28 June 2010

First Exchange Students from Rangsit University

By Moira Blake (Photos by Emu IZaki and Tanin (Chico) Thipcharoen)

IPC President, Professor Wayne Edwards accepting a gift presented by Jeroen G. Schedler, Assistant to the President International Affairs, Rangsit University on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of Rangsit University

IPC Lecturer, Chakrit Tiebtienrat enjoying his class with the Rangsit University students

Left to right: Peramin Laorojpinyo, Wichaya Piyamongkol, Warit Techanakerkkamon

Left to right: Left to right: Peramin Laorojpinyo, Wichaya Piyamongkol, Apiwat Techanakerkkamon, Warit Techanakerkkamon, and Kunjapim Akkarapusit

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Rangsit University, in Thailand, and IPC, eight students from Rangsit University, accompanied by several staff members, recently spent three weeks at IPC on an exchange programme that is a pilot for further exchanges between the two institutions. Rangsit University is an International College, with its teaching in English. It is situated 30 km from Bangkok, and has 20, 000 students studying in its Faculties of Medicine (including a School of Oriental Medicine), Dentistry, Communication Arts, Philosophy and Politics, and Business. This exchange was the first activity since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. It is hoped that as the relationship develops there will also be staff exchanges as well as student exchanges in both directions.

The Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration at Rangsit University, Professor Phongphat Rakaraom, accompanied by his wife, came with the group. During his very brief visit, he quickly confirmed his belief that the quiet, beautiful, environment here makes it easier for students to focus on study than if they were in a bigger city with more distractions. He observed that IPC is a truly international community and that it has an environment that allows students to expand their horizons, broaden their perspectives and learn different cultures, all things that are good for business these days.

During the exchange the students always had staff members from Rangsit University on campus with them. Some of these lecturers came to IPC at the same time as Professor Phongphat and the students. Others arrived partway through the exchange to allow the first group to return to Thailand. In this way, the students were able to continue working for their Rangsit University papers under their own lecturers and have their support as well as attending IPC degree level classes. At the end of their time at IPC, a short ceremony was held to farewell the students and to present them with their Certificates of Participation

IPC President, Professor Wayne Edwards is a great believer in the value of educational exchange programmes, his convictions about this going back to his own experience as a young teacher on a Fulbright scholarship.

At the farewell ceremony: The exchange students with Rangsit University Lecturer Miss. Chawaporn Dhamanitayakul (standing 3rd from right) and IPC staff.	After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at Rangsit University. Left to right: M.R. Bhandu Rangsri Bhanubandh, Associate Dean, Business Development and International Collaboration, Rangsit University; IPC President Wayne Edwards; Dr.Nuananong Panmanee, Dean, Rangsit University International College; Jeroen G. Schedler, Assistant to the President International Affairs, Rangsit University; Ichizo Murakami, IPC Director of College (Corporate Services)	Front row, Rangsit University staff members (left to right): Dr Duong Chareonrook, Professor Phongphat Rakaraom and Dr Piyarat Dhamanitayakul (far right) with IPC President Wayne Edwards. (Absent supervising the students, Lecturer Chawaporn Dhamanitayakul) Back Row, left to right: Ichizo Murakami, Director of College (Corporate Administration); Mrs Rakaraom; IPC Deans, Dianne Beatson and Sue Jenkins; Academic Registry Manager, Deborah Just; IPC Dean, Takahiro Kojima; Thai recruitment officer, Tanin (Chico) Thipcharoen

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