A Study-in-Taiwan Seminar for Young Thai Scientists at Kamnoetvidya Science Academy -Ministry of Education Republic of China (Taiwan)

A Study-in-Taiwan Seminar for Young Thai Scientists at Kamnoetvidya Science Academy

Date: 2017-01-20

A Study-in-Taiwan Seminar for Young Thai Scientists at Kamnoetvidya Science Academy

Kamnoetvidya Science Academy (KVIS) is a private senior secondary level boarding school in Thailand nurturing grade 10 to 12 students who are gifted in mathematics and science. The word “Kamnoetvidya” in the school’s name means "the genesis of knowledge". KVIS was founded by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) group in 2015, and it is a part of the PTT Wangchan Valley Complex, which comprises KVIS, VISTEC, and the PTT Forestry Institute with the goal of nurturing students’ spirits to have them become top-level researchers, inventors, and innovators. KVIS students have won awards in National Mathematics and Science Olympiads and have been selected as Thailand representatives for international competitions.

Taiwan enjoys a well-deserved reputation for advanced technology and providing high quality education, and as a neighboring country of Thailand, Taiwan has been a close partner in business, developing technology and educational exchanges. Universities in Taiwan are in the Top 100 globally, and many are in the Top 10 in Asia according to QS university rankings, so Taiwan is a good choice for Thai students to study aboard whether for a degree or on a shorter exchange program.

Despite this, in the past very few high school students in Thailand were aware of what universities in Taiwan have to offer, and a relatively small number decided to make Taiwan their study destination. For this reason, the Education Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Bangkok and the Taiwan Education Center in Thailand decided to contact good high schools in Thailand such as KVIS, and offer to present a Study-in-Taiwan seminar to give their students information about universities in Taiwan, and about the scholarships available for Thai students.

The Study-in-Taiwan seminar at KVIS was held on January 19, 2017. Dr. Thongchai Chewprecha, the school principal, opened the seminar with welcoming remarks and encouraged the students at KVIS to consider Taiwan as a destination for their undergraduate studies. Ms. Jill Lai, Educational Attaché, at TECO then provided a range of details about the facilities of universities in Taiwan offer, including some universities having close partnerships with neighboring high tech industries, and offering valuable internship experiences. This feature makes these universities in Taiwan an ideal destination for KVIS students.

Ms. Jaruwan Jaranupong, Director of the Taiwan Education Center in Thailand gave the KVIS students a powerpoint presentation briefing on the high world rankings of universities in Taiwan. Some KVIS students have already been taking Chinese courses since May 2016 with Ms. Alexia Wu. Ms. Wu was selected by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan to teach Chinese at KVIS. Her students showed interest in applying to universities in Taiwan and asked many questions about studying there.

Ms. Jill Lai, the Educational Attaché, at TECO also had a formal discussion with the principal Dr. Thongchai Chewprecha and Dr.Thanit Pewnim, a senior adviser, on possible collaboration between KVIS and high schools in Taiwan in the near future. And in the more long-term future, some KVIS students might study at universities in Taiwan and then go on to do collaborative science research with researchers there.