UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (International Relations) Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan (5th from left), UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs & Research) Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong (6th from left), RRU’s president Assistant Professor Anec

BREAKING THE ICE (From left): A student from RRU playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors” with one of UCSIU’s Student Council members as part of the “Evolution” ice-breaker during the visitation on Oct 23, 2012.

GROUP PORTRAIT (Seated sixth from left): RRU’s vice president Assistant Professor Sumonwan Yimngam, UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (International Relations) Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan among RRU and UCSIU’s students and staff during the visitation on Oct

GIFT EXCHANGE (From right): UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (International Relations) Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan receiving a gift from RRU’s vice president Assistant Professor Sumonwan Yimngam during the visitation on Oct 29, 2012.

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University (UCSIU) recently hosted two delegations – comprising student leaders and several senior university management officials – from Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University (RRU), Thailand onOct 23 and 29, 2012, as part of RRU’s ‘Human Development and Student Leaders’ Project’. 

Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2012, the visits on both dates aimed to develop leadership and communication skills as well as to promote student engagement, cultural exchange and diversity amongst student leaders of both universities. 

Jointly hosted by UCSIU’s Student Council, Student Affairs and Alumni, International Relations and other faculties, student leaders from both universities had the opportunity to exchange information and experiences on the various student-led activities organised at their respective universities through their presentations. 

During the first visit on Oct 23, Mr Yutthaphoom Noyphet, president of RRU’s Student Union presented the vision and mission of the Student Union, including examples of student activities at the university level that promote academic development, environmental conservation, culture and arts, religious and moral values, physical exercise and corporate social responsibility. 

During the second visit on Oct 29, RRU students from various faculty student clubs and associations – namely, the Faculty of Industrial Technology, Faculty of Management Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science and Technology – were given the opportunity to share their various faculty-based activities. 

These include academic seminars and workshops such as the Transnational Asean Camp for Language and Cultural Exchange, 3D (Drug Free, Decency and Democracy) field trips and workshops, faculty sports day events, orientation sessions and camps for freshmen, religious activities such as the annual Buddhist Lent Candle Festival and Procession, cultural and arts activities (Teacher’s Respect Day), environmental conservation and corporate social responsibility campaigns such as the seedlings reforestation project and rural development volunteer camp, among others. 

UCSIU’s Student Council president and vice president, Mr Joey Ong and Mr Jonathan Ashvin, enjoyed leading an ice-breaking activity based on the “Evolution” game and engaging RRU student leaders in insightful sharing sessions. 

While the students exchanged cultural experiences amongst themselves, a collaborative discussion took place between the senior management and staff of both universities – running parallel to the students’ activities. 

“These are excellent opportunities for our Student Council members to interact with student leaders from another university,” said UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (International Relations) Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan. 

“Through such activities, students (from both universities) are able to seize the opportunity to learn different cultures and traditions, enabling them to develop better interpersonal skills and express their ideas more effectively. 

We will definitely organise more student-related activities with RRU.” 

Like Professor Lee, assistant dean of RRU’s Faculty of Management Sciences Dr Annop Jaroensilp was equally enthusiastic about joining efforts to develop more programmes for the students and staff. 

“To promote the exchange of ideas (and mutual enrichment) between our universities, we aim to work together on various programmes including research collaborations and student exchange programmes, among others,” said Dr Annop. 

“Take for example a student exchange programme [Co-Operative Placement] for UCSI University students. As RRU is located near the city where approximately 1,000 factories are located, it would certainly be a new learning experience for the students, who will be able to learn more about food manufacturing and technology in Thailand.” 

UCSIU’s deputy vice chancellor (Academic Affairs & Research) Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong and RRU president Assistant Professor Aneck Tepsupornkul, among other key faculty members from both universities, were also present during the visitations.