Guangdong Ocean University Cunjin College in Zhanjiang and Assumption University (AU) of Thailand signed a strategic plan to cooperate in the running of Asian International College (AIC), committing to promoting cultural and educational exchanges and development.

AIC officially started enrolling students in January 2020. The two sides will promote inter-school cooperation as soon as possible, as well as carry out substantive cooperation on teacher-student communication and scientific research.

On Dec 12, 2019, Cunjin College and AU signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation to jointly establish the AIC in Bangkok, Thailand to cultivate high-quality education talents at an international level, with the aim of enhancing the international influence of the two universities and achieve mutually beneficial development in education in both countries.

In the future, AIC will carry out comprehensive cooperation around professional teaching, as well as the sustainable development of Sino-Thai educational cooperation, aiming to be at the forefront of the development of the educational industry in China and Thailand, integrating high-quality resources.

Li Min, chairman of Cunjin College (R), introduces the college to Sirichai Fonseka (L), vice president of Assumption University. [Photo by Zhang Fengfeng and Lin Shizhan/Zhanjiang Daily]

Li Min, chairman of Cunjin College, said that the AIC not only serves the students of Cunjin College, but also provides Chinese students with opportunities to receive education abroad. In addition to China, it is also recruiting students from Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Cambodia.

Sirichai Fonseka, vice president of AU, said that he considers the establishment of AIC as cross-cultural exchange cooperation, and looks forward to expanding more projects in the future.

Sirichai Fonseka (C), vice president of Assumption University, presents a souvenir to Cunjin College. [Photo by Zhang Fengfeng and Lin Shizhan/Zhanjiang Daily]

According to the cooperation plan, the two sides will pay more attention to the exchange of teachers between the two universities. Cunjin College plans to send 60 teachers to AU for their PhDs, and AU will also send teachers to Cinjin College for long-term teaching.

At present, Chinese-funded enterprises have carried out numerous infrastructure construction projects in Southeast Asia, such as road construction and airport construction, which require a large number of international talents. The AIC will set up new disciplines for international markets.