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By Stephanie M. Roy
Kasetsart University Kasetsart University recently celebrated its 67th anniversary on the 2nd of February 2010. Originally established as a division of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, this educational institution has grown steadily and become a highly regarded international and national university over the last six decades. While there are currently seven campuses spread across Thailand, Education Living visited the Bangkhen Campus to learn more about the diverse programs within the Faculties of Agriculture, Engineering and Economics.
THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE The Faculty of Agriculture is Kasetsart University’s premier faculty as it was founded at the time of the university’s inception in 1943. The faculty teaches agriculture and carries out research at its Bangkhen Campus, Bangkok, covering the nine departments of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Agronomy, Animal Science, Entomology, Farm Mechanics, Home Economics, Horticulture, Plant Pathology and Soil Science. It is through these departments that students may pursue a variety of courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. TROPICAL AGRICULTURE While Bachelor’s of Science Degrees are available in all nine departments of Agriculture, KU has arranged the departments into five curriculums, which include Home Economics, Integrated Pest Management, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Science and Tropical Agriculture. Currently, the Tropical Agriculture course is the faculty’s only international undergraduate program. It is a four-year program with a specialized English support course to better prepare students with 34 | Education Living
the communication skills to compete in both the local and international business arena. Over the period of four years, students are expected to fulfill a variety of pre-requisites and general education courses in addition to basic scientific subjects, which include Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Social Sciences and language courses. Additional pre-requisites for the Tropical Agriculture program include advanced science subjects such as Microbiology, Biochemistry and Statistics. Students within the Tropical Agriculture program come from countries throughout Southeast Asia and other European countries. Local students are a mix of graduates from both Thai schools and international schools. There is a standard English examination students must pass before acceptance into this program. PROFESSORS Dr. Sutkhet Nakasathien, Assistant Dean for Administration, Faculty of Agriculture explains that currently, there are about 153 professors within the Faculty of Agriculture with about 100 holding PhDs from various countries such as US, UK,
Germany and Japan. Dr. Vichan Vichukit, Associate Professor and Dean of Faculty of Agriculture tells us that Kasetsart University just may have the highest number of professors for agricultural studies in Thailand. PRACTICUM TRAINING Both Dr. Sutkhet and Dr. Vichan explain that by nature, studying agriculture must consist of two things: classroom training and practical curriculum. Once students have reached their sophomore year, they must fulfill 150 hours of General Practicum. This includes working in the fields of various expertise outside of the classroom. Roughly 200-250 students are sent out to KU research stations and spend about two and a half weeks researching and learning how to do the job of Agriculture. When students reach their junior year, they must again fulfill 150 hours of Specific Practicum training at various companies and organizations. Past students have worked at companies and institutions for example, CP Foods PCL, The Department of Agriculture and Department of Livestock Production. Should students complete all of their requirements by year three and a
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Dr. Vichan Vichukit, Associate Professor and Dean of Faculty of Agriculture
half, they may go on to do a semester with the private sector as “Cooperative Education“. Dr. Sutkhet explains that this is a way for them to gain even more work experience while earning credits for school. Over the years, students have moved from working with these private companies as students to permanent employment positions after graduation. “It is definitely an advantage”, he explains. MESSAGE TO THAILAND Dr. Vichan and Dr. Sutkhet tell us that there is a large misperception and misunderstanding about Agricultural studies. As Dr. Sutkhet explains that Thais see rice fields, buffalos, chickens and pigs on the farms. By the nature of Thai people, they feel that they already know how to grow rice and raise buffalo. “They feel that they don’t need to come and study how to do these things, as we’ve been doing this for centuries”, he tells us. But what the Faculty of Agriculture wants people to understand is that Agricultural science requires specific scientific knowledge. The faculty believes that because of these misperceptions, parents have been reluctant to let their children come
to study Agriculture at KU. When parents ask what can their children do with an Agricultural Degree, Dr. Sutkhet responds with his own set of questions. “Do you have to eat? Do you have to think about food security? Do you have to think about food safety? Do you have to think about the environment? Do you care about energy?” If yes, “Come to study agriculture”, he says. “When you think of Agriculture, think of food, think of energy, think of clean environment”. Alumni of Kasetsart’s Agricultural programs have gone on to many prestigious careers. Ministers of Agriculture, Permanent Secretariat of Energy Ministry, Banking Executives, Managing Directors for the private sectors and even Media spokesmen make up the diverse fields of opportunity for KU Agriculture graduates. FUTURE PLANS Because of issues related to climate change, Tropical Agriculture is becoming quite a popular area of study for students all over the world. As we finished our conversation Dr. Vichan asked, “Do you know of another International Agricultural program in Thailand?“ “We are the first in
the country and quite possibly the region”, he continues. The Faculty of Agriculture wishes to continue sharing Thai agricultural expertise and Tropical Agriculture knowledge with the rest of the region. They are ready to give all the education and information they have to better the region.
