On Friday, September 26 2022, representatives from New Zealand Education, Jaruwan Pongsurawat, Ben Burrowes, Regional Director – Asia excluding China, and Chortip Pramoolpol, Country Director- Philippines and Thailand visited the Faculty of Arts. 

The guests were welcomed by the Dean, Associate Professor Suradech Chotiudompant, Associate Dean, Assistant Professor Nirada Chitrakara, and Assistant Dean, Dr. Porranee Singpliam.  The meeting resulted from an online meeting hosted by Chula’s Office of International Affairs in April 2022. New Zealand Education is interested in establishing collaborations with the Faculty of Arts, especially in exchange programs, faculty staff visits, and journal publications. 

They also gave us the good news that four of our students from the BALAC program, were especially selected for University of Auckland’s highly competitive Virtual Microinternship. The project is a 3-week work-integrated learning program for international students only.  The students work with New Zealand employers on real world problems in a group of five students to improve employability skills.  The selected BALAC students’ performances during the selection process were so impressive that the University of Auckland reached out to the Faculty of Arts for further collaborations. 

As the visitors represented New Zealand educational institutions, it is expected that more collaborations with New Zealand Universities will happen.