On 28 – 30 August 2022, Mae Fah Luang University led by the Global Relations Division in collaboration with Chiang Rai Province and Yunnan Province, China arranged the “Chiang Rai-Yunnan Sister Cities Youth Virtual Exchange” in a hybrid mode: online and onsite at Mae Fah Luang University.
The main purposes of this youth virtual exchange were to enhance knowledge, increase understanding and raise awareness on the SDGs among participants and to promote the establishment of youth network from Thai and Chinese higher education institutions.
This virtual exchange programme brought together 56 students from Yunnan Minzu University, China who participated via zoom programme and 100 participants from Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Chiang Rai and Mae Fah Luang University who joined on campus.
In the opening ceremony, there were guests of honour giving speeches including Madame Wang Yu, Vice President of Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chayaporn Wattanasiri, President of Mae Fah Luang University; Mr. Waradisorn Onnuch, Vice Governor of Chiang Rai Province; Mr. Wu Zhiwu, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Chiang Mai; Professor Duan Gang, Vice President of Yunnan Minzu University; and Assoc. Prof. Dr.Nantana Gajaseni, Vice President of Mae Fah Luang University.
Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chayaporn Wattanasiri expressed that as the university and educators, MFU need to prepare the next generation to be global leaders who are aware of challenges the world faces today and actively participate in their local and global communities to solve those challenges.
In addition, Vice Governor of Chiang Rai Province stated that Chiang Rai province has signed the sister city agreement with Yunnan province since 2000 with an aim to promote better understanding and closer friendship between the two cities. Moreover, since 2015, Chiang Rai province and Yunnan province have taken turn in hosting the youth exchange programme that allowed youth from each country to immerse themselves in the other’s culture.
During the programme, all participants learned the importance of the SDGs and were inspired by a series of lectures on SDGs & SEPS presented by Mr. Wu Zhiwu, Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Chiang Mai; Mr. Sukich Udindu, Director, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability (SEAMEO SEPS); Associate Professor Li Yue from Yunnan Minzu University; and Assoc. Prof. Dr.Pollavat Praphattong from Mae Fah Laung University. Furthermore, there were a workshop on design thinking for SDGs given by Asst. Prof. Dr. Charoenchai Wongwatkit, Deputy Director of MFU Learning Innovation Institute and a group Assignment moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr.Panate Manomaivibool, Assistant to the President of Mae Fah Laung University that guided participants to work together in groups to find the ways to achieve SDGs. Moreover, the School of Sinology offered a lectures and various workshops on Chinese Chess, Traditional Chinese Massage, Chinese Traditional Music and Chinese Painting for Thai students to learn more about Chinese culture and way of life.
All in all, this programme has been a promising success and has produced fruitful outcomes. Participants shared ideas and created solutions for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
