On May 27, JSPS Bangkok Office organized a JSPS guidance seminar same as the last year at Chiang Mai University which has a vast campus and is highly regarded as one of Thai leading universities in the academic field. We annually hold the seminar since2013 and this is the forth one.
Before the seminar, we made a courtesy visit to Prof. Watchara Kasinrerk, Vice President for Academics and Educational Quality Development, Assoc. Prof. Rome Chiranukrom, Vice President for international Relations and Alumni Affairs, and Assoc. Prof. Avorn Opatpatanakit, Vice President for Research and Academic Services. The university has concluded MoUs with several Japanese universities and is trying to promote its students mobility by double degree programs based on the MoUs.
Courtesy visit
After the visit, the seminar was held at another campus, and over 50 young researchers joined it.
Dr. Sirikan Limpakan, Associate Professor of Faulty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University and an Executive committee member of JSPS Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT), was responsible for a moderator, and the seminar started with an opening address by Assoc. Prof. Avorn.
Dr. Sirikan Limpakan, Associate Professor of Faulty of Medicine
Assoc. Prof. Avorn Opatpatanakit, Vice President for Research and Academic Services
Following was the presentation for JSPS’s outline by Prof. Kuniaki Yamashita, Director of JSPS Bangkok Office. That day was a historical one that Mr. Obama, U.S. President, visited Hiroshima in Japan, and Prof. Yamashita talked about the relation between peace and promoting academic exchange.
Ms. Noriko Furuya, Deputy Director of JSPS Bangkok Office, and Mr. Toshio Ohta, its International Program Associate, also explained its international programs.
Prof. Kuniaki Yamashita
Ms. Noriko Furuya
Mr. Toshio Ohta
Subsequently, two JAAT members, Dr. Narongchai Autsavapromporn, who conducted research activities at National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) as a JSPS fellow, and Dr. Saisamorn Lumyong, who obtained her PhD at Hokkaido University through JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program, presented their research activities and life in Japan and gave participants some advice about application for the programs.
Dr. Narongchai Autsavapromporn
Dr. Saisamorn Lumyong
The last speaker, Dr. Nobutaka Ito, Visiting Professor of Chiang Mai University, delivered a speech on globalization for students and staff on the basis of his experiences.
In the Q&A session, participants asked questions about JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers and RONPAKU programs, they seemed to be highly interested in JSPS programs.
Dr. Nobutaka Ito
Dr.Sirikan, Dr. Narongchai and Dr. Saisamorn gave some tips to them. Moreover, Prof. Ito told them that it was important to effectively use time and to continue research activities. These answers from both Japanese and Thai researchers made the session more meaningful.
Group photo
