From December 23-27, 2017, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Urai Hatthakit, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and International Relations, PSU Graduate School; and Prof. Dr. Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Chair of the Epidemiology Program, Faculty of Medicine; led a PSU Graduate School delegation, comprising members from the faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dentistry, Thai Traditional Medicine, Nursing, and Science, for a visit to the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this visit to four Chinese universities was to build cooperation in graduate level education, and to recruit candidates for the Thailand’s Education Hub for ASEAN Countries (TEH-AC) scholarship program. The four universities visited were Kunming Medical University (KMU), Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (YUTCM), Guizhou Medical University (GZMU), and Guiyang University of Chinese Medicine (GUCM).
On December 24th, the Graduate School, on behalf of Prince of Songkla University, organized the 1st International PSU Alumni Gathering in Kunming, Yunnan Province, which gave to the Chinese PSU alumni the opportunity to meet with representatives from their alma mater. The Graduate School aims to establish a strong international alumni network, with international PSU alumni having an active role in many areas, e.g. the facilitation of academic cooperation between PSU and education institutions in China. The Chinese PSU alumni attending the event expressed a strong interest in such a network and cooperation with PSU, and made valuable suggestions for its realisation.
On December 25th & 26th, the PSU Graduate School delegates discussed the possibilities of cooperation and knowledge exchange in the area of graduate studies administration and management with Chinese universities. The delegation also promoted PSU’s graduate study programs and interviewed over 60 candidates for the TEH-AC scholarship program. An MOU was signed with Guiyang University of Chinese Medicine, covering academic cooperation, student exchange, and research cooperation at graduate level, as well as a plan to develop a Double Degree Program in some subjects in future.
Thailand's Education Hub for ASEAN Countries (TEH-AC) program has been granting scholarships to students from ASEAN and ASEAN+6 countries continuously since 2014. International students are selected for graduate study at Prince of Songkla University, and over 300 scholarships have been awarded to students from 15 countries so far.
