Akita International University (AIU), Japan, and the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation, Thailand, took another step towards becoming partners on September 6, 2022, with the visit of AIU Vice President Prof Yoshitaka Kumagai.
Prof Kumagai, who is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of AIU, expressed his admiration of ScII’s international orientation, stating that it would augur well for both AIU and ScII to collaborate. AIU, which was founded in 2004, offers a comprehensive Study Abroad program which requires all students to spend a year abroad during their four-year program. In contrast, ScII requires its students to spend a semester abroad.
Prof. Kumagai pointed out that AIU is the only university in Japan that offers English-only programs. Its annual intake is limited to 175 students. Nearly 40 per cent of AIU students study abroad at European universities, followed by 30 per cent at North American universities. In addition, 50 per cent of the faculty at AIU and 25 per cent of the students come from overseas.
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Executive Director of ScII, said ScII was established as a ‘speedboat project’ to be agile and respond to emerging challenges quickly and efficiently. ScII regards internationality as one of its core principles. ScII plans to have 70 per cent of its faculty and 30 percent of its students from abroad.
Dr. Pietro Borsano, Deputy Executive Director for Industrial and Global Alliance, presented the ScII’s partnership ecosystem.
In addition to Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Dr. Pietro Borsano, Mr. Pachar Kititeekakul, Academic Affairs Officer, Mr. Bajinder Pal Singh, Chief Communications Officer, Ms. Thittaya Phodhipanyadhum, Secretary to the Executive Director, and Mr. Sudev Bhatia, a final-year ScII student, participated in the deliberations.
