A group of teachers and students from agriculture and food science related studies at Thailand’s Walailak University (WU) took part in a four-day professional agricultural course at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) from March 25 to 28 this year (2025). A total of 16 people were in the group which was led by Dr. Chantira Wongnen and Dr. Thinnaphop Chum-In of their university’s School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry. Organization for the activity began back in January when the dean of the NPUST College of Agriculture, Jue-Liang Hsu, and director of the Department of Food Science, Chan-Chiung Liu, were asked to help plan the course content and provide the WU visitors with a rich learning experience. The NPUST Office of International Affairs Office assisted with the administrative details.  

The subject matter included professional courses on as Smart agriculture, insect ecology, and herb science. A variety of agricultural-related DIY activities were also arranged, including baking, indigo dyeing, and more. During their stay, the group visited the simulated GMP food production line, wildlife shelter, livestock farm, and green energy bio-factory on campus, and on the last day they went on an off-campus field trip to the Agricultural Technology Park and Known-You Seed Company for observations. The teachers and students of Walailak University expressed satisfaction with this training activity, saying that in addition to learning relevant professional knowledge and skills, they also had the opportunity to interact with the faculty and staff of NPUST and experience its campus life and environment more intimately. In the future, exchange students will be selected to return to NPUST for internships.

Since 2013, NPUST and Walailak University have enjoyed a sister-school relationship. Walailak University was established in 1992 and operates as comprehensive university in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province of southern Thailand. With a total area of ​​approximately 1,457 hectares, it is situated on the largest campus in Thailand and is home to a School of Management, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Engineering and Resources, School of Liberal Arts, School of Architecture and Design, and International College, and more.