Visit from Kasetsart University (Thailand) Strengthens Longstanding Partnership

On September 2, 2025, Kumamoto University welcomed a delegation from Kasetsart University, Thailand, further deepening the collaborative ties between the two institutions. The delegation was led by Assistant Professor Dr. Ngamlamai Piolueang, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Assistant Professor Dr. Korakit Choomgrant, Vice Dean for International Affairs and Educational Quality Development, accompanied by seven additional faculty members from the humanities division.

To welcome the visitors, Kumamoto University was represented by Lecturer Lander Bryant Sims, Special Assistant to the President for Global Education; Professor Masahiko Ito, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Professor Teruhiko Nakagawa, Vice Dean of the same faculty; Professor Satoshi Nakauchi, Dean of the Graduate School of Social and Cultural Sciences; and Professor Yutaka Fujita, Dean of the Graduate School of Education.

During the meeting, Lecturer Sims delivered a warm welcome address, expressing appreciation for the enduring partnership and his hopes for continued collaboration. In response, Dr. Piolueang shared her aspirations to expand the scope of cooperation beyond student exchange, proposing initiatives such as faculty exchange, joint research projects, double degree programs, and collaborative seminars. Following introductions to each university, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on future academic collaboration, including plans for a summer school program and opportunities for visiting scholar exchanges.

After the meeting, the delegation toured the International Research Center for Manga Studies, affiliated with the Faculty of Letters, which showcased Kumamoto University’s featured research initiatives. The visit also included a stop at the Memorial Museum of the Fifth High School, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, offering a glimpse into Kumamoto University’s rich historical and cultural legacy.

Kasetsart University and Kumamoto University have maintained an inter-university exchange agreement since 1994. This visit marks another meaningful step toward strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two institutions.