Dr. Sutkhet Nakasathien, Assistant Dean for Administration, Faculty of Agriculture
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Dr. Saroj Aungsumalin, Dean of Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University
ENTREPRENEURIAL ECONOMICS, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, KASETSART UNIVERSITY The concept for the Bachelor’s of Arts in Entrepreneurial Economics came about more than five years ago when Dr. Saroj Aungsumalin, Dean of Faculty of Economics began visiting fellow educators at universities abroad. After many discussions between Kasetsart professors and professors in countries such as Finland, all parties agreed that fresh graduates were not equipped to start their own businesses. In addition, the professors agreed that Thai entrepreneurs were extremely under represented in countries abroad. After much research and development and getting approval from the Kasetsart University Council, the Entrepreneurial Economics program was established in August 2009. ENTREPRENEURIAL ECONOMICS PROGRAMS There are four specializations within the Entrepreneurial Economics program, which are: Economics of Tourism and Hospitality, Economics of Agricultural Business and Food, Economics of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation and Economics of Logistics. Dr. Saroj 36 | Education Living
explains that these specializations conform to Thailand’s economy and position in the world for at least the next 10 to 20 years. When the Entrepreneurial Economics program was developed, it wasn’t intended to focus primarily on the theory of economics, as the aim was to train students to become international entrepreneurs. Because the majority of the programs aren’t strictly focused on economics, there are several management courses included. Because of KU’s strong relationship with its overseas partners such as Cesar Ritz College in Switzerland, University of Portsmouth in UK, Van Hall Larenstein of Applied Sciences, Part of Wageningen UR in the Netherlands and University of Limerick in Ireland, students have the option to graduate in either Thailand or any of these countries with double degrees in any of the four specializations. Students also have the option to pursue Master’s Degrees with the overseas partner schools. As the Faculty of Economics does all that it can to ensure proficiency in English language, students have the option of spending summers at an affiliate language center in Portsmouth, England.
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Dr. Saroj explains that, “We don’t want language to become their barriers, we prepare everything for our students. It depends on them to execute”. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS At the time of our visit to Kasetsart University, we noticed a class in session with a large group of international students. When asked who they were, Dr. Saroj explained that they are roughly 40 exchange students all from Finland. They’ve come to Thailand to study not only economics and business courses, but also culture. The students are the fourth group to visit KU from Finland. The Dean explains that very soon, future exchange groups will be blended into the system in which classrooms will consist of both local and international exchange students. “We’d like for our students to make friends overseas”, he says. PROFESSORS Just as students have the opportunity to participate in the exchange program, so do the professors. Each semester, professors are invited from the Entrepreneurial Economics program’s partner schools as guest lectures. This semester, a professor is visiting from North Dakota University while next semester a faculty member from Limerick University will be joining the program. In addition to the variety of international professors, faculty members also include Thai professors educated both locally and abroad.
