Description
Facilitation of high-level academic visit from Kasetsart University, Bangkok, to FinlandA delegation from Kasetsart University (KU), Bangkok, consisting of 40 persons (including vice president Panit Khemtong and about 15 associate deans responsible for international relations) visited Finland. About half of the delegation was hosted by Rector Thomas Wilhelmsson and Vice Rector Jukka Kola in the University Main Building while the other half visited Aalto University. Those visiting UH included KU Faculty of Forestry Associate Dean Dr Damrong Pipatwattanakul with whom Olavi Luukkanen had planned the programme of the whole visit. Dr Damrong (doctoral degree graduate from VITRI in 1995) had a separate discussion at VITRI where he introduced new financing opportunities for student exchange between UH and KU. - The main outcome of the KU visit was a surprise decision by KU to establish a Thai national centre for African studies on their Bangkhen campus in Bangkok. If this materializes, this can be seen as a major achievement of the UH/KU cooperation that already started in 1966 and which has been the backbone of the activities of VITRI and the tropical silviculture research group that preceded the institute since 1980. Sudan has been selected by KU as the first focus for the new Thai Africa Centre, due to Dr Damrong’s acquaintance with VITRI’s partner institutions and individual contacts to Sudan.
| Period | 15 Sept 2010 → 16 Sept 2010 |
|---|---|
| Visiting from | Kasetsart University (Thailand) |
| Visitor degree | PhD, Vice President |
| Country/Territory | Thailand |
| Degree of Recognition | International |