Volume 24 Number 1

SPECTRUMISSN 0859-6670 The International Newsletter of Mahidol University, Thailand

January – April 2017

FeatureThe Prince Mahidol Awards 2016

FeatureMahidol University 4.0

AwardsMahidol University Teams Win 2 MIT Innovation Awards

Thailand 4.0University 4.0

BBC Symphony Orchestra Performs in Honor of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej

On the 28th and 29th of March, the BBC Symphony Orchestra performed in Thailand for the first time in their 87 years history. The College of Music, Mahidol University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Council, and the British Community in Thailand invited the orchestra to visit Bangkok as a part of their 2017 world tour.

The concerts were dedicated to the memory of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was a music lover, saxophonist and composer. In a moving show of respect for His Majesty, both performances were opened with the late King’s own composition, Kinari Suite, which was followed by different pieces by other classical composers on each night and closed with an encore of another of His Majesty’s compositions, Phra Maha Monkhon.

Both performances were conducted by Edward Gardner, former conductor for the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and featured solos by the renowned British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. Edward Gardner and General Manager Paul Hughes told Spectrum that the orchestra wanted to perform music by the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to thank the Thai people. Mr. Gardner described Kinari Suite as being “disarmingly joyful” and Mr. Hughes added that the members of the orchestra could not help but smile whilst playing the King’s music. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sugree Charoensook, Dean of the College of Music, Mahidol University said, “Having the BBC Symphony Orchestra performing at the Prince Mahidol Hall is a great honor, and shows the commitment Mahidol University has made to promoting arts and culture.”

In their second performance, the BBC Symphony Orchestra was accompanied by members of the brass section of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra for Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.

Mahidol University as Thailand’s Number 1 in University Rankings

Mahidol University has taken the top position for Thailand in 3 world renowned higher education ranking measures: Times Higher Education (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), and Webometrics.

THE Asia University Rankings 2017 gave Mahidol University the position of the best university in Thailand. THE Asia uses the same measures as the international THE, but calibrated for Asian universities.

Mahidol University also ranked number 1 on seven subject areas in this year’s QS University Rankings by Subject. QS judged Mahidol University’s education for the subjects of Medicine, Nursing, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Anatomy & Physiology, Sociology, and Theology, Divinity &

Religious Studies to be the highest quality in Thailand and ranked Mahidol University as 115th globally in the field of Life Sciences & Medicine.

The release of the January 2017 Webometrics University Rankings saw Mahidol University maintaining the top position out of 200 Thai universities. The Webometrics ranking is performed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) to judge how effectively universities around the world serve the local and global communities through allowing open access to their research.

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Mahidol University News

H.R.H. Princess Aditayathorn Mahidol Opens Mahidol University International College’s

Aditayathorn BuildingMahidol University International College’s new Aditayathorn building

was officially opened on the 26th of March by H.R.H. Princess Aditayathorn Mahidol herself. The Princess was greeted by Mahidol University President Clin. Prof. Udom Kachintorn and executives from Mahidol University and Mahidol University International College as she arrived at the Salaya campus. The ceremony opened with H.R.H. paying respects to a Buddha image.

After officially declaring the new Aditayathorn building open, H.R.H. was presented with the Mahidol University alumni award Mahidol Thayakorn, before herself bestowing a number of awards to Mahidol University International College alumni. Before touring the

new building, the Princess planted a purple Rachavadee plant, the symbol of Mahidol University International College.

H.R.H. Princess Aditayathorn Mahidol presided over the Foundation Stone-Laying Ceremony for the new building in June 2012. The Aditayathorn building will house acting and production laboratories for the Fine and Applied Arts Division, of which the Princess is a distinguished alumna, along with 30 new classrooms, a new library and several canteens and restaurants.

Mahidol University Teams Win 2 MIT Innovation AwardsAssoc. Prof. Panrasee Ritthipravat from the Department of Biomedical

Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, and her team won the first place prize in the Start Up Competition at this year’s MIT Entrepreneur Forum. The forum is organized by the Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship Center, and aims to help develop business entrepreneurs to support the Thailand 4.0 economic plan.

Assoc. Prof. Panrasee Ritthipravat led the team AIM Solution, made up of graduate students from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, which has been researching robot assisted therapy for children with autism, helping them to develop communication skills.

Another team from Mahidol University, Electric Nose, won 3rd place in the competition with their sensor systems to allow machines to sense smells.

