Erasmus+ Partnership and Academic Initiatives with Powiślański University

          On 21 September 2023, Dr. Katarzyna Strazała-Osuch, Rector of Powiślański University, Poland, together with Daniel Osuch, Head of the Project’s Office, Maciej Ratknowski, Specialist for Marketing and Information, Julia Osuch, Senate Representative for Institutional Cooperation, Maciej Klimiuk, Specialist for International Cooperation, and Paulina Osuch, Senate Representative for International Programs paid a first visit to the main campus of Kasetsart University. They met Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President, and administrative members of Kasetsart University, comprising Associate Professor Dr. Kampanat Pensupa, Vice President for International Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad, Assistant to the President for International Affairs, Assistant Professor Major General Dr. Chantrapha Srisawat, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Assistant Professor Dr. Nadhawee Bunnag, Associate Dean for International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Anchasa Pramuanjaroenkij, Academic Affairs, Kasetsart University International College, and had a discussion on mobility for students and staff as well as new opportunities for collaborative projects/activities to be implemented between the two universities within the EU/Erasmus+ programmes in the upcoming years. Apart from the Erasmus+ Inter-institutional agreement between both universities signed in 2019, Powiślański University expected to cooperate with Kasetsart University for the exchange of students and/or staff, particularly in the subject areas of nursing, social sciences and economics for the next call for proposals under the Erasmus+ programme. There were also various activities that Kasetsart University was willing to initiate in partnership with Powiślański University, for example, bilateral symposia, intensive English camps, summer school programs, inviting visiting professors, and lecture series. In addition, Faculty of Social Sciences was very keen to send its students and staff to participate in the international events at Powiślański University, e.g. annual international week, Erasmus+ Days, etc. Reciprocally, an interesting option open to students of Powiślański University was that Kasetsart University offered scholarships for international students in the KU One Semester Scholarship Program, for which full-time bachelor’s degree students of Powiślański University can apply in order to enroll in courses of the Faculty/Department of Kasetsart University for one semester. In the last issue of their discussion, Powiślański University expressed an idea of developing dual/double degree programs with Kasetsart University, possibly in the field of nursing or any subject areas of common interest.