Bangkok--28 May--Thana Burin Asia Pacific Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International), Professor Frank Larkins, is leading an 18-strong University of Melbourne delegation to Thailand on 27 and 28 May 2008 to meet with government, business, and education representatives, and with members of the University’s Thai alumni. The delegation also includes human resource management expert Professor Bill Harley; Professor Andrew Ooi, an engineering expert in turbulence in the design of aircraft, submarines, etc; and award-winning documentary film-maker Professor Ian Lang from the prestigious Victorian College Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Frank Larkins says the University of Melbourne has strong, long-standing links with Thailand, first developed more than 50 years ago when Thai students came to the University as part of the Colombo Plan.Amongst the University’s prominent Thai alumni is Dr Mechai Viravaidya, founder and chairman of the Population and Community Development Association, which over many years has received various support from the University of Melbourne. For instance, the University has supported a program encouraging girls in northern Thailand to complete their schooling, and geomatics students at Melbourne use their land management skills to draw up plans for new villages which can then be discussed by village representatives. Professor Larkins notes that Melbourne has four partner universities in Thailand — Chulalongkorn, Kasetart and Thammasat Universities and Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology. Earlier this year, Economics and Commerce students from the University undertook an eight-day work placement in Bangkok at Touchwood Asia, Ltd (a private Forestry investment company) and MSIG Insurance, as part of a Global Mobility Program in Thailand. The University of Melbourne has had an office in Bangkok for many years to engage more effectively with its growing alumni and with the families of its students, and to facilitate strategic research and academic collaborations with Thai institutions. Two of the events hosted by the delegation are: 'Building a better world through Education and Research - The Melbourne Thailand Partnership’ is the title of a keynote speech by Professor Frank Larkins at a Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday 28 May at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel. Deputy Head of the Australian Embassy in Thailand, Ms Bronte Moules, will officially open the University of Melbourne’s Bangkok Open Day exhibition and information seminars for students, teachers and parents on Wednesday 28 May from 3.00pm to 7.00pm at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel For media inquiries please contact Thana Burin Asia Pacific Ltd Kasemsri Kaewthammachai (08 1 611 4696) Tel: 66 2 231 6158-9 Email: [email protected] The University of Melbourne Office Gavin Brown (Thailand, Vietnam and The Philippines office) (08 9 167 8663) Tel: 66 2 653 0511 : Juraporn Sinlapharojana[anich (Thailand office) Tel: 66 2 653 0511, 653 0613, 229 4892 Email: [email protected] and multhailand@yahoo.com