On 13th August 2013, Mr. Sek Wannamethee, Director-General of Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, gave a briefing on the Foreign Policy of Thailand to a group of Professors and PhD. Students from the Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California (USC), at Central Park Hotel. The Director-General underscored Thailand’s role as a hub of ASEAN and the strategic role that Thailand plays in the Southeast Asia region. He also elaborated on projects under the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs relating to education, for example, Sister Schools networking with the U.S., Thai Studies Program, Thai-U.S. Creative Partnership, and the Fulbright. The Director-General also mentioned that there is a large opportunity for improvement for the Thai’s English skills and encouraged participants to consider teaching English in Thailand.  

This study trip in Thailand between 11-18 August 2013 is one of the International Field Trips organized by the Rossier School of Education, USC, in which Dr. Lawrence Picus, Professor of Education Finance and Policy and Dr. John Pascarella, Assistant Professor of Clinical Education, led a group of 50 PhD. Students to further learn and explore about the Thai education systems. During their study trip, the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs have arranged for them to meet several universities and education-related governmental institutions, for example, Chulalongkorn University, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of Higher Education Commission. The Department of American and South Pacific Affairs and the University of Southern California has a long standing relationship.