From 11 to 19 March 2023, Consul General Nititooge Phoneprasert led a 25-member educational delegation from the three Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka to visit Thailand under the Global Internship Programme to promote educational cooperation between Thailand and India. The delegation comprised of delegates of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chennai, as well as students, faculty members, and executives from the prominent academic institutes namely Tamil Nadu Advanced Technical Training Institute (TATTI) and Loyola Institute of Technology in Chennai; Kristu Jayanti College (KJC) in Bengaluru; and Centre for Public Policy and Research (CPPR) in Kerala.

During the said visit, the students of TATTI and Loyola Institute of Technology had the opportunity to undertake engineering and business management-related courses at Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, visit Thai Summit Autoparts Industry and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), as well as take part in cultural tours to learn more about the art, culture and history of Thailand. Their visit concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony for completion of the Global Internship Programme presented to the delegates by the Consul General at TGGS.                 

Furthermore, the Consul General together with Dr. Dharmarajan Dhanuraj, Chairman of CPPR, a leading Kochi-based think tank, had fruitful discussions with directors of the three leading institutes of Chulalongkorn University comprising ASEAN Studies Center; Institute of Asian Studies; and Social Research Institute. During these meetings, both sides acknowledged the potentials areas of collaboration, and agreed to work together on joint academic and research programmes in areas of mutual interest.

The visit was highly successful in promoting closer bilateral academic cooperation between Thailand and South India. In particular, KJC inked two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on educational cooperation with the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) and Rangsit University. The objective of the MOUs is to promote educational collaboration between the two institutions through organizing student and faculty exchange programs, joint academic and research programs, as well as exchange of relevant academic information and materials. Following the signing of the MoUs, the Consul General and executives of both academic institutions engaged in dynamic discussions on how to further implement activities under the MoUs for the mutual benefit of both countries.