On 30 July 2013, Mr. Sek Wannamethee, Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, signed on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, a Letter of Understanding with the Harvard Asia Center, which was represented by Professors Michael Herzfeld and Jay Rosengard. The Letter of Understanding reaffirmed the Ministry’s support for the Harvard Asia Center to establish a permanent Thai Studies Program at the university.
 

The Thai Studies Program, a project under the Ministry’s Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, supports universities in the United States in promoting the teaching of the Thai language and related courses to create greater awareness of Thai culture and Thailand’s role in Southeast Asia.
The demand for Thai language classes at Harvard University ranges from 25 - 30 students annually. The university offers 3 levels of Thai language courses: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.

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8  August 2013