Mahidol University No.1 in Thailand in the GreenMetric Rankings

»FeaturesThe Prince MahidolAwards2012Mahidol University and the PrinceMahidol Award Foundation aredelighted to announce the winners ofthe 2012 Prince Mahidol Awards. Onceagain, their Majesties the King andQueen of Thailand graciously assignedH.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhornto preside over the presentationceremony, which took place at theChakri Throne Hall, Bangkok on30 th January 2013.This year the achievements of SirMichael David Rawlins and Dr. UcheVeronica Amazigo were recognized,both of whom have dedicated theircareers to medical and public healthservices, and were awarded the PrinceMahidol Award in the field of Medicineand Public Health respectively.Sir Michael is widely acknowledgedas the pioneer in the practice ofscientific and clinical-based evidence inevaluating the efficacy of drugs,equipment and medical procedures. In1999, he established the NationalInstitute for Health and ClinicalSir Michael David Rawlins (front row, 2 nd from left) andDr. Uche Veronica Amazigo ( front row, 2 nd from right) ata celebratory luncheon hosted by Mahidol University.Excellence (NICE), which continues toaffect medical decision makersworldwide, and improve the healthcareof millions of people.Dr. Amazigo is the world’s leader inthe introduction and use of communitydirectedtreatment in the control ofdiseases (Linking research withmanagement strategies; therebyempowering communities to distributemedicine to affected populations).This approach has been particularlysuccessful in the control of riverblindness (Onchocerciasis) and hashelped strengthen the health systems of500,000 communities across the 19countries covered by the AfricanProgramme on Onchocerciasis.As a result, it is estimated that 90million people will have receivedtreatment and 40,000 people wil havebeen prevented from developing thisdisease by 2015. Community-directedtreatment is now used to control otherdiseases and has had major impacts inthe provision of essential healthcareservices throughout Africa. In fact, it isestimated that this approach hasbenefited over 11 million people in thecontrol of Malaria alone, as well as 37million in the control of other diseases.For more information, includingdetails of the on-line nominationprocess, please visit http://www.princemahidolaward.org/index.en.phpMahidol University was alsohonored to welcome H.R.H. PrincessMaha Chakri Sirindhorn to preside overthe opening ceremony of “The PrinceMahidol Award Conference: A WorldUnited Against Infectious Diseases:Cross Sectoral Solutions”.Held from the 28 th January to 2 ndFebruary 2013 at the Centara Grand &Bangkok Convention Centre, theconference aimed to provide aninternational-level arena in whichexperts from various sectors couldshare their experiences in healthrelatedpolicy development, socialcommitment and reducing the threat ofinfectious diseases worldwide throughimproved cross-sectoral andinternational cooperation andcommunication.As result, various ways forward forthe One-Health 1 Approach wereidentified, including an increasedemphasis on adaptive risk assessmentand a move away from surveillance tothe prediction and prevention ofdisease at source.1The One Health Initiative is a movement to forge co-equal, all inclusive collaborations between physicians, osteopaths, veterinarians, dentists, nurses and other scientifichealthand environmentally related disciplines. To find out more, please visit http://www.onehealthinitiative.com2 • Spectrum | Vol.20, No. 1 | January - April 2013

»NewsMU to ASEAN Student Visit:Road Trip to the SouthernEconomic Corridor (SEC)“It was anunforgettableexperience,I really missyou all”.“Even though wejust know eachother for one-day.I am really happywe shared ourexperiences withyou”.“It made mereconsider myopinions onASEAN”Aiming to promote the establishmentof the ASEAN Community in 2015and to strengthen relationships betweeninstitutions across the region, 80 MahidolUniversity students and faculty took partin Mahidol University’s first road trip.This ten-day activity ‘MU to ASEANStudent Visit: Road Trip to the SouthernEconomic Corridor (SEC). Salaya - SiemReap - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City– Pratabong’ which ran from 17 th to 27 thMarch, provided a mixture of activitiesorganized in a partnership betweenMahidol University and InternationalUniversity, Cambodia, PaññāsāstraUniversity of Cambodia and VietnamNational University, Ho Chi Minh City.Specifically, the road trip allowedstudents from neighboring countries todiscuss the introduction of the ASEANcommunity and gain new insights intoeach other’s way-of-life, cultures andvalues.Other highlights of the busyschedule included several historical andcultural exchange activities and lectures,plus visits to world-renowned heritagesites such as the Angkor Wat Complex inSiem Reap, Cambodia.