PSU is a public Thai university established in 1967 as the first university in southern Thailand, with the guiding principle “Our Soul is for the Benefit of Mankind.” PSU is a leading research university committed to academic excellence, reputable research and innovation, with five campuses located in Hat Yai, Pattani, Surat Thani, Trang, and Phuket. It is one of the nine national research universities, and the fifth-ranked comprehensive university in Thailand by QS. PSU, highly regarded in the international education sector, has more than 400 agreements for academic cooperation with institutions worldwide. PSU campuses houses about 38,000 students, with international students from almost 60 nations, and over 2,000 academic staff, and offers around 150 Bachelor’s, over 100 Master’s, and more than 50 Doctorate degrees. The academic excellence is illustrated in several disciplines such as Agro-Industry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Energy, Epidemiology, Islamic Studies, Natural Rubber, Palm Oil, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, etc.

Dr. Wongkot Phuphumirat is Assistant President for International Affairs and is one of the key persons in supporting university’s internationalization strategy. The major tasks to support PSU’s internationalization policy concern developing Memoranda of Understanding with partner universities from around the world and coordinating the collaborative activities under the MOUs, as well as hosting foreign visitors: from university executives to visiting staff and students under exchange programs. Dr. Phuphumirat holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Universitaet Wien, Austria. Therefore, he has a strong background with experience and extensive international relations knowledge, especially with regard to European universities.

Ms. Jeeranan Nillawong, an International Affairs Officer, holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in English.  Being an International Affairs Officer responsible for both academic and non-academic activities between PSU and overseas higher education institutions, inclusive of public and private organizations within America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe regions, for over 20 years, has definitely equipped Ms. Nillawong with the valuable working experience and knowledge in enhancing and sustaining the successful PSU cooperation with its international counterparts. Cooperating with numerous foreign delegates, professionals and colleagues from many parts of the world provided Ms. Nillawong with great opportunities to gain multicultural knowledge on the diversity of working cultures. These long term experiences definitely ascertain her as one of the key factors in mobilizing and facilitating the internationalization strategy of PSU.

Mr. Faisol Bin-asan, International Affairs Officer, holds a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Food Science and Technology. He graduated from PSU’s Faculty of Agro-Industry and has joined the International Affairs Office since 2017. Before being employed as an International Affairs Officer, he participated in numerous activities arranged by the PSU International Affairs Office and assisted with many international events while being a student of PSU. He joined, for example, the Cultural Exchange at Guangdong University of Technology, P.R. China in 2014, and yearly assisted with the PSU Thai Cultural Camps from 2014-2016 as a Thai buddy, and took care of foreign students and staff joining these programs. At present, he is the main staff arranging the activities for the PSU English Camp, Thai Cultural Camp and Authentic Thai Camp, among other official duties related to his employment as a university’s International Affairs Officer.

Mr. Zsolt M. Szekely, a European citizen and U.S. graduate in the field of Biology, has spent the last two decades living and traveling in the United States and Southeast Asia. Mr. Szekely has been facilitating the internationalization efforts of three leading universities in Thailand. For the last six years, he has been an active member of the team responsible for implementing the internationalization strategy of Prince of Songkla University. Relevant experiences include representing the university at various official functions, receiving and working with international partners of the university, and increasing the English language proficiency of faculty, staff and students.