Sino-Thai Cooperation Initiatives
“The First Sino-Thai Forum on Higher Education Cooperation in the Context of Globalization” took place at Yunnan University, China, during April 18-20, 2019. Two UP administrators, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tipchan Wongchanta, VP for University Communications, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sombat Nopark, Dean of School of Education, were invited to join the Forum with three other distinguished Thai representatives from three universities in Thailand.
To make the collaboration initiatives most fruitful, scholars from China and Thailand enthusiastically shared their views and insights on HE cooperation between the two countries. Like others, UP representatives were requested to give a brief talk on the subject, “Thai-Chinese Educational Partnership by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wongchanta and “Co-curriculum for Triple Degrees Program” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noparak.
The three-day forum included visits to high schools in Yunnan Province and friendly discussions for future collaboration. Research cooperation in the field of education and short courses for teacher training and cultural studies were among the topics proposed.
The first move (meeting and discussion) was well accomplished. The next and more important one (mobility and discussion) simply awaits the efforts from scholars of the two countries to make it happen, for the benefit of all in the HE ecosystem.