MUIC Student Wins International Design Award

Ms. Haeji An, a student from Mahidol University International College’s Communication Design program, won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the Student Category at the 2017 HOW International Design Awards. Her entry, Upon A Doi, is an application which encourages people to travel in the hills (or Doi) of Northern Thailand.

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Mahidol University News

Over the last 25 years, the Prince Mahidol Foundation under the Royal Patronage and Mahidol University have presented the Prince Mahidol Award to 72 people, groups or institutions who have made outstanding contributions to the fields of global medical and public health services.

First established in 1992, the awards commemorate the centenary of the birth of the Royal Father H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla (also known as “The Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health in Thailand”). Two recipients of the Prince Mahidol Awards; Prof. Barry J. Marshall and Prof. Harald zur Hausen have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. This year, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the Presentation Ceremony of the Prince Mahidol Award 2016, which took place at the Chakri Throne Hall on 31st January 2017.

Receiving the Prince Mahidol Award 2016 in Medicine was Sir Gregory Paul Winter, Master of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK for his pioneering work in the field of antibody engineering. In the past, such antibodies could not be used to treat humans as they were produced by laboratory animals and were therefore rejected by the human body. Sir Gregory developed techniques to alter the antibodies so that they were compatible with the human immune system. The resulting antibodies became known as Humanized Therapeutic Antibodies. Their use as therapeutic drugs provides new ways of preventing and treating several human diseases (including immune disorders, degenerative diseases and cancers). Today, new

therapeutic antibodies are being discovered every year, with more than fifty antibody-based drugs already in clinical use. These include the world’s top selling drug - Adalimumab, used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and plaque psoriasis; as well as Belimumab, used in the treatment of chronic lupus.

Joining Sir Winter was Prof. Vladimir Hachinski, Distinguished University Professor, University of Western Ontario, Canada, who received the Prince Mahidol Award 2016 in Public Health. Prof. Hachinski is the world’s leading stroke and cardio-vascular dementia doctor, whose contributions to the fight against these two threats to the human brain have helped improve and save millions of lives. Prof. Hachinski coined the term brain attack to help people recognize the urgency of stroke warning symptoms. He also discovered the relationship between brain insula and cardiac complications, coined the terms multi-infarct dementia and leukoaraiosis, and introduced the Hachinski Ischemic Scale, one of the most widely used tools

t o distinguish between degenerative dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease) and multi-infarct dementia.

To learn more about the Prince Mahidol Awards and Foundation, please visit http://www.princemahidolaward.org/index.en.php

ThePrince Mahidol Awards 2016

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Prof. Vladimir HachinskiSir Gregory Paul Winter

Feature

Mahidol University International NightFor over 20 years, the community of international

students, faculty and staff at Mahidol University has been growing. Each year we celebrate this and share our cultures at the Mahidol University International Night. The 2016 International Night was postponed due to the death of H.M. the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and so the international community at Mahidol University gathered in February this year.

The International Night allows the international community to get to know each other better, with the sharing of food from different countries, cultural performances

and traditional dress, prizes and the awarding of Mr. and Ms. Mahidol University International Night. This year, International Night also featured a display of posters and post-cards showing the work of the Late King to help the international community learn about and understand his life-long dedication to the betterment of the Thai people. The night was opened with a speech by Mahidol University President, Clin. Prof. Udom Kachintorn, who highlighted H.M. the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s work not only in development, but also in Thailand’s relationships with the international community. His speech was followed by a short video presentation on the work of the Late King, entitled, Love Eternally.

Dr. Rapee Boonplueang, Assistant to the President for International Relations, welcomed students and staff to the event with a speech where he noted the ever growing international community at Mahidol University and the efforts by Mahidol University not only to support international students studying here, but also help our students to study and explore cultural experiences abroad.

The evening commenced with a performance of several of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s musical compositions by the band The Elixir, from the College of Music. Students from the Faculty of Liberal Arts then gave a traditional Thai pantomime performance known as Khon, followed by Bhutanese students performing a traditional dance, Tendrel, and after Mr. and Ms. Mahidol University International Night had been selected, the evening closed with a performance by Vietnamese students of the dance, Hello Vietnam. A wide variety of food was provided by international students and staff, cooking the traditional dishes of their home countries. Spectrum would like to thank everyone involved in Mahidol University International Night 2016 for sharing your cultures, food and arts with us. We are already looking forward to International Night 2017!

