MFU Joins the 9th Kunming Forum on Education Cooperation, Strengthening RCEP Engineering Alliances and Subregional Sustainability

On 22–23 October 2026, representatives from Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) participated in "the 9th Kunming Forum on Education Cooperation in South & Southeast Asia," hosted by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education and Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST) in Kunming, China. The MFU delegation comprised Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darunee Wattanasiriwech, Vice President of MFU, and  Ms. Chayanee Laotrakul, Administrative Officer of the Global Relations Division. 

Held under the theme "Integrate RCEP Education Cooperation for Regional High-Quality Development," the forum brought together over 100 organisations and universities from 11 countries to foster regional academic connectivity, cross-border research, and talent development across the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member nations.

During the Main Forum, MFU made a significant impact by officially participating as a Vice-Chair Member institution of the newly launched "South and Southeast Asia Engineering Education Innovation and Development Alliance." The alliance convened its inaugural council meeting, uniting 41 founding institutions from mainland China, Macao SAR, and eight South and Southeast Asian nations. Established to enhance mutual understanding and facilitate exchanges, talent development, and scientific and technological cooperation in engineering education and technological innovation, the alliance aims to improve the talent training and technological advancement that regional development requires, and to promote high-quality economic and social development across the region. Through this role, MFU reaffirmed its strong commitment to driving regional engineering education reform, advancing joint research, and cultivating future-ready talent in the digital intelligence era.

A key highlight of the Main Forum was the official launch of the "International Engineering Education Bilingual Series Textbooks," co-published with Higher Education Press. Spanning key emerging disciplines such as artificial intelligence, new energy, metallurgy, and geology, these textbooks are designed to bridge language barriers and align technical training with international industry standards. Academic leaders and experts also held strategic discussions on "Engineering Education in the Digital Intelligence Era," emphasising the integration of AI, smart manufacturing, green technologies, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility into academic curricula. The aim is to empower sustainable regional development and strengthen industry-academia synergy across RCEP and subregional economies.

As part of the event, MFU representatives also joined an academic campus tour at KUST, visiting three leading research and innovation hubs. At the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, the delegation inspected advanced technologies including 3D-printed medical rehabilitation exoskeletons, collaborative robotics platforms, and acoustic testing chambers. The tour continued at the Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Yunnan Province, which showcased cutting-edge Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine translation tools—such as "Yunnan Translate"—tailored for South and Southeast Asian languages. Finally, at the Yunnan Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, delegates examined proprietary high-performance seismic dampers and disaster-resilient structural technologies, highlighting promising avenues for joint research and cross-border innovation among alliance members.

Looking ahead, MFU’s participation in the Kunming Forum marks more than a diplomatic milestone: it reflects the university’s vision to be a global partner for well-being and a sustainable future. By taking a leadership role in the new alliance, MFU is positioned to turn shared ideas into real collaboration, from joint research and student exchange to innovations that make communities safer, smarter, and more sustainable. As South and Southeast Asia move together toward high-quality, inclusive growth, MFU stands ready to be a trusted partner in building the talent and knowledge that will power that journey.