Establishment of Kasetsart University (KU) and Yamaguchi University (YU) Joint Degree Program has been successful in April 2020. Faculty of Agriculture from YU is a responsible organization for master’s degree in Agricultural Science and Life Sciences together with Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Science, respectively. This Joint Degree Program has been proposed by Professor Dr. Mamoru Yamada (Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, YU) to Associate Professor Dr. Gunjana Theeragool (Dean, The Graduate School, KU) in 2015 which marked the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Yamaguchi Kodo (origin of Yamaguchi university).
Yamaguchi University is the third oldest national university in Japan it can trace its origins back to Yamaguchi Kodo, a private school, founded by Ueda Hoyo, a feudal clansman of Choshu Province in the late Edo Period (1815). In 1949, the school was reorganized to become a national university consisting of five faculties. Over the years the university has expanded into a comprehensive university which boasts nine faculties and nine graduate schools. The year 2015 marked the 200th anniversary of the establishment of Yamaguchi Kodo.
Academic collaboration between KU and YU has been started since 1990 from research collaboration. The fruitful research collaboration has been expanded to several academic programs such as Young Scientist Seminar since 2008, Student exchange since 2011 and Joint Degree Program since 2020.
Research collaboration between KU and YU started from the Agreement on Academic Cooperation and Exchange between the Faculty of Agriculture, KU and the Faculty of Agriculture, YU on 7th June 1990 signed by Associate Professor Dr. Somsak Vangnai from KU and Professor Dr. Shunji Kako from YU. The first practical trial of the agreement entitled “Joint Study on The Integrated Management of The Export Orchid Plants in Thailand” was funded by the International Scientific Research Program, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (Monbusho) in 1992. The second project entitled “Joint Study on Detection and Utilization of Bioresources in Thailand” was approved and funded Monbusho University-to-University Cooperative Research No. 05004539 (2 MY/year for 3 years) during 1993-1995. Based on those fruitful research collaboration, 10 years (1998-2008) Core University Program, 5 years (2008-2013) Asian Core Program and 5 years (2014-2019) Core to Core Program were approved and funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). These three programs focused on Development of Thermotolerant Microbial Resources and Their Applications especially under global warming era. A big grant of 10 million baht/year was allocated for scientist exchange and seminar throughout 20 years of research collaboration having KU and YU as a core university from Thailand and Japan, respectively. In addition to budget for scientist exchange and seminar, Japanese core university and participating universities received additional Monbusho scholarships for doctoral degree study in Japan. KU was a core university from Thailand and YU was a core university from Japan.
Young Scientist Seminar (YSS) was initiated by Yamaguchi university in 2008 under JSPS-NRCT Asian Core Program. The Graduate School, KU hosted the 4th and 7th YSS whereas YU hosted the remaining seminar until present.
Student exchange under Short Stay Short Visit (SSSV) and Sakura Science Program was started in 2011. This program was supported by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and The Graduate School, KU.
The Joint Degree Program in Master of Science (Life Sciences) successfully begun since April 2020 with 2 students from YU whereas Master of Science (Agricultural Science) begun since April 2021 with 2 students from YU and 2 students from KU.