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Feature

When a country’s economy develops to middle income levels, a problem arises. Development from low to middle income levels is helped by workers moving from agriculture and light industry to heavy industry, allowing a higher financial return for the hours they work. Once a significant number of workers have made this move, it can be difficult for countries to continue developing. In economics, this is referred to as the middle-income trap. The World Bank estimates that of 101 middle income nations in 1960, only 13 had made the transition to high income by 2008. To make this development requires a dramatic shift in the skills and industries in a country. This is the problem faced by many countries around the world, including Thailand.

To break out of the middle-income trap, last year the Thai government created the Thailand 4.0 economic plan. The plan aims to move the Thai economy beyond the heavy industry of Thailand 3.0, and into creative and value added service industries, technological research and development and smart farming and cities. An important part of this plan is to put a greater focus on the 10 industrial clusters, sectors which are supported by Thailand’s current natural and human resources, including robotics, health tourism, medical technology and biochemical industries.

University 4.0Thailand 4.0 requires a concerted effort by all sectors of Thai society to make it become a reality, but universities play

the most important role. The next generation of graduates need a new set of skills for digital industries, small businesses need the support of experts in the field, and research needs to develop into innovative products which can spread around the world. The Council of University Presidents Thailand (CUPT) provided a report on University 4.0 to outline how universities can be more effective at meeting the needs of Thailand 4.0. Mahidol University is busy implementing new teaching, research, support and collaboration strategies to help make the leap to Thailand 4.0.

Teaching and Extra CurricularTo help students retain knowledge and develop creativity and practical business skills it is important that teaching methods

and assessments are designed to meet these needs. Universities need to help their students to develop skills in English, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, practical financial skills and 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity and people management. One of the most effective ways to develop these skills is through project based assessments and extracurricular activities. Mahidol University’s Entrepreneurship Development Center aims to help students work on innovative projects by providing co-working spaces and a fabrication laboratory with facilities including 3D printers. By providing students with the

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Feature

Image by Ministry of Commerce, Thailand

Mahidol University 4.0

resources to work on their ideas, they can practice the skills needed to design and market products and services. Mahidol University also recognizes the importance of travel in encouraging students to practice English, and learn critical thinking skills, planning and budgeting. The Mahidol University Backpack Scholarships provide students with the opportunity to travel around ASEAN, learning about different cultures and also showing the need to clearly develop aims, key performance indicators, proposals and presentations through the scholarship application process

CollaborationIt is important that the universities of Thailand work together to support students and prepare them for Thailand 4.0.

Thailand’s higher education institutions cover the range of public universities, like Mahidol University, private universities, provincial community colleges and vocational colleges. With all of these universities contributing to the development of students, research and industry, we can get closer to the goals of Thailand 4.0.

The Research Universities Network of Thailand (RUN) was established in 2015 as a network of 8 Thai universities working together on research within the 5 core fields of research for Thailand 4.0, and other important issues such as climate change and ASEAN studies. With top Thai universities collaborating on research it allows for the sharing of expertise, resources and equipment which will help to overcome the problems facing Thailand in the transition to Thailand 4.0 and beyond.

Mahidol University also collaborates with local and national businesses to give students real world learning experiences. The MUIC-SCB Mahidol Business Case Challenge sees Business Administration students from Mahidol University International College tackling real world problems posed by Siam Commercial Bank with students working on group projects to provide solutions and in the process developing valuable skills and an understanding of the business world.

ResearchIn Thailand 4.0, university level research must be geared towards

implementable products and services, which are in tune with industry and public demand. Universities must build links with industry, for example the collaborative research project between Mahidol University and Siam Commercial Group to produce an innovative dental plaster used for creating moulds of teeth.

To improve research strategies and collaboration, the Thai government established Innovation Hubs, identifying areas of expertise within Thailand’s universities and supporting collaboration between the ‘hubs’ and ‘spokes’ to ensure that cutting edge research can be developed and implemented. With Mahidol University’s background in healthcare and medical education it has been given the role of Health and Wellness Innovation Hub, to deal with the issues Thailand faces with an aging society, and develop new technologies in medicine and healthcare, supporting Thailand’s role as an international standard healthcare provider.

Mahidol University’s Institute for Technology and Innovation Management or INNOTECH (as reported in Spectrum Volume 23, Number 3) helps to turn the university’s research into real world technology and businesses, and manage the university’s intellectual property portfolio.

