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Thai educators visit UNE, tour schools

March 21, 2006

Professor Victor Minichiello, Dr Chantana Chanbanchong, Professor Robin PollardA group of 20 Thai academics, PhD candidates and trainee teachers was welcomed to The University of New England yesterday (March 20). The group, which includes school principals and regional education supervisors, as well as three freshly-graduated trainee teachers, is in Armidale to get a first-hand look at the Australian education system, and build links between their home institution – Naresuan University – and UNE.

The majority of the group will spend a week in Armidale, visiting schools, attending lectures and presenting the results of their research. The trainee teachers will remain in Armidale for three months, working as teacher’s assistants in local schools.

In his welcome to the Thai visitors the Executive Dean of Education, Health and Professional Studies, Professor Victor Minichiello, noted that UNE had developed strong links with Naresuan University over the past two years, especially in the areas of health and now education.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (International and Entrepreneurial) Professor Robin Pollard said UNE and Naresuan University shared many “common interests”.

“Like Naresuan, UNE is a regional university. We aim to work with the region to look after the educational needs of the region,” Professor Pollard said.

“You have come to the right place if you want to look at teacher education in Australia,” he said. “Australia is the top university in Australia [in that field].”

The leader of the Thai delegation to UNE, Dr Chantana Chanbanchong, said the visit had three main purposes:

“Firstly, to give hands-on experience to our PhD students in educational administration, and allow them to see schools in foreign countries.

“Secondly, for our undergraduate students to work in schools in English-speaking countries.

“Thirdly, to build further cooperation between UNE and Naresuan University in teaching and research collaboration.”

Next year, 12 teaching students from UNE will travel to Phitsanulok province in Thailand, where Naresuan University is located, to complete a teaching practicum in four Thai government schools. Dr Chanbanchong expressed hope some of those students would be interested in staying on to work as English teachers in those schools when their practicum was completed.

“I have spoken to the principals at those schools and they have expressed great enthusiasm for having UNE students,” Dr Chanbanchong said.

For more information contact David Gee on (02) 6773 5010 or Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771. A photo is available to accompany this story.

Pictured: Professor Victor Minichiello, Dr Chantana Chanbanchong, Professor Robin Pollard.

Posted by Leon Braun at March 21, 2006 03:49 PM