KU-YU Research Collaboration
| Duration | Research activities | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 (7th June) |
Signing the Agreement on Academic Cooperation and Exchange between the Faculty of Agriculture, KU and the Faculty of Agriculture, YU | Signed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somsak Vangnai and Prof. Dr. Shunji Kako |
| 1992 | The first practical trial of the agreement entitled “Joint Study on The Integrated Management of The Export Orchid Plants in Thailand” | Funded by the International Scientific Research Program, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (Monbusho) |
| 1993-1995 | The second project entitled “Joint Study on Detection and Utilization of Bioresources in Thailand” was approved by Monbusho. | Funded by Monbusho University-to-University Cooperative Research No. 05004539 (2 MY/year for 3 years) |
| 1998-2008 | JSPS-NRCT Core University Program on Development of Thermotolerant Microbial Resources and Their Applications | Funded by JSPS (30 MY/year for 10 years) |
| 2008-2013 | JSPS-NRCT Asian Core Program on Capacity Building and Development of Microbial Potential and Fermentation Technology Towards New Era | Funded by JSPS (20 MY/year for 5 years) and NRCT (3 MB/year for 5 years) |
| 2014-2019 | JSPS-NRCT Core to Core Program on Establishment of an international research core for new bio-research fields with microbes from tropical areas | Funded by JSPS (20 MY/year for 5 years) and NRCT (3 MB/year for 5 years) |
| 2020-present | Collaborative research | Funded by Research Center for Thermotolerant Microbial Resources (RCTMR), YU |
1. KU Student (Agricultural Science) Course Model
2. KU Student (Life Sciences) Course Model
3. YU Student (Agricultural Science) Course Model
4. YU Student (Life Sciences) Course Model
3.1 Master of Science Program in Agricultural Sciences (International Program), the Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University and Graduate School of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University
3.2 Master of Science Program in Life Sciences (International Program), the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University and Graduate School of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University
For more information about the curricula at Kasetsart University, please refer to the links below:
- Master of Science Program in Agricultural Sciences (International Program), Faculty of Agriculture:
https://www.grad.ku.ac.th/en/download/cur-68-m-i-xa42-eng/?wpdmdl=109927 - Master of Science Program in Life Sciences (International Program), Faculty of Science:
https://www.grad.ku.ac.th/en/download/cur-68-m-i-xd27-eng/?wpdmdl=109929
Master’s Degree Students
To fulfill the requirements, students must satisfy one of these three conditions:
Students must pass an English proficiency examination held by Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities. For more information, students can visit http://www.ku-ept.human.ku.ac.th.
Students who fail the English proficiency examination may either choose to apply for the “English Required by Graduate School” (01355501) course (register as GA type) and pass it, or re-apply for the examination specified in point no. 1.
Alternatively, students can submit their TOEFL, IELTS, CU-TEP, KU-EPT or KU-TOEFL-ITP scores. If any such examinations were taken before enrollment at Kasetsart University, the date of the result is not to be in excess of two (2) years prior to the submittal date of the transfer. If any such examination was taken as an enrolled student at Kasetsart University, these examination results are valid if achieved no more than two (2) years prior to the submittal date of transfer. The criteria of those examination results are as follows:
| Duration | Research activities |
|---|---|
| Exam type | The criterion for passing examination |
| TOEFL | Paper-based test: the attained score in sections 2 and 3 is to be not less than 45 points; or alternatively the total attained score is to be not less than 450. Computer-based test: the attained scores in sections 2 and 3 are to be not less than 14 and 13 points respectively; or alternatively the total attained score is to be not less than 133. Internet-based test: the total attained score is to be not less than 45. |
| IELTS | The attained score is to be not less than 5.0. |
| CU-TEP | The attained score is to be not less than 45. |
| KU-EPT | The attained score is to be not less than 50%. The attained score is to be not less than 50%. |
| KU-TOEFL-ITP | The attained score is to be not less than 450. (The total score examination must only be conducted by The Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University) |
|
TOEIC |
The attained score is to be not less than 600. It is only applicable to graduate students under the Joint Degree Program between Master of Science Program in Life Sciences (International Program) (XD27), the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University and the Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University. |
Exemption: The Graduate School provides an exemption from English studies which are required by The Graduate School for graduate students who graduated from institutes/universities in countries where the official language is English and which are approved by the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC), or who graduated from international/English programs at institutes/universities which are approved by the OCSC. Graduation from English speaking countries or international/English programs must not have taken place longer ago than 5 years, counted from the date of graduation.
Qualification: Must be a graduate student of the Faculty of Agriculture, or the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University or the Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University studying in the Joint Degree Program (JDP) between Kasetsart University and Yamaguchi University.
Allocation: 8,000 THB per month for a maximum of 3 months of each fiscal year.
1. Joint Master’s Degree Program in Agricultural Sciences between Kasetsart University and Yamaguchi University
2. Joint Master’s Degree Program in Life Sciences (International Program) between Kasetsart University and Yamaguchi University
You can see full details of progress report on JDP students from the link below:
https://www.grad.ku.ac.th/en/download/progress-report-of-jdp-students-eng/?wpdmdl=88911&masterkey=62384a3ca00d2
You can see details of academic staff participating in the Joint Degree Program from the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University (as of 2024) from the links below:
1. Faculty of Agriculture Academic Staff
2. Faculty of Science Academic Staff
For more information about application, please contact:
Ms. Kanokkorn JEERAWARANGKOON
Email: kanokkorn.c@ku.th
Telephone: +66-2942-8445 Ext. 226
