Today, on December 20th, the Office of the President at Chiang Mai University, It was a good opportunity for Asst. Prof. Dr. Orawit Thinnukul, the project leader for Advancing Strategic Management, Leadership and Fundraising in Higher Education in Asia (ASTRA), Asst.Prof. Pattaraporn Khuwuthyakorn, Ph.D., and Asst.Prof.Napaporn Reeveerakul, Ph.D. to meet and present the operation of the project to the Vice President for Research, Assoc. Prof. Winita Punyodom, Ph.D., and the Director of the Office of Research Administration, Associate Professor Noppol Leksawasdi, Ph.D., of Chiang Mai University. The meeting was held to set guidelines for conducting training for research funding for Chiang Mai University personnel.

The overview of the discussion included recommendations to organize the training in series or themes according to the interests of attendees and to make it a focus group style to draw people in.

Funding Opportunities Pillar 2, specifically on the topics of culture, creativity, and inclusive society, digital, industry, and space, were mentioned as particularly interesting. The discussion also touched on the issue of internationalization and the value of expanding internationalization, research, and mobility cooperation with potential partner countries or program countries from the EU side rather than relying on the connections of the original researcher.

It was agreed that creating or expanding a new network would be more effective. The ASTRA R&D Hub was also mentioned as complementary to the work of the Research Administration Office in seeking external funding sources and promoting Chiang Mai University's strategy of strengthening foreign cooperation.

The Vice President expressed confidence in the implementation of the project, as it is seen as an important mechanism for Chiang Mai University's role in the research world more systematically. This was the third time that Chiang Mai University's executives have prioritized setting up the ASTRA R&D Hub at the university, providing a good opportunity for the university to help address both support and promotion of external research funding.