“Thank you for yourwarm welcome in HoChi Minh City.I will definitely comeback here, and see youall sometime inBangkok”. – from MU’sInternational; RelationsDivision Facebook pageIt is hoped that the event will result inreciprocal visits to Thailand and MahidolUniversity from students from Cambodiaand Vietnam.Mahidol University would like to thankall the partner universities for their supportand hard work in organizing the activitiesand looks forward to similar activities in thevery near future.4 • Spectrum | Vol.20, No. 1 | January - April 2013

»NewsStudents Reflect Upon Their Road TripExperienceMy curiosity brought me to join MahidolUniversity’s very first ASEAN Trip, and as aresult, I discovered lots of things that I neverknew about. Through my eyes, I saw bothsimilarities and differences throughout theregion. For example, in Cambodia, we sharesome similar words and aspects of our culture.However, in Vietnam we don’t share any common words as ourcultures are totally different. So I put extra effort into trying tounderstand more about both countries. When I understood, Irealized the importance of opening our minds to other cultures.Since we will be living with cultural differences within the ASEANCommunity in 2015, we have to try to understand each other.Though this we will achieve peace and prosperity for the community.I believe that we are strong when we are connected!As I am a new graduate, I see myself working and cooperatingwith people from ASEAN countries. Therefore, I am sure theexperiences I gained from this trip will be very useful in my future.Thanks to Mahidol University for arranging such a fabulous trip!– Yanaranop PromsukBefore the trip started, I onlyexpected to explore the splendorof each tourist attraction and have funwith my classmates. However, the triptotally exceeded my expectations andprovided me with a memorableexperience that money could not buy.Visiting each country, I was surprised by the breathtakingarchitecture. For instance, the ancient Khmercivilization at Siem Reap, the sad historic monument atTuol Sleng at Phnom Penh, and the lively, restless city ofHo Chi Minh. What’s more, the people we met were bothnice and speak great English. Never did I have so manynew friends like this. Apart making new foreign friends,I also got to know the students from various faculties inMahidol University better, as well as the staff who hadtaken care of us. We shared laughter, tiredness andperhaps most importantly, this unforgettable experienceabroad as MU cultural ambassadors. - Pairoj KunanupathamMahidol University is proud toannounce the launch of MahidolUniversity International DemonstrationSchool (MUIDS) - a college-preparatorysecondary school sharing MahidolUniversity’s commitment of becomingthe ‘Wisdom of the Land’.Through the application of bestpractices in education, MUIDS aims tobe recognized as a model internationalschool; one that provides a premierlearning experience with a focus onpersonal development and the provisionof essential life-skills. The mission ofMUIDS is to be an exemplarydemonstration school where bestpractice in education is both researchedand practiced, modeling effectiveteaching, learning and management.Mahidol University InternationalDemonstration School (MUIDS)Applying Best Practices and EncouragingGreater Social ResponsibilityMUIDS will also be the first internationalschool to encourage global thinking whenresponding to local situations. Thestudent to teacher ratio is expected to be1:11 with a maximum number of 25students per class.Furthermore, MUIDS intends toinspire a true sense of socialresponsibility in its students, preparingthem for living in an increasinglyglobalized society. Supported by a wealthof expertise and knowledge from many ofMahidol University’s Faculties, Institutesand Colleges, MUIDS’s educationalprogram will enable students to enter theThai or international colleges of theirchoice.To find out more about MUIDS,please visit http://www.muids.mahidol.ac.th or contact infomuids@gmail.com«An architect’simpression ofthe MUIDS Buildingat MahidolUniversity’s Salayacampus – to becompleted in 2014The International Newsletter of Mahidol University, Thailand • 5

