Quadrilateral agreement creates transnational education opportunities in Thailand
Exciting transnational education opportunities will be created in Thailand and Southeast Asia through a new partnership between La Trobe University (Australia), Sheffield Hallam University (UK), Siam University (Thailand) and Nurture Higher Education.
A memorandum of understanding was signed today (25 July) at La Trobe University between the three universities and Nurture Higher Education, with an ambition to enrol 2000 students over the next five years at the soon-to-be established Global University Academy in Siam University, Bangkok.
As well as giving local students the opportunity to complete a foreign qualification at home, it will provide access to La Trobe University and Sheffield Hallam degrees for international students from the broader Asian region such as Myanmar and Cambodia.
Students will have the option to complete their full program in Thailand or come to La Trobe or Sheffield Hallam to complete part of their degree, where there will be opportunity for them to engage with industry partners in Australia or the UK. Programs offered will be in sectors for which there is high workforce demand, such as computer science and hospitality.
La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO, said the partnership will build on the University’s existing transnational education programs and will contribute to both the local and global workforce in Thailand and South-East Asia.
“La Trobe has a long history of transnational education programs in partnership with international institutions in China, Vietnam, Singapore, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and now Thailand,” Professor Dewar said.
“We’re excited to expand our global footprint with our established partner, Sheffield Hallam University, to deliver unique, high-quality programs for local students and, at the same time, deepening our engagement with Thailand’s higher education institutions.
“We are looking forward to a long and successful collaboration with Siam University, our strategic partner Sheffield-Hallam University, with Nurture Higher Education Group and, most of all, we are looking forward to successful outcomes for our students.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Sheffield Hallam University, said:
“Sheffield Hallam has a range of Transnational Education Partnerships with institutions across the world. We are delighted to be able to expand our offer in Thailand, working closely with our strategic partner La Trobe University and a new partner in Siam University. We are looking forward to building on our existing track record of global collaboration and exchange.”
Dr Pornchai Mongkhonvanit, President of Siam University, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Nurture Higher Education Group to be the launch partner for their Global University Academy concept. The opportunity to work deeply with La Trobe University and Sheffield Hallam University under this model is not only unique and innovative but will create transformational study and career opportunities in Thailand.
“Through the international dual degree programs in the Academy, we will develop global citizens ready to thrive in our interconnected world. By enabling student mobility across Thailand, Australia, and the UK, we can create graduates prepared to apply their diverse, international experiences wherever their careers take them.
“The initiatives and partnerships considered under this MOU will serve to enhance our mission to become Thailand’s leading University for transforming the futures of students and aligning to our sector-leading commitment to sustainability in Thailand.”
Stephen Healy, Co-Founder and CEO Nurture Higher Education, said:
“We are delighted that our Global University Academy concept will be launched in Thailand, where we launched our first Two-degree Program in 2019. Since then, we have curated University partnerships that serve our mission to bring accessible world-class credentials to students, which are aligned and attuned to the needs of the modern workplace through Nurture’s employer engagement, mentoring and internship program.
Our investment into the Academy at Siam University will be driven by a step change in our presence in Thailand, building the capacity to enable Siam University to work in collaboration with La Trobe University, Sheffield Hallam University, and employers, to transform the lives and opportunities for students within Thailand, taking our activities to new levels of scale, student success and employer engagement.”
About La Trobe University
For more than 50 years, La Trobe University has been transforming people and societies. The University works collaboratively across disciplines and with partners to develop fresh ways of thinking and conducting research – constantly seeking new ways to engage with and better serve its partners and communities, to build relationships and develop solutions for the issues facing society.
La Trobe University is ranked in the top 300 universities globally by the major university ranking organisations (Academic Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings).
For the second year running, La Trobe University is the top improver among Australia’s top 20 universities in the QS World University Rankings, rising 74 places to claim its new spot at 242 of the 1,500 universities evaluated.
