Thailand and UK foster universities’ potential
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the British Council are continuing to foster the project to boost the potential of Thai and United Kingdom universities to advance and promote education at the tertiary level.
The ministry called a press conference at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel last week to provide an update on the project’s progress, detailing international networks and reforms to academic teaching, advanced research, and comprehensive institutional development that have happened since the project’s launch in 2021.
Danny Whitehead, director of the British Council in Thailand, Punpermsak Arunee, the Higher Education Ministry’s head of strategic management mission group, and Suphachitra Chatchawan of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science were among the six speakers at the conference.
The ministry says the goal is to elevate education standards towards producing high-quality graduates, a critical mechanism in driving the country’s economic and social stability.
Whitehead said the project is one of the most powerful ways that Thai and British scientists, researchers, academics and universities can work together to address some of the biggest global challenges such as climate change, health, sustainable agriculture, and peace and security.
As part of efforts to break into the top 100 global university rankings, seven Thai universities are participating in this year’s project: Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Chiang Mai University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Mahidol University, Thammasat University, and Naresuan University.
He said the agency is supporting Thai universities in five areas: promoting transnational education between the two countries, supporting funds for science and research partnerships to address global issues, encouraging students to study in Thai and British universities, boosting language literacy for effective collaboration, and promoting two-way relationships for mutual benefits.
“These partnerships also drive economic development and build greater trust and understanding between the people of the UK and the people of Thailand,” he said.
Punpermsak said this project is in line with the ministry’s project to reinvent universities to meet international standards and boost Thailand’s competitiveness.
“Strategy is the engine of growth as universities have knowledge to conduct research and innovation to meet the country’s demand, such as electric vehicles [EVs], artificial intelligence and rail transport,” he said.
Read more : Nation Thailand