Good nutrition, especially in earlychildhood, is vital, as it allows peopleto grow and develop; in fact, it influencesmany, if not all aspects of a person’seventual livelihood. Unfortunately, due tothe effects of poor nutrition, aroundone-third of the world’s children still neverrealize their full potential. Investing innutrition, particularly in the 1,000 dayswhich run from pregnancy to the age oftwo, is therefore a cost-effective way ofsupporting the future.During early 2010, Mahidol Universityjoined over 100 international organizationsto endorse the Policy Brief onScaling Up Nutrition. The policy briefencouraged a collective effort of governments,organisations and individuals towork together for an end to hunger andunder-nutrition in all its forms. Recognizingthis, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN)Movement aims to support nationalleadership and collective action in thescaling-up of successful approaches toimproved nutrition (implementing them ona larger, often national-scale). Launchedin 2010, SUN should not be thought of asa new initiative, institution or fund, butrather as a country-led movementconsisting of hundreds of entities, all of»Global Policy AdvocacyThe Scaling UpNutrition MovementInvesting in Our Futurewhom are working to increase theeffectiveness of existing programs viathe support of national priorities, aligningresources and fostering commitment toimproved nutrition. On November 22 nd2012, Mahidol University representativesmet with Dr. David Nabarro, SUNMovement Coordinator and Ms. FlorenceLasbennes, Secretariat Chief of Staff inorder to discuss potential roles forMahidol University.A Country-led ApproachTalking to Spectrum Ms. Lasbennesexpanded on the concept of a countryledapproach, explaining that SUNshould be thought of as a movement;one which individual governments canchoose to join. Individual countries thenset their own targets, depending on theirpriorities with regard to improvingnutritional status of mothers and childrenthrough collective efforts of differentsectors. All countries share the commonaim of improving nutrition in the mostsustainable manner. Key to thisapproach is that any policy developedshould be done so with the cooperationof national stakeholders (includingcommunities, donors, private entities,and national and international agenciesor NGOs), thereby creating a commonframework for results whereuponstakeholder consensus leads tocountries identifying their own specifictargets. In addition, the SUN movementprovides a platform through whichstakeholders can share lessons learnedand new knowledge with those in othermember states and organizations. Finally,SUN also intends to assist countries incalculating how much it will cost toachieve these targets, an activity that isvital in leveraging resources.The Role of UniversitiesOutlining the many roles that a globaluniversity such as Mahidol Universitycould contribute within the movement,SUN representatives explained howuniversities could provide technicalassistance or expertise for capacitydevelopment and tracking the efficiencyof policy implementation. They could alsohelp in the costing process or in thecollection of lessons learned and bestpractices. They can act as a centre ofknowledge through quality research andpolicy-relevant sciences. Followingdiscussion between Dr. Nabarro and Ms.Lasbennes and university executives, it ishoped that Mahidol University will be ableto play an active role in this innovativeapproach to improved nutrition, as boththe university and Thailand have a wealthof expertise and experience in multidisciplinaryfields that will most likely beof great benefits to the SUN movement.To learn more about the SUNMovement, please visitwww.scalingupnutrition.orgThe International Newsletter of Mahidol University, Thailand • 7