Business and InnovationUniversities are valuable resources within the community, especially for businesses. Small and medium-sized

enterprises (SMEs) make up around 35% of Thailand’s GDP, and account for approximately 80% of the workforce. Universities can help to provide technical and strategic knowledge to SMEs, and also to open them up to wider international networks, supporting SMEs as they start up and scale up. It is also important that we help traditional SMEs to become ‘Start Ups’, businesses trading in new products and services. Mahidol University’s Creative Economy Center helps individuals and businesses in Salaya develop value added and innovative products, and improve their business knowledge through classes and workshops with Mahidol University faculty, and the Mahidol University Business Incubator (MUBI) supports small businesses as they try to expand and innovate.

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Feature

Studying Social Innovation in MyanmarThailand 4.0 aims to foster a culture of innovation and this extends to social development.

Spectrum spoke to Dr. Matthew Mullen, Lecturer at Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, to learn about how innovation and creativity led to social development and change in Myanmar and his new book Pathways That Changed Myanmar.

Spectrum: Matt, your book looks at the variety of social movements in Myanmar in the 5 years leading up to the political transition. What interested you about this situation?

Matt: Often we look at social movements as people taking to the streets. People try to make changes or developments through demanding things. This was happening in Myanmar, but there were also a lot of people taking the change upon themselves. There was a lot of strategy and creativity underway. People living in tough circumstances found interesting and innovative ways to improve the situation around them.

Spectrum: Are there any examples which really stand out for you?

Matt: With Mahidol University’s reputation in medical science, a number of public health efforts come to mind. One in particular took shape after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar’s coast, causing devastating loss of life and a protracted public health crisis. Local communities formed private emergency response teams that quietly organized, received intensive training from public health personnel, found ways into the disaster area, gained the requisite information and mobilized emergency assistance to those in dire need.

Spectrum: In the book you talk about the importance of migrant workers from Myanmar sending money to their families, helping to promote opportunities for social movements. How do you think economic connections in ASEAN can help to promote innovation in societies?

Matt: If done properly, regional economic communities can be catalysts for change and social mobility. In promoting regional trade, the ASEAN Economic Community can promote better protections for migrants, more robust and reliable labor standards, access to new opportunities that translate to social mobility, and new ideas and technologies that translate to empowerment. Universities have an important role here as a space where people ask tough questions, find innovative solutions, and figure out new ways to improve livelihoods and quality of life in the region.

Spectrum: When you started your research project, you were writing academic papers. What made you decide you should turn this research into a book?

Matt: I realized that what I had gone there to study was just a small part of a much bigger picture. Academic papers are really important, but by writing a book it allows more peo-ple from different disciplines to learn from the innovations which went on in Myanmar.

Pathways That Changed Myanmar is available in the library of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University, Salaya Campus. It can also be bought from numerous online outlets or at local Asia Books stores.

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Interview

Threatening Resistance in the Asia PacificWhilst doctors, patients and public health systems around the world face increasing

problems with drug resistant bacteria, Thailand is one of the top nations in Asia for rates of Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR). The problem is so significant that last year Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced a national strategy to run from 2017 to 2021, aiming to reduce the number of patients with illnesses related to drug resistant bacteria by 50%.

Prof. Dr. Pattarachai Kiratisin, from the Department of Microbiology at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, has been researching the problem of AMR in Thailand for over a decade, and discussed his findings at the recent Mahidol-Liverpool Symposium.

Using the example of the bacterium E. coli to explain the problem of AMR, Dr. Pattarachai noted that, 14 years ago, the levels of resistance to a common antibiotic used to treat E. coli, ceftriaxone, was around 10 – 12%. Now the resistance is up to 50%. There are only a few available drugs to treat highly resistant E. coli, and no new antibiotics have been developed in decades. As resistance to drugs increases, it becomes more difficult to treat patients and other medicinal options may have severe side effects. AMR also has an effect economically, by leading to the use of more expensive drugs, longer stays in hospital, and increasing the likelihood of spreading resistant bacteria to other patients.

The research to survey the magnitude of the problem of AMR in Thailand was critical. With accurate data on the problem collected, it was then possible to investigate the methods by which bacteria are able to resist antibiotics, and drug combinations which may be helpful in treating bacterial infections resistant to conventional treatment.

There are many factors which cause such high rates of resistance in Thailand. Antibiotics are commonly used in livestock farming for growth promotion. Humans are exposed to these antibiotics, not only by eating this meat, but also through exposure in the environment. Also, in Thailand many antibiotics are available without prescription, so people may use them without consulting their doctors. Dr. Pattarachai said that it is important that we educate doctors about appropriate treatments, and to try to educate the public to have better understanding in reducing their use of antibiotics when possible.

