On June 29, 2015, the University of Novi Sad (UNS), Serbia, conferred an honorary doctorate degree to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chusak Limsakul, President of Prince of Songkla University (PSU), in recognition of the long-standing and fruitful collaboration between Prince of Songkla University and the University of Novi Sad. As President Chusak told the audience at the ceremony, the 14-year long relationship between PSU and UNS started when delegates from the PSU Faculty of Engineering visited UNS and signed an agreement of academic cooperation in 2001. One year later, the 1st Engineering Conference between the UNS Faculty of Technical Science and the PSU Faculty of Engineering followed, with Dr. Chusak as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Cooperation between the two universities progressed rapidly by providing numerous student and staff exchange opportunities with the support of the two universities’ administration. From then on, the relationship has quickly expanded to other faculties, including the Faculty of Science, Faculty of Natural Resources and Faculty of Arts. Joint research in the fields of engineering and biology between faculties of the two universities is one of the hallmarks of this fruitful academic collaboration.
Professor Dr. Miodrag Zlokolica, UNS administrator and machinery mechanics expert, a key contributor to the successful relationship between the two universities, had been a special instructor at the PSU Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, during 2001-2004. Professor Miodrag, through his expert suggestions, provided essential assistance to engineering research, and has been an avid supporter of cooperation between PSU and UNS. His dedication to faculty exchange and organizing international conferences opened a wider platform for international cooperation with universities throughout Eastern Europe.