GUWAHATI: Gauhati University and Thailand are looking at student exchanges, joint research, internships and faculty collaboration as part of efforts to turn longstanding historical and cultural ties between Northeast India and Thailand into academic partnerships.
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The discussions took place on Tuesday, September 22 during an interaction between the university, and a Thai delegation led by H.E. Mrs Urasa Mongkolnavin, Director-General, Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The focus was on turning these existing connections into practical academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research, internships, training programmes and collaboration in information technology and higher education.
Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta highlighted the historical links between Thailand and Northeast India, particularly the connection between the Thai language and the ancient Tai-Ahom language. He also referred to the university’s initiatives to study and preserve these links.
The discussions explored how such historical and cultural connections could provide a basis for closer institutional ties between universities in the two countries.
Mongkolnavin highlighted education, culture, training, internships and academic exchange as areas where cooperation could be expanded. The meeting also discussed opportunities for collaboration between teachers, researchers and students, along with possible joint programmes in higher education and information technology.
The Thai delegation included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of Thai universities. From Gauhati University, the interaction was attended by Registrar Prof. Utpal Sharma, Academic Registrar Prof. Rajib Handique, deans, heads of departments, faculty members, research scholars and representatives of the Centre for South East Asian Studies.
The discussions centred on developing longer-term institutional and academic links between Gauhati University and universities in Thailand, using the region’s existing historical and cultural connections as a starting point for research, education and academic exchange.