On 2 November 2021, from 13.00 -15.00 pm. in the meeting room on the 10th floor of the Kasetsart Golden Jubilee Administration and Information Center Building, Kasetsart University. Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University, participated in the opening ceremony of the 2020 General Assembly – SATU Presidents’ Forum of Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities along with the presidents and administrators of 92 current member universities from 9 countries: Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, India and The Philippines, all prestigious institutions of higher education located in Southeast and South Asia.

  2020 General Assembly – SATU Presidents’ Forum of Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities is held through virtual conferences between 2-3 November 2021, organized by National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan; under the theme of ‘Forging Creative Pathways with International Education after the COVID-19 Pandemic’ – Utilizing Local Resources to Diversify Outreach and Innovation. SATU Presidents’ Forum will be held biennially to achieve the following objectives:

1. To strengthen academic cooperation among Taiwan and Southeast and South Asian countries.
2. To foster internationalization through academic and cultural exchange and collaboration.
3. To promote the quality of education, research and community services.
4. To establish exchange programs for our universities’ students, faculty and administrative staff.
5. To foster partnerships between industry and academia.
6. To facilitate sustainability in economics, society and the environment.

  The SATU Presidents’ Forum is a platform for scholars to share valuable experiences to advance higher education and international collaboration in the region, this year title is “Forging Creative Pathways with International Education after the COVID-19 Pandemic – Utilizing Local Resources to Diversify Outreach and Innovation” As revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global challenges lying ahead are complex in nature and trans-institutional in solution. They cannot be solved through individual actions, but require the coordinated involvement of stakeholders along with heightened social awareness. As a platform for intellectual exchange and the cultivation of future leaders, universities have the responsibility to not only address the issues, but also contribute to more sustainable societies at the local and global levels. The Assembly aims to explore creative and forward-thinking approaches in developing international education and facilitating transnational synergies that can provide solutions to the issues we are facing in building a better future.

  In addition, on Wednesday 3 November 2021, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University along with Assistant Professor Dr. Kampanat Pensupar, Vice President for International Affairs; Associate Professor Dr. Chamaipak Tayjasanant, Assistant to the President for International Affairs; Associate Professor Dr. Cheema Soralump, Assistant to the President for Sustainable Development and Corporate Communication, Kasetsart University, participated in the Panel Presentation and Discussion by SATU Member Representatives. On this occasion, Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, President of Kasetsart University is invited to give a 15-minute as one of a keynote speakers on Panel 1 – Environment and Sustainability and a 30-minute Q&A (Q&A) keynote. This keynote address is a Panel Presentation and Discussion by SATU Member Representatives, consisting of 3 Parallel Sessions: Panel. 1 – Environment and Sustainability; Panel 2 – Health and Technology Health and Technology; and Panel 3 – Digital Certification Development. The President of Kasetsart University made a presentation on the topic of Environment and Sustainability which he said that is very close to Kasetsart University. Kasetsart University’s works related to environment and sustainability consist of:

1. Kasetsart Sustainability Policy on CHIL: Collaboration, Health and Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Environment, Learning and Research
2. Ranking on sustainability

KU also has been participating in sustainability ranking for higher education for example UI Green Metric and THEs, where UI ranking is better and better, and we push this process of ranking to help improve sustainability throughout all of our 4 campuses. On the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, KU is doing excellent on SDGs 2: Zero Hunger. We all need to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs 17 Goals. Kasetsart University pledges to be part of the world to achieve this goal within a short time.

3. Sustainable University Network or SUN Thailand

SUN Thailand is one of good examples of country-level networking and communicating on Sustainability and Environment. This year KU is honored as the Chair University. This year the main theme for SUN Thailand is to reduce inequality in higher education and encourage voice of the young or student voice. Also SDGs in everyday life for student and university community.

4. And from KU Ecosystem to Fight COVID19 to the next new normal in which is our roles not only as an organization on higher education and also a research institute, too. KU Ecosystem is gradually evolved into an ecosystem in unique innovation with 4 core values which are collaboration, ideation, implementation, and value creation. We are now focusing on the post COVID projects. KU is Knowledge of the Land. We hope our Environment and Sustainability is good enough for our next generation, for Thailand, and for the World.

  In summary, at the 2020 General Assembly – SATU Presidents’ Forum of Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities, university leaders believe that excellence in higher education can be achieved through partnerships that enable academics to Industry partners, researchers, academics and students interact with each other and share their valuable knowledge and experiences. At a time when regions around the world are facing economic crises, social and environmental challenges, and the key to solving these problems is university excellence.