• 2015.07.17
  • A Boom in Japanese Universities Expanding into Thailand
Summer is at its peak now in Bangkok. It seems that rainfall has been less than usual this year, producing sensible temperature around 34°C everyday. Last night was a full moon and I enjoyed seafood at a restaurant on the bank of the Chao Phraya River.

①チョフ_ラヤ側に影を落とす満月

  • photo1:
  • a full casts moon a shadow over the Ciao playa river

②海鮮料理をたへ_て暑さを吹き飛は_せ

  • photo2:
  • I eat seafood and overcome heat

It did feel a bit lavish, but without something like this, you just can’t endure the heat here.

Well, now into our main subject. Under the Abe Cabinet’s motto of “economic revitalization,” the Ministry of Education in Japan (MEXT) has been implementing a variety of programs for the globalization of students. One such program is the short-term training or internship in Southeast Asian countries. Through this program, many Japanese students are coming to Thailand during summer vacation.

In support of these activities, quite a few Japanese universities have set up offices in Bangkok. As of the end of June, 37 Japanese universities have established their offices in Bangkok, and 2 more are currently planning to open their offices. These include 19 national, 16 private and 2 public universities as well as technical colleges.

③京都大学ASEAN研究拠点(玄関)

  • Photo3:
  • Kyoto University
    ASEAN Research Center
    (Entrance)

④京都大学ASEAN研究拠点(会議室)

  • Photo4:
  • Kyoto University
    ASEAN Research Center
    (Meeting room)

Most of these schools use office space rented from universities in Thailand, but some have offices of their own in the city. Although the main purposes of these offices have to do with admission of students from abroad and dispatching of Japanese students, some offices are intended for the promotion of research. Recently, the University of Electro-Communications (UEC) has established an office inside the Knowledge Exchange building owned by King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi.

⑤UECの開所式典て_挨拶するクリスナホ_ーン文部副大臣

  • Photo5:
  • Senior Vice Minister of Education of greetings at the opening of UEC

⑥UEC事務所て_記念署名する日本大使館の寺島一等書記官

  • Photo6:
  • Terashima First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy to sign with UEC office

⑦タイの大学か_作ったナレッシ_エクスチェンシ_ヒ_ル(中央右に朱色のタ_インか_あるヒ_ル)左側は高架鉄道

  • photo7:
  • Knowledge exchange building University of Thailand have made(Building there is a vermilion line in the center right)
    Left elevated railway

This year in January, the Japanese University Network in Thailand (“JUNThai”) was organized for the purpose of introducing activities and sharing information related to common challenges between these universities making advancement into Thailand. The Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Bangkok Office and JICA’s ASEAN Engineering Education Development Network Project Office are also participating as observers. The name “JUNThai” is taken from “JUNBA” (Japanese University Network in the Bay Area), a committee for Japanese universities making advancement into the San Francisco area of the U.S. A plan for inviting concerned persons of Thailand’s Ministry of Education for a seminar every three months is currently underway.

If anyone is interested in Thailand’s universities, a list of universities can be found on the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Bangkok Office website (http://jsps-th.org/japanese_univ/). I would also recommend getting in contact with a “JUNThai” member university.

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  • Tatsuji Seki
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After retiring from Osaka University, I worked for seven years as the head of Osaka University Bangkok Center for Education and Research (currently, Osaka University ASEAN Center for Academic Initiatives). From May 2014, I have been working at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi where the students call me, “Grandfather.” Please do not hesitate to contact me if there is a subject on Thailand you would like to know about.

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