»ConferencesInternational Conference onHealth Equity in Asia 2012Held at the Santika BSD Hotel, BSDCity, Serpong, Indonesia under thetheme ‘Reproductive Health / Disasterand Health Management to achieveMDGs’, COHEA 2012 was theculmination of a partnership betweenUniversity of Indonesia; AIHD and theFaculty of Public Health, the Institute forPopulation and Social Research, MahidolUniversity and the College of PublicHealth Sciences, ChulalongkornUniversity, Thailand, with support fromthe Department of Health, Ministry ofPublic Health, Thailand; the Ministry ofHealth, Indonesia and the World HealthOrganization (WHO). The internationalevent, the first of its kind, was presidedover by Dr. Ede Surya Darmawan, theVice Dean from the Faculty of PublicHealth, University of Indonesia and Dr.Ratna Rosita, Secretary General ofMinister of Health, Indonesia.From 12 th - 13 th December 2012, the ASEAN Institute for Health Development (AIHD),Mahidol University was the proud host of the International Conference - The First InternationalConference on Health Equity in Asia 2012, also known as ‘COHEA 2012’.In summary, COHEA 2012 provideddelegates from a wide-range ofdisciplines an opportunity to explore therelationship between people’slivelihoods and their physicalsurroundings.Special guests included Dr. AliGufron, the Vice Minister of Health,Indonesia and Mr. Robert Yates,Economist and WHO representative,who delivered lectures on UniversalHealth Coverage and Health Equity inSoutheast Asia respectively. Presidingover the closing of the event were Dr.Supattra Srivanichakorn, AIHD Directorand Mr. Sunardji, SE, MM, Vice Rectorof Research, Development andCollaboration, University of Indonesia.AIHD and Spectrum are delightedto report that many of those attendingand presenting were alumni from AIHD’sMaster of Primary Health CareManagement, including representativesfrom Bangladesh, India, Nepal,Maldives, Bhutan, Lao PDR, Vietnam,Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand,and Indonesia.To find out more about the work of the AIHD,please visit http://www.aihd.mahidol.ac.th/enThe 4 th Annual Seminar onIndian Ideas and ThoughtsH.E. Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Ambassador of India toThailand (second from left) pictured with Assoc. Prof.Dr. Sophana Srichampa, Director of RILCA (third fromleft) and other guest speakersSince the liberalization of the Indianeconomic policy in 1991, India–ASEAN relations have strengthenedconsiderably. As the second largesteconomy in ASEAN, Thailand has aprominent role in trade between the tworegions. This issue, amongst manyothers, was examined at a one-dayseminar ‘The 4 th Mahidol - IndianEmbassy Annual Seminar on IndianIdeas and Thoughts’ held at theResearch Institute for Languages andCultures of Asia (RILCA), MahidolUniversity on 12th December 2012.Under the theme ‘India – ASEAN:Situating Thailand in the Growing NewEconomic Opportunities’, highlights ofthe seminar included a keynote addressby Dr. Niti Bhasin from the Delhi Schoolof Economics - a leading Indianeconomist and commerce analyst andan Interactive Group session, attendedby Thai government and traderepresentatives. There were also severalcultural performances - part of amonth-long exhibition promoting theASEAN-INDIA-THAILAND network.Welcome speech by Prof. Rajata Rajatanavin,President of Mahidol UniversityThe seminar also marked the officialrelease of a new book by BhikkhuniDhammananda, a renowned author inthe field of human rights, gender issuesand the monastic order. The book,entitled ‘Letters from India 1962-1965’ isedited by Assoc. Prof. Dr. AmarjivaLochan from Delhi University and is acollection of correspondence by Ms.Dhammananda written during her timeas a young student in India. H.E. Mr. AnilWadhwa, Ambassador of India toThailand, formally released thepublication and read a passage to theassembled audience.8 • Spectrum | Vol.20, No. 1 | January - April 2013

»ConferencesThe 5 thThailand InternationalJazz Conference‘For the Love of Jazz’From the 1 st - 3 rd February 2013, theCollege of Music, Mahidol Universitywas the proud host of the annualThailand International Jazz Conference.Highlights of this year’s event includedlive jazz performances, workshops andmaster classes with leading jazz artists,a high end home audio exhibition and astudent solo competition – regarded asbeing one of the best in the region.The competition, which is renownedfor the quality of its performances, wasdivided into two sections – an open anda junior division with internationallyrecognized jazz musicians (EddieGomez (Bass) Billy Drummond (Drums)Stefan Karlsson (Piano) and PeterBernstein (Guitar)) acting as adjudicator.The winner of open division was Mr.Kengchakaj Kengkarnka (piano) fromRangsit University, Thailand for hisperformance of the song ‘Invitation’composed by