Tuesday August 8, 2023 from 08:30 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. – The Center for ASEAN Study, Khon Kaen University; the Research and Academic Service Section of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Khon Kaen University; and the East Asia Study Institute, Thammasat University, held an academic forum on ASEAN Study on the “ASEAN Day 2023”. The opening ceremony of the ASEAN DAY 2023 and the forum was presided over by Asst. Prof. Acharawan Tophak-ngarm, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for International Affairs. Asst. Prof. Keeratiporn Jutawiriya, Ph.D., Director of the Center for ASEAN Study made the reporting speech. Asst. Prof. Acharawan Tophak-ngarm delivered the opening address and presented the prizes to the winners of Photograph Contest on “Sense of ASEAN”. The next session was the forum on the topic of “ASEAN Study”. The event housed over 100 participants online and over 100 participants onsite, including lecturers, academicians, KKU students and the interested public. The onsite venue was at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Asst. Prof. Keeratiporn Jutawiriya, Ph.D., said, “Khon Kaen University’s Center for ASEAN Study has the main mission to be the network center of the Northeast with the duty to disseminate information and bodies of knowledge related to ASEAN Community to the society and academic institutions and to conduct research studies for bodies of knowledge on ASEAN, especially the economy; planning of social, cultural, law and security development as well as building the network for exchange of experiences and relationship with academic and other governmental and private organizations. The event is organized to enhance the knowledge about ASEAN, to build collaboration and development with countries in the ASEAN region on research, innovation, academic service, and to build the business, social and cultural network. The forum also includes a special talk by the Consul-General of Vietnam to Khon Kaen and exchanges of thoughts with experts, academicians, students and the interested public.”
Asst. Prof. Acharawan Tophak-ngarm, Ph.D., said “The Center for ASEAN Study has been assigned by the University to carry out work in accordance with the 2022 Khon Kaen University Implementation Plan. One strategy has been laid for the internationalization of the University. Thus, collaboration and development are to be carried out with the countries in ASEAN related to instruction, research, innovation, academic service and a business network. The plan for ASEAN Community has been laid to promote education, research and building of bodies of knowledge of ASEAN in different aspects. The other mission is to collaborate with other countries to improve instruction, research and academic service related to ASEAN. The collaboration is and will be made with universities, faculties, organizations in the country and abroad. The forum today is part of the ASEAN Day Project, which is scheduled in August every year. This year, the activities are on dissemination of knowledge about ASEAN to KKU students and those interested in ASEAN. This is the first time that the photograph contest has been organized on the topic of “Sense of ASEAN”. Many students and alumni submitted their photographs to the contest. The activity today is the forum on the relationship between Vietnam and Thailand in the ASEAN Community, history of Vietnam, Nguyen Co Thach in the views of Thai and Vietnamese media, and perspectives of ASEAN through academicians in Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.”
The morning session featured a special talk by the Consul-General, Chu Duc Dung, of Vietnam to Khon Kaen on, “Relationship between Thailand and Vietnam in the ASEAN Community; a forum led by Asst. Prof. Tananan Bunwanna, Ph.D.; and a book introduction and critique by Prof. Suwit Teerasasawat: “History of Vietnam, Nguyen Co Thach in the Views of Thai and Vietnamese Media”.
The afternoon session featured another forum on “Different Perspectives of ASEAN by Academicians of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam”; joined by Assoc. Prof. Dupayaphak Preecharach, Ph.D., on the topic of “Politics in Myanmar and Thai Society”; Asst. Prof. Keeratiporn Jutawiriya, Ph.D., from Khon Kaen University on “Cross-bordering Health Service Use in Thailand by Laos People”; Asst. Prof. Jakkpan Khatchumsaeng, Ph.D., on “Tourism and Cultural Relation in the Myanmar-Thailand Border”; and by Asst. Prof. Silapakit Teekhantikul, Ph.D., on “Beliefs and Rituals in Vietnamese Society”. Dr. Kaewta Jantranusorn from Khon Kaen University was the moderator of the forum.
Asst. Prof. Keeratiporn Jutawiriya, Ph.D., finally said, “Thanks to all those who made this ASEAN Study forum a success today. There are over 120 participants in the Meeting Room today and as many as 2,600 watching FB Live from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with 85 shares. This is more than expected, and the objectives of the event have been reached with many more people knowing about ASEAN countries.”
News: Watchara Noichompoo
Photos: Center for ASEAN Study
