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On December 20, 2024, the Global Network Seminar was held, and the seminar welcomed Professor Supasawad Chardchawarn, President of Thammasat University in Thailand and an alumnus of the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University.

Under the theme “Beyond Borders: Studying Political Science at Kobe University,” Professor Chardchawarn reflected on his own experiences of studying and conducting research at Kobe University and discussed the significance of studying political science and pursuing research in an international environment.

In his lecture, Professor Chardchawarn shared his experiences as a doctoral student at Kobe University and the insights he gained from studying political science in an international academic environment. Drawing on his own research experience, he discussed how he approached local politics and public administration in Thailand and examined political and administrative realities from the perspective of political science. He also highlighted the importance of interacting with students and researchers from different countries and regions and of reconsidering one’s own country’s politics and society from diverse perspectives.

Professor Chardchawarn also reflected on how his studies and research experience at Kobe University contributed to his subsequent academic, educational, and professional career. Drawing on his own experiences, he emphasized the importance of developing perspectives that extend beyond the boundaries of one’s own academic discipline and engaging in research within an international environment.

Following the lecture, participants engaged in an exchange of views with Professor Chardchawarn. The seminar provided a valuable opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding of the significance of studying and conducting political science research abroad through the experiences of a Kobe University alumnus, while also reflecting on how graduate-level research experience can contribute to subsequent academic, educational, and international careers.