On 13 and 24 September 2013, H.E. Mr. Krit Kraichitti, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, has signed MOUs and Statement on Mutual Activities with Vice-Chancellors of 3 leading Malaysian universities namely University of Malaya (UM), National University of Malaysia (UKM) and Putra University, Malaysia (UPM) to establish Thai Studies Programmes (also known as "UKM-Thailand WIndow" in the case of UKM) in their respective universities. The aim of the establishment is to be the centres for study, research and disseminate of knowledge on Thailand, Thai-Malaysian relations and Thailand in the context of ASEAN Community. The Royal Thai Embassy, Kuala Lumpur, has provided a grant to support first-year activities of the programmes.

 

     Apart from the direct benefit to students in the three universities, the establishment of the Thai Studies Programmes are expected also to have impact in generating greater interest on Thailand for the general Malaysian public, thus building a ground for enhanced relations between the people of Thailand and Malaysia. Furthermore, the Thai Studies Programmes will also be the centres for academic cooperation and exchanges between the three respective universities and universities in Thailand, not limited to those already established cooperation with UM, UKM and UPM.