Cal Poly Pomona recently welcomed two delegations of educators from a university in Thailand, providing faculty development and exploring opportunities for the two institutions to work together.
A 14-member delegation from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), participated in a three-week professional development training program in June, staying on campus, meeting with administrators and exchanging cultural and educational ideas. During that same time, a delegation of 12 RMUTT administrators, led by President Sommai Pivsa-Art, also visited campus.
At the conclusion of the visit, Cal Poly Pomona and RMUTT committed to working together on future programs.
Richard Navarro, interim dean of the recently renamed College of Global and Professional Education (CPGE) staged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Pivsa-Art.
"I am convinced that this visit will enhance the friendship and working relationship between our two universities and expand even more opportunities for our further cooperation," Navarro said. "Through our joint effort, the partnership between RMUTT and Cal Poly Pomona would be a stellar example of advancing international educational exchange."
President Pivsa-Art said he looks forward to both universities each bringing their best ingredients together to create a thriving partnership.
"We mix well together in this melting pot, and with this opportunity, I hope we can get the best benefits from it," he said. "Our efforts and commitment will make a strong working relationship between the two institutions.
Since 2015, Cal Poly Pomona's Global Education Institute (GEI), which designs and oversees CPGE's programs for international professionals and students, has established more than 170 international partnerships with multiple countries, including China, Ecuador, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine and Vietnam, said Lisa Xue, GEI director. More than 50 percent of these partnerships have generated specific programs.
"International institutional partnership building plays a pivotal role in cooperation and exchange with international partners," Xue said. "Developing and maintaining good international institutional partnerships helps increase the enrollment of international students to degree programs and enhances the academic cooperation and exchange between CPP and other international partners as well."
The visit from the Thailand delegations marked the first in a long while for Cal Poly Pomona.
"The Faculty Professional Development Training Program from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) is the first in-person international professional training program that the Global Education Institute has delivered since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020," Xue said. "It is a showcase of cross-campus collaboration in providing a high-quality program that best serves the international scholars/professionals that come to our campus."
The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, the College of Education and Integrative Studies, the College of Engineering and The Collins College of Hospitality Management, as well as the University Library and the Student Innovation Idea Labs participated in the program.
"The program also provided a very good opportunity for CPP faculty and staff to interact with their international counterparts," she added.
During the visit, the delegation toured campus, met with administrators and faculty, performed the martial art Muay Thai and shared a demonstration of how people in Thailand greet one another during their graduation ceremony.
Kulsiri Morakul Pangmee, a lecturer in the undergraduate English and communication program at RMUTT, said it was her curiosity about other cultures that made her want to be a part of the delegation.
"I would like to learn more and explore cultures, education and living in other countries. California is the perfect choice to do them all especially at Cal Poly Pomona," she said.