Mr. Evan Willson from Clark University, Massachusetts, USA and Dr. David Strekfuss, the director of Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) visited the Faculty of Public Health on 5 November 2019 for discussing on the exchange program on community public health and the future collaborations.

Associate Professor Dr. Wongsa Laohasiriwong, Dean and faculties of the Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University participated in the 11^th International Conference on Public Health among Greater Mekong Sub-Regional Countries on Improving Health Equality among Greater Mekong Sub-Regional Countries: A Public Health Challenge during 17-19 November 2019 at Lao PDR.   

Khon Kaen University organized MOU Signing ceremony between Khon Kaen University and Chindwin Technological University on 17 October 2019. The MOU was signed by Assoc. Prof. Chanchai Panthongviriyakul, KKU President and Mr. Kyaw Htin Latt, CEO of CTU, Myanmar. KKU and CTU agree to join in academic collaborations, research, and exchange program in order to develop the faculties and the learners of the two universities.

Dr. Ayman Ei-Mohandes, Dean of Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, the City University of New York visits the Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University on 27 September 2019. The aims of the visit are for discussing on academic collaborations and inviting the staff of the Faculty of Public Health to join the conference in USA next year.

On September 10, 2019, six students from the Faculty of Public Health visited Ban Hua Thanon in Pra Lap Sub-District of Khon Kaen province. Students spent the morning hearing from Village Headman Krittaphas Prungsripanya at the village’s “Zero Waste” education center. The students also walked through the village, visiting households to see demonstrations of composting, solid waste separation, and gardening.

This semi-urban village is well known for its “Zero Waste” program. The program has uniquely addressed the solid waste problem in the community through a multi-faceted approach, offering incentives to reduce waste generation, recycle used goods, and increase the value of waste products.

Currently, the village recognizes that they have 100% participation from the 300+ households in the village. From the 800 kg/day generated in 2013, solid waste has been reduced to around 300 kg/day now. And, of that amount, nearly 70% is organic, which is composted into fertilizer or used as animal feed. Another 60 to 70 kg/day is recycled, leaving only about 40 kg/day of solid waste that is collected weekly by the municipality and sent to the landfill.

Students participated in this site visit as part of the course, Public Health Management in Thailand, organized by Ajaan Anthony Kuster. This course analyzes the health system of Thailand in a very broad sense. In addition to healthcare delivery and financing, students are encouraged to consider the role of social determinants of health.

Mr. Kyaw Htin Latt, CEO of Chindwin Technological University and team from Myanmar visit Khon Kaen University during 25-27 August 2019. The CTU team put in a courtesy visit to KKU President and visit the Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Education, MBA, KKBS, International College, and KKU library and DAMASAC. The aim of the visit is discussing on academic collaborations.