MFU President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana, Vice Presidents Assist. Prof. Dr. Romyen Kosaikanont, and executives participated in the Thai-Yunnan-Guizhou-Hunan Educational Cooperation project held by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education, and the Office of the Higher Education Commission from 11 to 15 June 2018 in Yunnan, China.
This Thai-Yunnan-Guizhou-Hunan Educational Cooperation project consisted of three following main activities:
1. Thai-China (Guizhou) Education and Exchange;
2. The Education Exchange and Cooperation Achievement Exhibition & South Asia and Southeast Asia Education Cooperation Forum (EECAE & SSECF): the 3rd Thai-Yunnan Education Cooperation & Exchange Sub-Forum;
3. Thai-Hunan Rail Cooperation.
The purpose of the project was to connect and establish education networking between universities in Thailand, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hunan for further cooperation in the future.
In the Thai-China (Guizhou) Education and Exchange on 11 June 2018 at Horizon hotel, Mae Fah Luang University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Guizhou Normal University for educational and academic exchanges. Mae Fah Luang University also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zunyi Medical University for mutual cooperation and exchange in a variety of academic fields.
Additionally, in the 3rd Thai-Yunnan Education Cooperation on 12 -13 June 2018, MFU President, on behalf of Thai universities, was appointed the chairperson of the opening of the Thai-Yunnan Universities Network. Moreover, there were the roundtable discussions on “the vision and model of cooperation” for Thai and Yunnan universities in order to develop collaboration in five pilot clusters covering Languages, Health and Medicine, Agriculture;,Tourism, and Digital Technology.
Furthermore, in a parallel session of the Yunnan-South Asia and Southeast Asia Education Cooperation Forum, MFU President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana was a keynote speaker on “The Open Education and the Opening up of Education: Thailand's Experience”. Dr. Vanchai stated that borderless education is becoming the new normal for learning experiences which enables students and learners to freely seek new knowledge and search for various kinds of education opportunities in fields of study that are relevant to our lifestyles, interests and desires. This freedom of study enhances the process of knowledge creation and development of technological innovations.
Also, borderless education in the region has created a positive impact in at least four areas including; better international relations between countries, improvement of the quality of life of the people in region overall due to the exchange and sharing of knowledge, the possibility of economic prosperity, and the attainment of regional and global peace. For Thailand, when the educational system is broadened and opened, universities have recognised and adjusted themselves so that they could reap the benefits. They have also focused on establishing meaningful education collaboration based on three important principles which are equality, win-win cooperation, and fair and just contribution by all parties.
For Mae Fah Luang University, the initial cooperation between MFU and China is in the Chinese language and culture. This is very important because Chinese language and culture serve as a platform for enhancing understanding and ushering in the further cooperation. Now that Thai and Chinese people have better understanding of each other, the second step of collaboration in this high level academic exchange should be pursued to strengthen the academic stability of the two countries.
Altogether, with the commitment to human resource development, MFU has sought and strengthened cooperation with Yunnan in various educational fields in order to create a strong foundation for a better future and sustainable regional development.
