Massey University and the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) within the Thai Ministry of Education have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will open more opportunities for collaboration with the prestigious Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools (PCSHS) network.
The agreement was formalised during a week-long mission overseen by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, accompanied by a business delegation visiting Thailand. The diplomatic tour aimed to reinforce bilateral relationships in the region, diversify trade opportunities, and spotlight New Zealand's significant innovation in pivotal sectors like manufacturing and technology, as well as its expertise in education. Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas and Acting Sub Lt. Thanu Vongjinda, Secretary General of the Vocational Education Commission, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of Massey University and OBEC, during an event in Bangkok on Wednesday, April 17th.
Professor Thomas says Massey University is delighted to strengthen its ties with Thailand through the MoU, stating: "This collaboration underscores our commitment to fostering excellence in education and research. By working with the prestigious Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools network, we can contribute to nurturing the next generation of talented students and educators. Together, we are paving the way for enriching cross-cultural exchanges and innovative educational opportunities."
This high-level Memorandum of Understanding will allow collaboration in areas, including but not limited to staff and student mobility, academic exchange, and other areas of cooperation that the parties may find mutually beneficial.
The PCSHS network comprises 12 schools specialising in science and mathematics subjects, overseen by the Excellence in Science Education Bureau (ESEB). The schools are spread across four regions of Thailand and exclusively enroll gifted students from year 7 to 12, all of whom receive full scholarships from the government.
As part of the MoU, Dr Karen Ashton, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics in Massey's School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication will conduct a series of teacher training workshops in Thailand for PCSHS. Dr Ashton will be delivering workshops to 40 PCSHS teachers as well as a seminar to OBEC teachers in June 2024. The workshops will centre around supporting teachers to engage students in their English language learning and with steps to providing a more communicative and interactive learning environment.