On 27 – 30 May 2025, the School of Agro-Industry, in collaboration with the Research Administration Division, under Mae Fah Luang University Research and Innovation Institute (MFU), organised the "MFU Reinventing University Network Meeting 2025: BCG – High Value Agri-Food & Global Networking for High Value Creation of Foods & Agricultural Produces." This event was part of the Reinventing University Programme for Fiscal Year 2025.
The event, supported by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), took place at the Sands Khao Lak by Katathani, Phang Nga Province. It aimed to strengthen international research collaboration and advance the university toward Global and Frontier Research in a sustainable manner.
This activity is part of three major initiatives:
• High Valued Foods: Value Chain Management for a Sustainable World
• BCG: High Value Agri-Food
• Global Networking for High Value Creation of Foods & Agricultural Produces
The project is led by Professor Dr. Saroat Rawdkuen, Head of the Project from the School of Agro-Industry, Mae Fah Luang University. Professor Dr. Saroat Rawdkuen is a globally recognized scholar, ranked among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in Food Science for five consecutive years. The project focuses on fostering international research collaborations, developing competitive research proposals for international funding, and publishing high-impact research in Tier 1/Q1 journals.
Over the past three years, the project has resulted in more than 40 Tier 1/Q1 international publications, reflecting the academic strength of the network. This success has also significantly enhanced the h-index and Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of researchers involved in the network.
In the fiscal year 2025, 27 institutions participated in the project, including:
14 Thai institutions, such as:
13 international institutions, including:
The project directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
The workshop featured distinguished speakers, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sarana Sommano, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University and Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattadech Choomplang, Puey Ungphakorn School of Development Studies, Thammasat University.
In addition, the meeting engaged expert speakers to share global case studies and insights on international funding and collaboration opportunities:
• Ms. Thitapa Patanan, First Secretary, Division of Economic Relations and Cooperation, Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented on
"International Grants & Support to GMS: A Success Case Study"
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Solida LONG, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia presented a case study on global opportunities for research and academic mobility.
• Dr. Lê Đức Thông, Vietnam Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology, Vietnam shared insights into accessing international research and education funding mechanisms.
• Assoc. Prof. Wanli Zhang, Hainan University, Haikou, China presented a case from a Chinese institutional perspective on international collaboration.
• Prof. Dr. Di Wu and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jinhu Tian, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China shared their experience in cross-border research partnership development and successful grant acquisition strategies.
The event was presided over by Professor Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President of Mae Fah Luang University, who emphasised the university’s commitment to promoting Thai research on the global stage and advancing MFU as a sustainable research excellence institution.
MFU is now recognised as one of Thailand’s leading institutions in Global and Frontier Research, with a strategic focus on nurturing talents for the global workforce and generating world-class knowledge and innovations aligned with national development priorities. The university is striving for promoting well-being and a sustainable future.