Bronislau Kaper.Meanwhile, Mr. Thirachet Meesaiyaat(guitar) from Silpakorn University(Thailand) was declared as the winner ofthe junior division for his performance of‘Like Someone In Love’ composed byJimmy Van-Heusen.»AnnouncementsNew Appointments at Mahidol UniversityDean of the Faculty of DentistryAssoc. Prof. Passiri Nisalak has been appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. Assoc. Prof.Nisalak received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (First Class Honors) at the Faculty before studying for aPostgraduate certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science at the University of Alabama, US. Later,he received a Diplomate Thai Board of Orthodontics from the Thai Dental Council. Assoc. Prof Nisalak hasa long and distinguished career with Mahidol University, first joining the Faculty of Dentistry in 1983.Since then, he has held the position of the Faculty’s Deputy Dean for International Relations andDental Hospital and Networking Development before subsequently becoming the University CouncilSecretary, the Vice President for University Council Affairs and the Vice President for Administration andUniversity Council. Other highlights from Assoc. Prof Nisalak’s career include the publication of multipleinternational research publications and the registration of two patents. He is also a former recipient of theOutstanding Commissioner Award from the Faculty of Dentistry, and in 2010 received the Best InventionAward from the National Research Council of Thailand.Dean of the Faculty of Liberal ArtsDr. Aphilak Kasempholkoon has been appointed as Dean of Faculty of Liberal Arts, Mahidol University,Thailand. Dr. Kasempholkoon previous roles have included Deputy Dean for Student Affairs andSpecial Activities, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Chairperson of its B.A. Program in Thai Language and its Centreof Thai Studies as well as the editor of the Faculty’s peer reviewed publication ‘The Journal’.Dr. Kasempholkoon’s research interests include Thai Folklore and Cultural Studies, Classical ThaiLiterature, Medical Anthropology and Buddhist Studies and he is the author of numerous international andnational publications in these subjects. In 2002, Dr. Kasempholkoon was awarded a B.A. in Thai Language,from the Faculty of Education, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand. Following this, he pursued hisstudies at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, where he received an M.A.in Thai Literature in2005, and a Ph.D. in Thai Literature [Folklore] in 2010. He subsequently received the ‘Best DissertationAward (Humanities) of The Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund’ from Chulalongkorn University in2011 and the ‘Best Dissertation Award (Philosophy)’ from the Office of National Research Council ofThailand in 2012 for his thesis ‘Myths of Phra Sr An in Thai Society: Creation and Roles’.The International Newsletter of Mahidol University, Thailand • 9

»AgreementsVNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities, HanoiOn 15 th January 2013, a delegationfrom VNU University of Social Sciencesand Humanities, Hanoi, Vietnam led byProf. Nguyen Van Khanh, Rector were theguests of honor at a signing ceremony foran Agreement on Academic Collaborationat Mahidol University’s Office of thePresident.Prof. Van Khanh was joined by Mr.Tran Diep Thanh, Vice-Director ofInternational Affairs and Programs Officeand Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh, lecturer.Leading the Mahidol University delegationwas Prof. Rajata Rajatanavin, President,who welcomed the guests before co-signingthe Agreement. The agreement outlinesvarious cooperative programs which will beexplored between the two institutions.These include the exchange of teaching andadministrative personnel as well as theexchange of students and collaboration onshort-term training and symposia. Followingthe signing ceremony, a discussion onpotential areas of collaboration took placewith participants including Assoc. Prof. Dr.Wariya Chinwanno, Dean of MahidolUniversity’s Faculty of Social Sciences andHumanities.VNU Vietnam National University, HanoiOn 24 th January 2013, a delegation from Vietnam National University, Hanoiled by Prof. Phung Xuan Nha, President were welcomed to Mahidol University byPresident Rajatanavin and Mahidol University executives. The delegation wasvisiting the university and its Salaya campus in order to sign a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) between the two institutions. This document outlines theircommitment to the exchange of students, faculty members, research scholars,research materials and publications as well as promoting joint research activities.Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital and National Cheng Kung UniversityOn 27 th February 2013, Clinical Professor Udom Kachintorn, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital welcomedProf. Chyi-her Lin, Dean of College of Medicine and distinguished guests from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Thepurpose of this visit was to sign an MoU on education and research exchange. Later, Prof. Liu Ching-Chuan delivered a speciallecture ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in Taiwan’. Following this, the guests were given a tour to Siriraj’s Laboratories,Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Siriraj Medical Library and Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital.10 • Spectrum | Vol.20, No. 1 | January - April 2013

CMMU GraduateWins SET’s 2012Capital MarketResearch ScholarshipCongratulations to Miss WeerawanLaoniramai, a College of ManagementMahidol University (CMMU) FinancialManagement graduate (pictured right), andher advisor Dr. Nareerat Taechapiroontong,(second from right), Program Chair ofFinancial Management at CMMU forwinning two excellence awards from theCapital Market Research Institute of theStock Exchange of Thailand - 1) First prizein the 2012 Capital Market ResearchScholarship for Master’s Level and 2) theThai Capital Market Entrepreneur’s ChoiceAward 2012.Ms. Laoniramai’s research paper, andthe winner of the two excellence awards,was entitled ‘Insider Trading Behavior andNews Announcement: Evidence from theStock Exchange of Thailand’.Both awards aim to promote highqualitycapital market research.Ms. Laoniramai and Dr. Taechapiroontongwere presented with their certificates andresearch grants by Mrs. Pattera Pilokrungthirapop,Chairperson of Associationof Securities Companies and Mr.Charamporn Jotikasthira, President of theStock Exchange of Thailand.»AwardsMs. Laoniramai is presented with ‘the Thai CapitalMarket Entrepreneur’s Choice Award 2012certificate from Mrs. Pattera Pilokrungthirapop(Chairperson of Association of SecuritiesCompanies (ASCO (center). Mr. CharampornJotikasthira, President of the Stock Exchange ofThailand is also pictured (right).On February 2 nd 2013, Asst. Prof.Suchai Nopparatjamjomras and Asst. Prof.Thasaneeya R. Nopparatjamjomras,lecturers at the Institute for InnovativeLearning, Mahidol University and Asst.Prof. Ratchapak Chitaree, a lecturer fromthe Department of Physics, Faculty ofScience were presented with the ‘InventionAward’ in the Educational Section from theNational Research Council of Thailand- part of the celebrations to mark InventorsDay 2013 in Thailand. The team receivedtheir award for their invention ‘SimpleOptical Wavelength Division MultiplexingKit’ (pictured) which can be adapted to arange of students from high school toDoctoral degree level.Innovationin TeachingThe Institute for Innovative Learningwas set up in 2002 in response to issuesconcerned with education and teachingat all levels in the Thai educationalsystem. To find out more about the roleand objectives of the institute, please visithttp://www.il.mahidol.ac.th/eng/index.php/about-us-institute.htmlA group of 3 rd year medical students 1from the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital,Mahidol University won a researchcompetition held at the 26 th East AsianMedical Students Conference 2013 –Medical Studentswin ResearchCompetitionat East AsianConference‘Disaster Medicine: Transition fromemergency care to routine/long termmedical Care in the context of overallrecovery and development’, Tokyo, Japan,from 26 th – 31 st December 2012. The teamreceived their award after their outstandingresearch into ‘Quality of Life and FactorsAssociated with PTSD Symptoms, 92Months after 2004 Tsunami amongResidences of Takuapa District, Phangnga,Thailand’.1 Members of the winning team - Ms. Jidapa Eamwat, Mr. Nuttawut Jiraram, Mr. Nuttaphat Wongtirawit, Mr. Tachadanai Tachapramuk,Mr. Visarut Nuntasi, Mr. Sitiya Buathong, Ms. Muntita Tipawanit & Mr. Aliv NoikumThe International Newsletter of Mahidol University, Thailand • 11

