Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation of Thailand leads delegation to Science Tokyo
On October 11, 2024, a delegation from Thailand, led by Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) visited Science Tokyo. The 28-member group included Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), and Prof. Dr. Sukit Limpijumnong, President of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). They were welcomed by President and CEO Naoto Ohtake, President and CAO Yujiro Tanaka, and other executives.
Thailand and Science Tokyo share a longstanding history of academic exchange spanning several decades. The former Tokyo Medical and Dental University established bases at Thailand’s prestigious Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University, fostering collaboration through joint doctoral degree programs. A total of 14 students have earned degrees from these programs, with 19 students currently enrolled.
The other predecessor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, established an office within NSTDA in 2002. At the request of the Thai government, TAIST-Tokyo Tech* (TAIST) was launched in 2007 to serve as a hub for research and development while training highly skilled manufacturing professionals in the fields of science and engineering. To date, more than 600 students have completed their master's degrees in this program. The Minister expressed her deep appreciation for Science Tokyo’s contribution to higher education in Thailand.
The delegation also met with Thai students, including those currently enrolled in the TAIST-Science Tokyo program, and joined them for lunch.
In the afternoon, the NSTDA delegation visited the laboratories of Associate Professors Satoshi Miura and Hideharu Takahashi, as well as Professors Yukio Takeda and Gen Endo, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the School of Engineering, and Professor Jeffrey Scott Cross in the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering of the School of Environment and Society in the Ishikawadai area of Ookayama campus.
The Kingdom of Thailand and Science Tokyo have actively collaborated not only in education but also in research and industry-academia partnerships. Moving forward, both sides look to further strengthen these exchanges.
- TAIST-Tokyo Tech: TAIST stands for Thailand Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Tokyo Tech, NSTDA, Thailand Collaborative Graduate School).
Related articles
Update history
- This article was updated on April 25, 2025.
Contact
International Office, Planning Division
S6-6, 2-12-1, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550
Tel +81-3-5734-2982
Email sciencetokyo.global@adm.isct.ac.jp