On December 8, JSPS Bangkok Office visited Khon Kaen University (KKU) and organized a JSPS guidance seminar, as a part of “Japan Education Fair” hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Thailand. KKU is one of Thai research universities with 50-year-history in Thai northeastern area called Isan, and has more than 40,000 students in over 20 faculties.
Before the seminar, HE Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to Thailand, and Japanese delegate made courtesy visit to Vice-Presidents and Deans. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nawarat Wara-aswapati Charoen, Vice-President for International Affairs, who is a member of JSPS Alumni Association of Thailand (JAAT) and carried out her research at Tokyo Medical and Dental University as a long-term invitation researchers fellow, delivered welcome speech and mentioned that KKU was getting closer relationship with the embassy through recent various activities and promote joint researches and researchers and students exchange under MoUs with more than 60 Japanese universities and institutions.
Following her speech, HE Mr. Sadoshima made address and explained there are more than 40 branch offices of Japanese universities in Thailand and increase in Thai students who study in Japan. He added that the embassy would provide support in education including vocational education because human resources development is one of keys for the nation with challenging problems.
HE Mr. Sadoshima (right) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nawarat (left)
Group photo in courtesy visit
Following to the courtesy visit, some 20 researchers and students participated in the seminar.
First of the seminar, Asst. Prof. Dr. Teekayu Plangkoon Jorns, Assistant to the President for International Relations of KKU, delivered opening address, followed by introduction of JSPS’s outline and international programs by JSPS Bangkok office.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Teekayu (the second person from left)
Mr. Ohta, International Program Associate of JSPS Bangkok Office
Afterwards, 2 JAAT members, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Sawanyawisuth and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukanya Aimimtham explained their experience in JSPS’s program. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak is one of JAAT Executive Committee members, and obtained his PhD at University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH) with RONPAKU program. He also announced the workshop on the subject of “writing manuscript for publication” to be organized at KKU on December 21 and 22 by JAAT. In addition, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak made great effort to the seminar.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak
On the other hand, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukanya, who obtained her PhD at Komazawa University with RONPAKU program, presented the application process in details. Although her major is social science, Thai researchers in the humanities and social science fields who have joined in JSPS’s programs are fewer than those in the natural science fields. Therefore, her presentation was informative for the participants.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sukanya
In Q&A session, the students asked questions such as whether ability to speak Japanese could be a requirement in studying in Japan or not, and whether PhD students could join JSPS’s programs or not.
Q&A session
Group photo in guidance seminar
After the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak and Dr. Akkaranee (left) conducted us through Khon Kaen city
