KU welcomes the delegation from ECAM LaSalle

          On 30 September 2024, in Meeting Room 2, 2^nd floor of the Kasetsart Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, Acting President of Kasetsart University, together with university administrators, including Associate Professor Dr. Sathaporn Chuepeng, Vice President for Sriracha Campus and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Sriracha; Associate Professor Dr. Apisit Songsasen, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Lifelong Learning; Assistant Professor Dr. Tanin Kongsila, Vice President for Human Resources and Strategies; Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Maiklad, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Professor Dr. Wanchai Yodsudjai, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; Associate Professor Dr. Nattapon Chantarapanich, Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Engineering, Sriracha; Associate Professor Dr. Weerachai Chaiworapuek, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department; Miss Pratthana Thirakiettikun, Head of the International Collaboration and Networking Section, and IAD representatives were attended to welcome Mr. Didier Desplanche, Rector of ECAM LaSalle, Lyon, France, along with Mr. Yosawat Iamjaroenchai, ECAM LaSalle Asia & Pacific; Ms. Severine Delavernhe , Vice Rector; Ms. Erin Julie Monagha, a Professor of Engineering; Mr. Norihisa Miki, Chair, Committee for International Affairs of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University during their visit to Kasetsart University.

          This visit followed the discussions held between the Faculty of Engineering’s administrators and the executives of ECAM LaSalle in France from October 10-15, 2023. Today, Mr. Didier Desplanche’s visit aimed to meet the Acting President of Kasetsart University to discuss and update the progress of ongoing collaborations. On this occasion, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, Acting President of Kasetsart University, welcomed and expressed his willingness to support the opportunity to create academic collaboration between the two universities, especially the cooperation between ECAM LaSalle with the Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, both Bangkhen Campus and Sriracha Campus. He also said that Kasetsart University is working together to solve the country's climate crisis and has announced that it will drive the university towards carbon neutrality by 2035.

          During the meeting, Mr. Didier Desplanche discussed further academic and research collaborations between Kasetsart University and ECAM LaSalle. This builds upon activities such as the double degree programs, faculty and student exchanges, and internships at ECAM LaSalle, Lyon. Both institutions expressed their commitment to continuing and supporting future collaborations in various areas, including:

• Organizing academic workshops for graduate students from the Faculty of Engineering at Kasetsart University.
• Joint applications for Erasmus+ funding from the European Union to facilitate faculty, staff, and student exchanges between Kasetsart University and ECAM LaSalle in France.
• The Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, and ECAM-LaSalle will jointly establish the Climate Change Institute and invite the World Bank and other leading institutions or organizations in Thailand and France to invest in this project so that the Climate Change Institute will be a source of knowledge on environmental conservation that is directly related to climate change, as well as a learning center for students and industries in the ASEAN region.
• Promote cooperation with other faculties, such as the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Environment, to create sustainable cooperation in various fields.
• Discuss the creation of cooperation in various fields, such as the Solar Roof Top project for Greenhouses on KU campuses, the Zero Waste Model project by using Garbage for Electricity on the KU Campus, etc.
• In addition, the executives of the Faculty of Engineering presented updates on their ongoing partnerships with ECAM LaSalle in France, which have involved continuous student exchanges up to now, and also reported on the preparations for the establishment of the Climate Change Institute at present and the progression of future operations through cooperation between the two parties.

          At the end of the discussion, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, Acting President of Kasetsart University, presented souvenirs and took a group photo with the executives from ECAM LaSalle.

          ECAM LaSalle, established in 1900, is one of France’s leading engineering institutions, known for its strong integration of theoretical and practical engineering education. The school focuses on innovation and leadership in engineering and maintains collaborations with universities and industries worldwide. All institutions under the ECAM network share the common goal of developing highly skilled engineers with technical expertise, management skills, and strong ethical values.