Seeds to Build Long-standing Foundation for Viet-Thai Friendship

A working session took place in Da Nang on Sep. 12 between the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang and the delegation to the 2nd Vietnam - Thailand People's Friendship Festival and the 12th Conference of Executive Committee of Vietnam - Thailand and Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association.

At the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Phuc, Principal of the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang, said that the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang is among three universities specializing in languages in Vietnam. The university's mission is to train students and do research in languages, culture, and human civilization, contributing to the cause of national development and international integration. The university always associates training with scientific research, international cooperation, cultural exchange, and the development of creative activities among students. It currently has nine faculties and one group, of which the Thai Language major has about 30 students per year.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Phuc, Principal of the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da introduced the university and the Thai language faculty. (Photo: Nguyen Hai)

Over the years, the university has built good relationships with Thai universities and international organizations including TICA, Chulalongkorn University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Nakhon University Ratchasima Rajabhat. Many of its students come to Thailand to participate in internship and cultural exchange programs. It is one of the valuable opportunities for students to experience culture and meet friendly and kind Thai people.

Every year, students majoring in Thai Language receive scholarships from the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang and other sources from the Royal Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Thai corporations and businesses. From the 2013-2014 to 2023-2024 school year, the Royal Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City awarded 123 scholarships to students majoring in Thai Language at the school.

Delegates exchanged and discussed solutions to promote educational exchanges and cooperation between the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang in particular, Vietnam in general, with Thai universities through the connection and support of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association.

Delegation members discussed and listened to an introduction about the university's Thai Language training activities. (Photo: Nguyen Hai)

Krit Kraichitti, former Thai Ambassador to Vietnam for the 2003-2006 term, hopes that after returning from Thailand, Vietnamese students will have the opportunity to intern and work at Thai businesses in the provinces and cities of Vietnam. He suggested that the university pay attention to training in history, ethnology, and language origins, thereby improving students' understanding of the close relationship between Vietnam and Thailand.

The representative of TICA (Thai International Cooperation Agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand) asked the university to specifically talk about future cooperation needs with Thai universities and sponsors. Meanwhile, some other members of the delegation are interested in the Thai language training program, research projects on Thailand, and output standards of the university's students.

Recording and answering questions from the delegation, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Huu Phuc said that the university's students, especially those majoring in Thai Language, always have the opportunity to register for internships at Thai businesses. According to school statistics, most Thai language students have jobs right after graduation.

Phuc added that the university's students learn two foreign languages (one specialized language and one second foreign language). The number of students majoring in other foreign languages registering to study Thai as a second foreign language is always among the highest. However, the Thai language group only has five lecturers, unable to satisfy students' needs for learning Thai. Therefore, the university asked TICA and the two Associations to connect and introduce its lecturers to study to improve their qualifications, especially at the doctoral level at Thai universities, and introduce undergraduate students and graduate students in the Thai language to approach recruitment and meet the needs of Thai language training.

Delegates posed for a group photo. (Photo: Nguyen Hai)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Phuc proposed TICA and the two Associations connect and introduce Thai universities to jointly organize seminars related to Vietnamese studies and Thai studies or establish exchange programs between Thai and Vietnamese language and culture. He also proposed to organize co-research programs and projects on the languages and cultures of the two peoples.

On behalf of the delegation, Nguyen Duy Hung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association, highly appreciated the university's cause of "growing people" - cultivating good seeds to build a long-term foundation for Vietnam - Thailand friendship relations. The university's activities are consistent with the priorities of the two Friendship Associations, which are promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand. Strengthening exchanges and connections between the universities of the two countries is one of the key activities of the two Associations.

Nguyen Duy Hung affirmed that the two Associations are willing to support the University of Foreign Languages - University of Da Nang to strengthen connections and exchanges with Thai universities because these activities contribute to long-term friendship of two countries.

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