»ContactsDistinguishedVisitorsto MahidolUniversity1234511.02.13Prof. Dr. Klaus Zeppenfeld, President of Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences,Germany, together with Mrs. Turkan Hildebrand, Personal Assistant to the President and Ms. BrittaMorzick, Head of its International Office visited Mahidol University to sign a Letter of Intent anddiscuss areas of collaboration between the two institutions. The guests also took a tour of the SalayaCampus, including a visit of the Mahidol University Learning Center where they were welcomed bythe Mahidol University Archives and Museums team. (Picture 1)28.01.13Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center in collaboration with College of Music, MahidolUniversity, organized a lecture entitled ‘Current Status and Future Trends of Libraries in U.S.A.’presented by Prof. Stephen Luttmann, Director of Skinner Music Library, from University of NorthernColorado, USA. Ms. Chaweewan Swasdee, Director of Mahidol University Library and KnowledgeCenter, welcomed Prof. Luttmann and led a tour of the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. Prof. Luttman’slecture aimed to assist in the guidance and development of music libraries within Thailand and wasattended by over 70 representatives from Mahidol University and other institutions. (Picture 2)17.01.13Prof. Han C.W. Hsiao, Director of Center for International Academic Exchange and Prof. ThomasC.P. Chang, Section Chief of Center for International Academic Exchange, Asia University, Taiwanmet with Asst. Prof. Surakit Nathisuwan, Vice President for International Relations andrepresentatives of the Faculty of ICT and Mahidol University International College to discuss potentialareas of collaboration particularly student exchange at the Masters level and in the study of semiconductors.14.01.13A delegation led by H. E. Pehin Abu Bakar Apong, Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam andPresident of SEAMEO Council visited SEAMEO TROPMED Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine atthe Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University. The group were welcomed by Assoc. Prof.Pratap Singhasivanon, Secretary General/ Coordinator, SEAMEO TROPMED Network; Assoc. Prof.Yaowalark Sukthana, Centre Director, SEAMEO TROPMED/ Thailand and Dean of the Faculty ofTropical Medicine, Mahidol University. Also attending were the Deputy Deans from Asia’s Center ofExcellence for Tropical Diseases and the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University. (Picture 3)11.01.13Mahidol University led by Asst. Prof. Surakit Nathisuwan, Vice President for InternationalRelations, was delighted to welcome back representatives from the University of North Texas (UNT),USA. The relationship between the two institutions continues to grow; in fact, Thailand is now one ofUNT’s priority countries. During the meeting, UNT’s delegation - which was led by Dr. Rick Nader,Vice Provost for International Affairs, was able to explore potential areas of collaboration withrepresentatives of Mahidol University International College, the College of Music, the Institute forInnovative Learning and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Dr. Joseph Rinaldi (an UNT AlumniAmbassador) based at the College of Music was also able to join the meeting held at the Office of thePresident. (Picture 4)23.11.12Asst. Prof. Nathisuwan met with Dr. Lê Thị Thanh Mai, Director of Student Affairs Dept, VietnamNational University, Ho Chi Minh City and a delegation from the university at the Office of thePresident, Salaya. The main purpose of the visit was for each side to share their experiences instudent affair administration. Topics under discussion therefore included full-time studentgovernance, dormitory administration, student health and counseling as well as student activities(including sports, culture and social work). (Picture 5)Published by International Relations Division, Office of the President, Mahidol University999 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2849 6230 (Director), +66 (0) 2849 6231-3, 2849 6235-6 Fax: +66 (0) 2849 6237 Email: opinter@mahidol.ac.th272 Rama VI Rd., Rathathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand (Bangkok Office) Website: www.mahidol.ac.thAdvisor:Asst. Prof. Surakit Nathisuwan, Dr. Puwat CharukamnoetkanokChief Editor: Ms. Boonyarat SuwanchindaEditorial Staff: Mr. Paul Bulcock, Ms. Suchada Phruthonkul, Ms. Peungjai Tinsulanonda