Dr. Pattarachai is continuing his work in this field by establishing a nationwide network, under the funding by Thailand’s Research University Network (RUN) collaborative taskforce, to collect data on drug-resistant bacteria and investigate their mechanisms of resistance; so that more can be done to ensure that resistance can be controlled by the antibiotics which can still be used.

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Research

From Left: Warachote, Pattarawut, Chanakarn, Nattira, Phanaphon, Arthit

Introducing the Mahidol University International Relations Ambassadors

Each year the International Relations Division of Mahidol University selects exceptional students to represent the university as Mahidol University In ternat ional Relat ions (MUIR) Ambassadors. The successful students have a chance to work on some of Mahidol University’s projects and events with the international community and even to travel to other countries as student representatives of Mahidol University. Spectrum spoke to six of this year’s MUIR Ambassadors to get to know them better.

Phanaphon Sereelertwiwat, Faculty of ICT: I wanted to be an MUIR Ambassador so that I could have more opportunities to meet with foreigners in Thailand, and even to travel to other countries. I would like to visit European counties to try to build more links

between Mahidol University and universities there, so that we could have more students coming from those countries to study at Mahidol University. I think that there are a lot of skills we can develop from being a MUIR Ambassador which will be useful for us, and we can develop connections with businesses and learn to communicate professionally.

Nattira Sukboon, Mahidol University International College: Being an MUIR Ambassador has helped me to meet people from different cultures, and also make friends from different faculties at Mahidol University. I would like to travel to Malaysia; I had a chance to go there twice last year, first on the Mahidol University Backpack Scholarship, and again as a delegate of Mahidol University. I found the diversity really interesting; it is a really charming country. It is important for us to try and build links in education. If people have a good education system, this can help their society to develop.

Arthit Napradit, Faculty of Engineering: Honestly I am an introverted person. To become an MUIR Ambassador is to step out of my comfort zone, meet a lot of new people and to learn about new cultures. The MUIR Ambassadors program helps me learn how to talk to a lot of people. When I was in high school, I visited Mahidol University and I was really impressed by the green campus. I don’t think other universities have anything like this.

Chanakarn Lertpanyawiwat, Faculty of Liberal Arts: Being an MUIR Ambassador is very rewarding. It has presented the opportunity for me to represent the university, engage in many diverse activities, and grow as a person and leader. My confidence has grown immensely and my teamwork skills have improved. Moreover, it helps me to deal with unexpected situations. I would like to go to China because of its culture, history, and language that really interest me. No matter where we go, it is essential for an MUIR Ambassador to have knowledge about other countries.

Pattarawut Khunwipusit, Mahidol University International College: I wanted to be an MUIR Ambassador to have more experience and work for the university. I worked as an MC for an event and it helped me learn to react effectively in any situation. This is very beneficial both for professional and social skills. I would like to go to any country in ASEAN, because I want to learn more about how we can develop as a community, and in the future I plan to do business with ASEAN countries. I think it is important for young people to collaborate and work together to solve the world’s problems.

Warachote Shinwasusin, Faculty of Engineering: I am happy every time I make a new friendship with someone and have the chance to work together. It makes me feel excited every time I am part of the Mahidol University International Relations activities. One of the things I have learnt from the activities is situation assessment, observing the audience to evaluate the situation and prepare to take care of any problems. This is the kind of skill that I can adapt to use in my daily life. If I could travel anywhere, I would like to go to Japan to learn how they develop technology because I am interested in innovation.

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MU Students

The 9th SEADOM Congress

The South East Asian Directors of Music (SEADOM) began in 2008, as an attempt by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sugree Charoensook, Dean of the College of Music, Mahidol University, to bring together institutes of musical education in South East Asia. Since then, the organization has helped to support not only musical education, but also the sharing of traditional musical styles and techniques in order to build cultural ties in the region.

Each year representatives of the 35 member institutions, from across all 10 ASEAN nations, meet at the SEADOM Congress, as an opportunity to share the visions, musical activities and research of their institutions and countries. This is a valuable exchange to help improve the standard of musical education in the region.

This year’s 9th SEADOM Congress in Yangon, Myanmar, had the title of Seeding the Musical Ground. Over three days, 120 participants discussed how to improve educational practices, and how to help students and young musicians gain a more multicultural understanding and appreciation of music.

