 September 2026, the delegation travelled to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang, Malaysia, for an international study visit to broaden global perspectives on student affairs and expand regional institutional partnerships. Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Development Affairs and Alumni) of Universiti Sains Malaysia, alongside USM staff and student leaders, warmly welcomed the delegation and facilitated the knowledge exchange session.
Participation in this mobile meeting underscores Khon Kaen University’s commitment to enhancing student development through public service, international exposure, and sustained inter-institutional networking. By equipping students with a sense of civic responsibility and a global mindset, KKU prepares its students to help advance sustainable development for the nation and global society.
