Associate Professor Dr Weerapong Pairsuwan

Associate Professor Weerapong Pairsuwan, Rector of Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), obtained his PhD in Nuclear Physics from Kent State University, Ohio, USA. Before taking office as the rector, he had numerous high-ranking administrative positions in various capacities both for government offices and government agencies in Thailand. Key responsibilities include Director of the National Synchrotron Research Centre, Minister of Science and Technology, Acting Director of Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organisation), Chairman of the Board of the National Science Museum, Board Member of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Public Organisation), Board Member of the Geo-Infomatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organisation), Vice Chairman of the Board of the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Vice Chairman of the Board of National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Office, and prior to his retirement, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

On the international front, Associate Professor Weerapong Pairsuwan served as Chairman from Thailand of the Committee on Science and Technology for Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN-COST). Besides, key positions related to education include Board Member of the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), Board Member of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), as well as Council Member of Chiang Mai University and Khon Kaen University, Thailand.

Recently appointed on August 1st, 2017, Associate Professor Weerapong Pairsuwan’s vision as the fourth Rector of this 27-year-old SUT, the first public autonomous university and one of the nine National Research Universities in Thailand, is to re-profile SUT to become an excellent academic institution in science, technology, and innovation with social accountability within the year 2020.