The Faculty of Interdisciplinary, Meets with C.P. Laos to Advance Academic Cooperation, Linking Education, Research, and the Business Sector.

On August 12, 2026, the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, met with C.P. Laos Company Limited in Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic, to discuss academic collaboration. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Thamnong Phonthongmak, Managing Director of C.P. Laos Company Limited, and the two parties exchanged views on building a collaborative network between academic institutions and the business sector, as well as future approaches to developing cooperation in education, research, and workforce development.

The discussion was led by Associate Professor Dr. Bang-on Meng and Assistant Professor Nachayut Chantachotikul, faculty members with expertise in Food Science and Technology, who are also responsible for teaching and thesis supervision in the Master's and Doctoral programs in Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship.

Key discussion points included approaches to developing graduates at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels; providing students with opportunities to learn from real workplace settings through company visits, internships, and cooperative education programs; and promoting and developing research that addresses the needs of enterprises and supports the development of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

In addition, both parties exchanged ideas on future educational collaboration, such as the development of degree programs as well as short courses or non-degree programs, aimed at cultivating knowledge and skills aligned with the needs of businesses and the labor market. They also discussed creating opportunities to enhance the potential of students and personnel from both organizations.

C.P. Laos Company Limited expressed strong support for the collaborative approaches proposed by the College of Interdisciplinary Studies and indicated plans to send a team to visit the College at Khon Kaen University to further discuss the details of cooperation in various dimensions, including preparations toward the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations.

This collaboration marks another significant step for the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Khon Kaen University, in connecting universities, the business sector, and neighboring countries—creating educational opportunities, elevating workforce development, promoting practical research and innovation, and strengthening a sustainable network of cooperation within the Greater Mekong Subregion.