Diplomatic representatives from 21 countries, alongside international media, visited Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Hat Yai Campus under the project to enhance understanding and cooperation with foreign countries, organized by the National Security Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 October 2025. PSU President Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub delivered a welcome address, which was followed by a briefing on the university's operations and key initiatives by Asst. Prof. Dr. Thakerng Wongsirichot, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs.
In his remarks, President Niwat talked about PSU’s history and its role as a center of academic excellence and innovation in the southern region. Dr. Niwat also highlighted PSU’s prestigious ranking among the top ten universities in Thailand by QS, and the university’s ongoing collaborations with over 600 educational institutions worldwide, hosting international students from 37 countries at both the graduate and undergraduate level. The university prioritizes the safety and security of its students and staff, in line with PSU's policy as an institution of stable and sustainable academic excellence, the president concluded.
Vice President Thakerng then explained PSU’s vision and mission: to become a world-leading university focusing academic excellence and innovation, linking research for the development of the southern region and the country, and cultivating graduates with knowledge, ethics, and 21st-century skills. The university ranks among the top in the country in several fields, including education, business and economics, engineering, social sciences and computer science, biological sciences and medicine, and physical sciences, Dr. Thakerng noted.
Currently, PSU offers 302 academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, serving more than 36,700 students, including 543 international students from 37 countries. Furthermore, it offers 23 dual-degree programs in collaboration with other international universities, and employs teaching and research staff from various countries. The university prioritizes interdisciplinary research, southern regional development, and international collaboration. and driving research toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with many researchers of international reknown. In addition to academic work, PSU also drives social projects, such as area-based research and development for poverty reduction and equality development in Thailand, a case study of Pattani Province, and the Deep South Watch, which aims to promote conflict awareness and communicate factual information for the benefit of society.
“The visit of ambassadors and diplomatic representatives provides a significant opportunity to expand international collaboration networks and to enhance the visibility of both Prince of Songkla University and Songkhla province on the global stage”, the Vice President for Academic and International Affairs remarked.
As part of their program, the visiting diplomats also toured the university’s medical facilities at Songklanagarind Vejchavivat Hospital, part of the Premium Services program at Songklanagarind Hospital. This hospital focuses on providing high-quality, specialized services to patients requiring specialized facilities and care, alongside comprehensive health care services, including treatment, rehabilitation, health promotion, and disease prevention. Premium services include prompt, high-quality, internationally standardized healthcare, which serves as a model for privatized management in government hospitals throughout the southern region.
The diplomatic representatives also visited the PSU Science Park, a regional innovation hub, comprising four main buildings: Building A, a business incubator and co-working space; Building B, a laboratory and prototype factory; Building C, a technology center for commercializing research; and Building D, a product analysis and testing center. The Science Park serves as a mechanism for linking university knowledge to the private sector, maximizing public research resources, promoting the establishment and growth of science and technology businesses in the South, and providing comprehensive services to enhance the long-term economic potential of the South in particular, and the country in general.
The diplomatic representatives, including ambassadors from Norway, Singapore, Denmark, Portugal, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, and Luxembourg; and diplomats from Sweden, Belgium, Romania, Finland, Austria, the Netherlands, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, Greece, and France, also visited important sites in Songkhla province. They explored Songkhla's potential in various dimensions, including the economy, investment, education, culture, tourism, and local lifestyles, fostering sustainable international cooperation. Prince of Songkla University was included in this high-level diplomatic visit in order to study the potential of education, medicine, and innovation in the southern region.