The Congress also gave an opportunity for student musicians from around South East Asia, and a group from Myanmar, to work together on a composition and performance which incorporated their various styles and traditions.

Mahidol – Liverpool Symposium

In 2010 the first scholarship program between Mahidol University and the University of Liverpool, the Stang Mongkolsuk PhD Scholarship, began. The scholarship scheme was designed to help graduates, researchers and teaching assistants from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Science to continue their studies at PhD level at the University of Liverpool. In the seven years since the first links between Mahidol University and the University of Liverpool, three more scholarship schemes have been established for students in the fields of science and medicine entering post graduate studies at the University of Liverpool.

To further establish academic collaboration between faculties at Mahidol University and the University of Liverpool, and to benefit students in Thailand, the Mahidol – Liverpool Symposium began in 2012. This year, the 3rd Mahidol - Liverpool Symposium witnessed 11 faculty members from the University of Liverpool, along with 12 faculty members from Mahidol University presenting their research in the fields of science and medicine. This year’s Symposium also featured the Antimicrobial and Drug Resistance Workshop, allowing the audience to learn more about drug resistance, which is such a problem in Thailand that it has become a national policy for all areas of government to make reforms to aid public health in this area.

The Symposium was attended by faculty members, researchers and students from Mahidol University, as well as from other Thai universities. As Thailand 4.0 increases the focus on innovative medical care industries in Thailand, an event like the Mahidol-Liverpool Symposium is more important than ever, allowing the sharing of knowledge and enabling students to find innovative solutions to the problems we face.

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International Cooperation

24-03-2017Clin. Prof. Udom Kachintorn, President of Mahidol University, welcomed Mr. Sherzod

Saotov, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on a visit to Mahidol University. Mr. Saotov wished to learn more about Mahidol University in the hope of building academic links with universities in Uzbekistan, particularly in the field of medicine. Mr. Saotov noted that many Uzbeks living or travelling in Thailand use the services of Siriraj Hospital and so Mahidol University and Siriraj Hospital are well known by Uzbeks.

06-03-2017Dr. Rapee Boonplueang, Assistant to the President for International Relations,

welcomed Dr. Suryo Pratolo, Vice Rector for Resource and Finance Affairs and the delegation from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The purpose of this visit was for the delegation to learn about the internationalization strategy of Mahidol University.

21-02-2017Assoc. Prof. Phitaya Charupoonphol, Dean of Mahidol University International College,

welcomed Mr. Masanori Saruwatari, Director-General of Administrative Bureau, Chiba University. Assoc. Prof. Phitaya Charupoonphol and Mr. Masanori Saruwatari signed a contract for Chiba University’s rental of an office at the new Aditayathorn Building. MUIC and Chiba University have been conducting English Spring Programs and English Summer Programs for Chiba University students since 2015.

12-01-2017Ms. Wanpimon Senapadpakorn, Director of International Relations Division, and

Mahidol University representatives welcomed Ms. Poh Wan, Regional Manager (South East Asia), University of Nottingham. During the meeting, held at the Office of the President, Salaya campus, participants discussed potential areas of collaboration between the two universities with a particular focus on activities in the field of medicine, nursing, public health and engineering.

05-01-2017Clin. Prof. Udom Kachintorn, President of Mahidol University, Assoc. Prof. Naipinit

Kotchapakdi and Assoc. Prof. Bundit Jetsawang from the Institute of Molecular Biosciences welcomed Prof. Dr. Ole Petter Ottersen, Rector of University of Oslo, Norway. Prof. Ottersen was visiting Mahidol University and the Institute to attend a follow-up meeting on the progress of North-South-South Cooperation and to meet scholarship recipients under the project. The relationship between Mahidol University and the University of Oslo dates back over 50 years and has produced several generations of neuroscientists and research findings.

Published by International Relations Division, Office of the President, Mahidol University

999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand

Tel: +66 (0) 2849 6230 (Director), +66 (0) 2849 6231-3, 2849 6235-6 Fax: +66 (0) 2849 6237 E-mail: opinter@mahidol.ac.th

Website: www.mahidol.ac.th

Advisor: Prof. Sansanee Chaiyaroj, Dr. Rapee Boonplueang,

Chief Editor: Ms. Wanpimon Senapadpakorn Editorial Staff: Mr. Paul Bulcock, Ms. Suchada Phruthonkul, Ms. Peungjai Tinsulanonda

Copyright. 2017 Mahidol University. All Rights reserved.

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