Prof. Orachos Napasintuwong Artachinda of the Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand and awardee of the Faculty Exchange Program grant of the University Consortium (UC) visited the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Indonesia in order to explore opportunities for possible collaboration between KU and IPB. Prof. Artachinda met with the Head of International Programs, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, and the Head of Postgraduate Programs in Economics to discuss matters regarding the University Consortium.

Areas for possible collaboration between the two universities include the organization of seminar visits from the students and staff of the IPB to the Faculty of Economics in KU and continuation of graduate programs of IPB students in the international graduate programs at KU. Both institutions will look into tapping funds from scholarship donor agencies and in improving research collaboration and student exchange program via existing programs such as European Academic Mobility Network with Asia and M-I-T Student Mobility Program between Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai institutions.

In fulfillment of the requirements of the faculty exchange program, Prof. Artachinda conducted a lecture on “The Economics of Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries” and a special lecture on “Induced Innovation Theory and Technological Change”. Aside from conducting lectures, she also visited the University Farm and the Surfactant and Bioenergy Research Center of IPB.
(Anne Victoria L. Alcala with report from Dr. Orachos Artachinda)