THE FUTURE Dr. Saroj tells us that the Faculty of Economics’ future plans include increasing the programs ability to choose good students from all over the region. There are plans to offer scholarships for students from Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia to come and study within the program. Inviting businessmen to give seminars and lectures for students is also on the future agenda.
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Nontawat Chancharoen, Dean of Faculty of Engineering
INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING The International Undergraduate Program was established in 2003 with the aim of making Thai students more competitive in the international arena. Dr. Thanya Kiatiwat, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Planning and International Affairs explains that because there are several international factories established in Thailand and Kasetsart is one of the oldest universities in the country that offers degrees in Engineering, the IUP was necessary to merge both parties together. The IUP aims to prepare students for better opportunities not only in the academic 38 | Education Living
arena but the professional as well. He continues that, “We want to allow our students the chance to graduate and work in overseas companies that invest tremendous amounts of money in Thailand”. In addition to training students with the technical skills necessary to succeed, the IUP is designed to enhance students’ communication abilities in English. PROGRAMS OF IUP Currently, the International Undergraduate Program offers three Engineering Programs, which are: Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Software and
Knowledge Engineering. “All of these three departments and programs attract a lot of attention from Thai students”, says Dr. Thanya. Since the program’s creation, three batches of students have graduated and employers ranging from PTT of Thailand to the Petroleum Authority of Thailand have given great response and feedback on the KU graduates. Graduates have also gone on to work for companies in Europe including France and Germany. While the IUP’s goal is to better prepare Thai students for the international arena, the program is open to all types of students both international and local. The student body currently consists of
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students from various countries around Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. Students hailing from Germany, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Egypt and America are all currently enrolled in the IUP. IUP PROFESSORS According to Dr. Thanya, “The qualifications of the IUP professors are quite high�. In the Mechanical Engineering program alone, there are 50 professors and roughly 40 hold PhDs from countries abroad including the UK, US, Australia and Canada. Nontawat Junjareon, Dean of Faculty of Engineering explains that the Software and Knowledge Engineering program has roughly 30
professors who hold PhDs from abroad. Dean Nontawat stresses that what makes the Software and Knowledge Engineering program so attractive and challenging is that students are taught the worldwide standard called CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration). As one of the only universities in Thailand to teach this standard, KU invests roughly 1-2 Million THB in its professors to get certificates in CMMI. Professors are sent abroad to institutions such as Carnegie Mellon in the United States for training. COOPERATIVE EDUCATION A commonality that runs through all three
programs of the IUP is the Cooperative Education requirement. In the Software and Knowledge Engineering programs, fourth year students are required to work for four months at a software company. The students not only have the opportunity to practice working and gaining practical experience, but they also may be picked for permanent job placements after graduation. Dean Nontawat explains that roughly 50 percent of graduates go on to work for the employer they did their Cooperative Education with. Students have gone on to work for companies such as Shell and Esso. Both the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical-
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Dr. Thanya Kiatiwat, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Planning and International Affairs
Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering programs participate in the Cooperative Education. Students in their third year have the opportunity to go for practical training with a local manufacturer in Thailand. They spend roughly two semesters working outside the classroom. Dr. Thanya tells us that this option is quite attractive for foreign students at the moment. After the Cooperative Education semesters, the students come back for their fourth year to begin working on their senior projects. Again, roughly half the students participating in the Cooperative Education program have gone on to gain permanent employment with employers. Due to the outstanding performance of IUP students, international employers have requested students to apply to work for them. Students graduating from the IUP are able to communicate 40 | Education Living
well in English, which makes working with other Engineers at foreign companies an easy task. This saves all parties involved a tremendous amount of time and energy, as there is no longer a need for English language proficiency training. THE FUTURE As for the future of the IUP program, Dr. Thanya tells us that they will continue to improve the performance of teaching and learning schemes within the programs. The IUP will be moving into a new building this April and hopes to create an even more international atmosphere. As for curriculum, the IUP hopes to expand studies to other areas of Engineering such as Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Natural Engineering.
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