KKU Partners with Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC in Four-Year MOU to Launch KKU Football Academy and Advance Towards a University of Sports Excellence

29 September 2026
17:11

On 29 September 2026, Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, MD, President of Khon Kaen University, and Assoc. Prof. Pensri Jaroenwanit, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialization, presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic and sports development with Khon Kaen Mordindaeng Football Club. Under the “KKU Football Academy” project, the partnership aims to raise the capabilities of university student-athletes and local youth across the Northeastern region. The club was represented by Asst. Prof. Donchai Srisamran, President of Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC, and Mr Prasit Thotuyo, Club Board Member. Hosted in the Sarasin Meeting Room on the 2nd Floor of the Sirikunakorn Building, the ceremony drew university executives, club sponsors, distinguished guests, and members of the press.

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, MD, President of KKU, opened with a welcoming address outlining the strategic intent behind the collaboration. He described football as a universal sport that engages people from every walk of life. Recognising the importance of sports development, the university aims to give students and youth a structured platform to showcase their athletic talent and, potentially, move into professional sports careers, building on the success of its established volleyball academy.

Assoc. Prof. Panthongviriyakul further explained that although Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC effectively serves as KKU’s representative team – made up of students, alumni, and professional athletes – the regulations of professional football’s governing bodies require the club to operate as a separate legal entity, hence the need for a formal MOU. Thanking the founders and supporters who have sustained the club for nearly a decade, the President encouraged the players, reminding them that winning and losing are a natural part of sport and offer valuable lessons for continuous development. The club, which currently competes in Thai League 3, will benefit from combining KKU’s training facilities, sports medicine, academic personnel, technology, and specialised knowledge with private-sector resources. Its goal is to secure a top-table finish in Thai League 3 and, in time, advance to Thai League 2 and Thai League 1.

Assoc. Prof. Pensri Jaroenwanit, PhD, Vice President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialization, outlined the key provisions of the four-year agreement, which directly supports the university’s Good Health and Well-being strategy. The framework covers four principal areas: 1) modern football skills and capacity development; 2) resource and academic support, including sports science expertise, personnel, and club infrastructure; 3) public relations and brand communication; and 4) intellectual property and confidentiality protection. Assoc. Prof. Jaroenwanit added that KKU is fully committed to strengthening its training systems so that young athletes can reach national–team or professional level. The university also welcomes additional corporate sponsors wishing to support the KKU Football Academy’s development ladder, which spans primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

Asst. Prof. Donchai Srisamran, President of Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC, thanked the university for its visionary support and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to serving as a stepping stone for regional youth and KKU students. With more than 80 per cent of the current squad made up of KKU students who balance their studies with athletic training, Asst. Prof. Srisamran said the team’s immediate target this season is a mid-table finish. The club currently uses two training pitches on the university campus and plays its home matches at the 50th Anniversary KKU Stadium.

Mr Thanapol Srithong, a Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC striker and alumnus of the Faculty of Management Sciences with 15 years of professional football experience, said the collaboration creates a vital development pathway for local talent and KKU students while promoting long-term physical health in the community.

The programme also included an introductory presentation on KKU’s institutional missions. Following the signing ceremony, Asst. Prof. Srisamran presented custom club jerseys bearing the names of the President and the Vice President for Student Affairs and Innovation Commercialization. Assoc. Prof. Panthongviriyakul then awarded commemorative plaques to key corporate sponsors, including Mr Thanawit Yayee (Community Relations Manager, Mitr Phol Group), Mr Prasert Churat (Representative, Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd.), Mr Supasin Singchompoo (Matorix Sublimation Ltd., Part.), Ms Nittaya Kaewka (Manager, Khon Kaen Friendship Ice Factory 2002 Ltd., Part.), and The Tree Dental Clinic. Football boots donated by Supersports were also handed over to representatives of Ratchaprachanukroh 50 School, the KKU Football Club under the KKU Football Academy project, and Khon Kaen Mordindaeng FC.

This MOU marks a milestone in institutional collaboration, establishing a clear pathway for regional youth by bringing together university resources, sports science, and career planning. In line with KKU’s strategic ambition to become a University of Sports Excellence and foster sustainable well-being, the initiative shows how higher education and sports development can advance hand in hand to empower the next generation of athletic talent.