On October 25, an unveiling ceremony for the Blue Science and Technology Backyard jointly established by Ocean University of China (OUC) and Kasetsart University (KU) was held during the High-Quality Development Conference for the 80th Anniversary of Oceanography, Fisheries, and Geology at OUC.
Wang Houjie, Vice President of OUC; Ai Qinghui, Dean of OUC’s College of Fisheries; and KU Associate Professors Srisapoone Prapansak and Sukhsangchan Charuay jointly unveiled a plaque for the Blue Science and Technology Backyard. Closely aligned with the development needs of Thailand’s aquaculture industry, the initiative focuses on the breeding of improved aquaculture species, eco-friendly aquaculture, and the conservation and restoration of germplasm resources. It aims to develop an international cooperation platform integrating talent development, scientific research, technology demonstration, and technology transfer. The Blue Science and Technology Backyard will promote deeper integration among education, research, and industry, facilitate effective connections among talent, technological, and industrial resources, and develop a collaborative model linking international curricula, joint research, and industry practice. It will help deepen China-Thailand cooperation in education, science and technology, promote mutually beneficial China-ASEAN cooperation in the marine and fisheries sectors, and advance the building of a maritime community with a shared future.
OUC and KU have long maintained close cooperation and actively explored new models for talent development and scientific and technological cooperation in the marine and fisheries fields with ASEAN partners. Since joining the ASEAN Fisheries Education Network in 2016, OUC has leveraged its strength in fisheries to deepen international cooperation with ASEAN in these fields. In 2017, the two universities signed an inter-university cooperation agreement, jointly established the Sino-Thai Academic Center on Marine and Fishery Sciences, and launched a China-Thailand dual master’s degree program. They have since developed an international talent development model integrating joint education, English-medium instruction, joint research, and the awarding of dual degrees. The program has received ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) certification and was selected as an outstanding case of international educational exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative. To date, it has trained 57 international students, produced 26 jointly authored SCI-indexed papers, and received honors including a Second Prize of the National Teaching Achievement Award. These achievements have laid a solid foundation for further cooperation between China and Thailand in education, science and technology, and industry.
