This fact was celebrated on November 5 when the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT) welcomed nearly two-hundred Chinese undergraduate
students from six universities in Thailand to the inaugural ‘CHINA DAY’
at its campus in Pathumthani.
Organized by the Chinese Student Association of Thailand and AIT’s
Student Union, CHINA DAY 2010 aimed to increase Chinese undergraduate
students’ awareness of post-graduate opportunities at AIT, and to
strengthen friendship between Chinese students in Thailand and
cross-cultural ties with AIT’s international community comprised of
over fifty nationalities.
The event was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Guan Mu, Chinese Ambassador to
Thailand, who termed the country as a “good choice” for many Chinese.
He made his remarks to a large gathering of Chinese undergraduates from
Assumption University, Dhurakij Pundit University, Huachiew
Chalermprakiet University, Kasetsart University, Thammasat University,
and University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The Chinese ambassador told AIT President Prof. Said Irandoust that he
believed AIT, with its highly multicultural makeup, was also an ideal
school for young Chinese to study alongside students from Asia, Europe
and North America. AIT has produced more than seven-hundred master and
doctoral level alumni from China.
There is plenty of evidence of strengthening bilateral relations
between Thailand and the People’s Republic of China, ambassador Guan Mu
said, and country-to-country educational exchange is one of the best
ways to enhance direct ties. Though American and European universities
remain the first choice for many Chinese, the cultural similarity,
proximity and rapidly growing economy of Thailand make it suitable for
internationally ambitious young people, the ambassador stressed.
Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU) international business student Nong
Yuan Yuan, 21, of Guanxi province in China’s southwest region, agreed.
“Thailand is geographically and culturally close to where I come from,”
said Ms. Nong, who studies in the Thai language and hopes to parlay her
language skills into a business career that links the countries
commercially.
For fellow Guangxi native Zeyin Wang, 23, who studies law at Thammasat
University and aspires to become a Thai translator, career
opportunities in Thailand are a definite attraction. “I think I will
have unique and marketable abilities, and I would like to find a good
job here after graduation.”
Event organizer Qi Xinjian, a graduate student at AIT from Hebei
province, explained that although Thailand ranks around fifteenth in
terms of popularity for Chinese studying abroad, the upward trend is
clear. “One of the reasons more students are increasingly coming here
is the accepting nature of Thai society. Many find the transition easy,
and for some students the Asia-to-Asia move is not such an adjustment
as going to study in the West, for example.”
Assumption University MBA student An Zhong Cheng, 25, studies the trend
as part of his graduate thesis titled “Why Chinese students choose to
study in Thailand.” Topping the list of pull factors are the quality
international programmes developed at Thai universities and AIT, which
he says are attractive to Chinese because of their relatively low cost
coupled with recognized international level quality. “Students know
they will immediately experience high standards, and have access to
globally recognized instructors and resources. These are generally only
available to a small minority who are able to gain a place at the very
top universities in China.”
The relaxed, positive image the country enjoys within China is also a
considerable draw, he said. Chinese know they can open their minds to
new experiences and improve their chances of personal development by
coming here. “There is less stress in Thailand and the odds of landing
a good job are far greater for me here than in China,” said Zhang
Xiaolong, a twenty-year-old hotel management student at DPU.
Mr. Luo Yong, President of Chinese Student Association of Thailand,
explained that the event was a first of its kind for Thailand. Chinese
students had the opportunity to tour AIT’s three graduate schools,
witness displays of cutting-edge technological research, and attend a
photo exhibition which showcased AIT’s association with the People’s
Republic of China and examined the uniqueness of China’s culture.
Chinese students make up the largest number of foreign students in the
Kingdom by nationality. Currently there are approximately 10,000
Chinese national students studying at various higher learning
institutions in Thailand.
H.E. Mr. Guan Mu, Chinese Ambassador to
Thailand, addresses close to 200 Chinese nationals gathered at AIT for
China Day 2010.