February 11 and 12, 2011
Kyoto University and the Kyoto Union Club (KUC)—an alumni organization comprised mainly of Kyoto University’s Thai alumni—jointly held the 8th Kyoto University Southeast Asian Forum on February 12 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Kyoto University Southeast Asian Forum has been held annually in Indonesia and Thailand since 2007, aiming to give back part of the university’s globally recognized academic achievements to the Southeast Asian society. The eighth forum discussed a topic requested by Thai alumni: “What to do and not to do during an earthquake?” Drawing more than one hundred participants from the general Thai public, the forum opened with an address by President Sucharit Koontanakulvong of KUC and greetings from Executive Vice President Kohei Shiota. After this, Dr. Kazuo Oike (former president of Kyoto University and current director of the International Institute for Advanced Studies) presented a clear lecture on the mechanisms of earthquakes based on achievements from his long-time studies. After a lunch break, presentations by Thai researchers and a panel discussion followed, then the forum was concluded with a closing remark by Director Hiromu Shimizu (Center for Southeast Asian Studies).
Preceding the forum on the previous day (February 11) was an annual party organized by the KU Japanese Alumni Association in Bangkok at the Bangkok Liaison Office of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. The party opened with a toast given by former President Oike and greetings from Executive Vice President Shiota. At the party, President Mitsuhiro Sonoda of the Japanese Alumni Association (BA, Faculty of Engineering, 1977) also reported on the activities of the Alumni Association and President Sucharit Koontanakulvong of KUC gave a greeting in which he offered an opportunity of exchange and friendship among Japanese and Thai alumni alike.
The forum and alumni party also invited Dr. Thateva Saphangthong (Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, 2007) from Laos, who represents the Kyoto University Network in Laos, and Dr. Do Van Truong (Graduate School of Engineering, 2009), who is the secretary general of the Kyoto University Vietnamese Alumni. They exchanged views with the Thai and Japanese alumni on strategies for further vitalizing Kyoto University alumni networks while attending the forum.
 Lecture by Dr. Oike |  Executive Vice President Shiota presenting a memento to a guest speaker |
 KUC members with university staff and alumni | |
 Dr. Oike giving a toast |  Greetings from Executive Vice President Shiota |
 Participants who attended the party organized by the Japanese Alumni Association in Bangkok | |