News

     Walailak University and Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia discusses plans on collaboration in the art and culture knowledge exchange training programs between the School of Political Science and Public Administration, Walailak University and the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Surabaya.

    On August 23rd, 2022, Walailak University led by School of Political Science and Public Administration and Center for International Affairs (CIA) met with the delegation from Universitas Negeri Surabaya led by Dr. Mintowati. M. Pd., Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty of Language and Art (UNESA) to co-conduct Knowledge sharing and workshop projects on language and culture between the school of Political Science and Public Administration and the Faculty of Language and Arts at Khaoluang Chamber conference room, Cooperative Building, Walailak University. 

    On this occasion, Professor Dr. Surasit Vajirakachorn, Dean of School of Political Science and Public Administration, joined together with Asst. Prof. Dr. Patnarin Supakorn, Director of the Center for International Affairs (CIA), to welcome the delegation. Joining the meeting were also a team of 7 lecturers from Universitas Negeri Surabaya and 1 from Airlangga University, lecturers from School of Political Science and Public Administration, and CIA staff, Walailak University. 

    The purpose of this visit is focused on academic collaborations through two major activities. The first is the collection of research data for the development of Bilingual Indonesian- Thai BIPA Teaching Materials with students and lecturers in the School of Political Science and Public Administration and the second involves data collection on “Inao” dance performance through observation and interviews with resource persons. The meeting commenced with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) about the development of Bilingual Indonesian-Thai BIPA Teaching Materials joined by students and lecturers at ST Building, followed by the 2nd Focus Group Discussion about “Inao” with practitioners and experts from the Dancing Art Club. The delegation joined an activity with The College of Dramatic Arts, Nakhon Si Thammarat, before visiting the historic places of Nakhon Si Thammarat including Suchart Subsin Shadow Puppetry Museum and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. 

    Asst. Prof. Dr. Patnarin, during the opening speech, emphasized the university’s progress in the teaching and learning development in accordance with the United Kingdom Professional Standard Framework (UKPSF) by Advance HEA and collaboration between Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Walailak University shown in a series of continued activities in art and cultures and bilingual teaching of Indonesian-Thai language programs. 

    “the program has proved to significantly benefit the Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Walailak University in terms of development of students and staff since 2017. Also, the Universitas Negeri Surabaya awarded the Award of Partnership Excellence to our university in 2021, the recognition which we feel very honored to receive,” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Patnarin. 

    This international collaboration complies with the two institutes’ aims to develop a sustainable learning forum outside classrooms which contributes to the development of graduates in response to the job market’s needs. Over the past two years, collaborations have taken places in diverse forms such as Indonesian Language proficiency test committee, join online classes in Asian Studies courses, research projects, Memorandum of Understandings and academic cooperation meetings. 

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew

Photo by Chanisorn Mangsathong 

Division of Corporate Communication, Walailak University