March 12, 2021 at Meeting Room 3, HS05 Building, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bangkok Japan Foundation and Thailand Japanese Studies Association held a forum on “Japanese Studies under the Present Situation”. The event also included discussion of collaboration in Japanese studies in the Northeast. On this occasion, Mr. Shigeki Kobayashi, Japanese Minister Counselor to Thailand and Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor and the delegation were welcomed to Khon Kaen University by Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relation and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Orathai Piayura, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences along with administrators and staff of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Among the over 100 attendants were students and the working team from Japan Foundation, Bangkok, the members of Thailand Japanese Studies Association and those interested.
The event began with Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Alumni conveying the welcoming address. Next, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Orathai Piayura, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences presented a reporting speech to the Chairman of the event, Mr. Shigeki Kobayashi, Japanese Minister Counselor to Thailand; the Director of Japanese News Agency, representatives of Japan Embassy, and Dr. Somsak Jungtrakoon, Khon Kaen Governor.
The event featured a special forum on the cultural relation between Japan and ASEAN by Dr. Saikaew Thipakorn; and the changing Japan: working women and full-time housewives by Asst. Prof. Dr. Piyawan Asawarachan. The forum was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sthaporn Roengtham. This was followed by another forum on Japanese Studies and the adjustment of Thai Universities under the new normal of learning by the members of Thailand Japanese Studies Association.
The meeting scheduled in the afternoon – held at the conference room of Huan Ton Noon Hotel, Kangsadan, Khon Kaen as well as online via Zoom – was to discuss collaboration in Japanese studies among the representatives of the 3 allies, including: 1) Khon Kaen University, Mahasarakham University, and Ubon Ratchathani University; 2) Thailand Japanese Studies Association; and Japan Foundation, Bangkok.
The objectives of this event were to discuss the policies to be set for promoting and supporting research work, conferences, training and workshops in Japanese studies among universities and network organizations in the Northeast, to distribute budget, build cooperative networks and increase knowledge and understanding in Japanese studies as well as in humanities and social sciences to students, lecturers and the interested public. It is expected that a coordinating center will be established in the future to disseminate news and promote good understanding of the country of Japan.
News: Phaowadee Maphan
Photos: Communication and Information Group, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
