Dr. Kittisak Thawnashom

I was deeply honored to be appointed as the first Nagasaki University Global Alumni Network Ambassador. My time as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN) from 2014 to 2016, under the guidance of Professor Dr. Kaneko Osamu, provided me with invaluable experience in malaria research within a protozoology lab. Beyond the realm of research, my days in Nagasaki were enriched by the friendships forged with members of the protozoology lab and the NEKKEN community as a whole. Memories of places visited and shared activities with friends remain vivid, despite my residence on the Sakamoto Campus and frequent visits to the main campus to meet with Thai students. We engaged in weekend activities with both Thai and Japanese friends.

I was immensely grateful when my close Japanese friend, Assistant Professor Dr. Moriyasu Taeko, reached out to me, inviting collaboration in organizing the Nagasaki University Global Alumni Network’s first Thai Chapter Networking Reception in Bangkok at the end of 2022. The event was a success, with the participation of Nagasaki University’s president, esteemed professors, Thai university networks, and our alumni. Subsequently, in November 2023, we celebrated our homecoming day and open campus event, welcoming back alumni and extending our university’s reach to prospective Thai students interested in studying at Nagasaki University, both at undergraduate and graduate levels. The event was organized in a hybrid-flexible (hyflex) format online, in conjunction with Nagasaki University, on the same day.

We are currently in the active phase of setting up the Nagasaki University Thai Alumni Network, a robust platform aimed at perpetuating our endeavors and nurturing connections among Thai alumni and beyond. Our primary goals encompass not only promoting the excellence of Nagasaki University on a national scale but also extending comprehensive support and guidance to prospective international students eager to pursue their academic journey at Nagasaki University. Additionally, we aspire to facilitate seamless exchange programs and orchestrate a myriad of engaging alumni events, fostering a vibrant community that transcends geographical boundaries. Through these concerted efforts, we endeavor to fortify the global presence of Nagasaki University while fostering enduring relationships among our esteemed alumni network.

As time passes and seasons change, I am confident that our bond with Nagasaki University will not only endure but also flourish. I extend a warm invitation to Nagasaki University alumni worldwide to visit Thailand whenever possible, and join us in advancing the Nagasaki University alumni network on a global scale.