To deepen academic collaboration between Thailand and Myanmar, the first part of the 2nd Myanmar-Thailand Higher Education Institutions Leadership and Networking Programme was held on 12-18 November 2018 at Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University and the Office of Higher Education Commission.
The “Myanmar-Thailand Higher Education Institutions Leadership and Networking Programme” is a pilot project in accordance with the International Academic Cooperation Strategy with the Neighboring Countries of the Office of Higher Education Commission, the Ministry of Education of Thailand.
The main purpose of this networking programme was to serve as a venue for administrators to exchange knowledge and good practices in order to develop the administration of higher education especially in areas of international affairs and research.
There were executives and researchers from 14 Thai and Myanmar higher education institutions participating in this leadership workshop which included Kyaing Tong University, Mawlamyine University, Myeik University, Sittway University, Taunggyi University, University of Mandalay, University of Yangon, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, Naresuan University, Mae Fah Luang University, North-Chiang Mai University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. Also, the programme was observed by three observers from the Department of Higher Education, Myanmar, Pathein University and West Yangon University.
With an encouraging environment at the workshop, participants now have a better understanding of role, mission, and responsibility of the International Affairs Office and the internationalisation plan. The International Affairs office and its internationalisation plan will be the productive bridge for establishing deeper international collaboration between the two countries. The programme also provided participants an abundance of opportunities to discuss research topics and build up joint research collaboration between Myanmar and Thai higher education institutions.
All in all, it was agreed to have further discussion on research topics in the second part of the 2nd Myanmar-Thailand Higher Education Networking Programme at Mawlamyine University during 18-22 February 2019.