New friendships across national boundariesLast weekend, Asian University welcomed 73 students from thirteen different countries to our Summer University. The students will be based at the university and at the Welcome Jomtien Beach hotel. During their three-week stay, they will have lectures on Asian culture, history and business. They will also have a taste of Thai culture, with a chance to learn cooking, Thai dance, massage and many other aspects of Thai life.
They will visit Wat Yan and hear about life there from the head monk. Elephant riding, Thai boxing classes and a visit to Bangkok are included in a busy schedule.
At the opening ceremony on Monday 10 July, at Asian U, the students were greeted by the non-academic staff dressed in traditional costumes and boys from a local school; they danced, they sang and they placed garlands on the visitors. Many of the Europeans have never been to Asia before, and were impressed by everyone’s friendliness. There are several students from Austria and Portugal, with future MBA students from Mongolia, Bhutan and Sri Lanka as well as many other European countries.
The students had assembled on Sunday night at the Hotel, and many had stayed up to watch the football final. Monday was down to serious business with a talk about education costs and benefits and a brief the history of the University from the president Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya. The Dean and Deputy Dean of the Business Faculty, Dr. Marie Therese and Dr. Astrid, spoke about the programmes offered by the University and in particular the Summer University. Astrid first met Dr. Vip in Vienna, and he invited her to come to Asian U. Astrid wanted to offer a Summer University for foreigners to learn about Thailand and the region, not just doing business here, but also the culture, the language, the religion, the history and some of the other special features of the country.
Photos, at the university, show the welcome by staff and the newcomers joining in with the Thai dancing.
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