Language Academy’s International Collaboration Visit to KMITL, Thailand

Dr. Kew Si Na

BANGKOK, July 23 – A one-day academic visit was conducted by the Language Academy, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) in Bangkok, Thailand. The delegation comprised eight academic staff members and five postgraduate students, and the visit marked the beginning of a new initiative to foster international collaboration between both institutions.

The main objectives of the visit were to promote regional academic partnerships, enhance postgraduate engagement, and explore collaborative research opportunities within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) higher education context. It also served as a platform to initiate dialogue on curriculum development, internationalisation of postgraduate programs, and the exchange of research expertise across fields such as Communication, Linguistics, and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

Upon arrival, the delegation was warmly welcomed by senior administrators, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sirirat Petsangsri and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jirarat Sittiwracha, along with academic staff from KMITL, representatives from the International Office, and postgraduate students. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sirirat and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jirarat had previously served as research mentors to Dr. Kew Si Na, a senior lecturer at the Language Academy, UTM, during her research attachment in Thailand. Thus, this visit also aims to maintain and further develop the existing collaboration.

The visit programme began with a mutual briefing session, followed by postgraduate research presentations from students of both institutions. From UTM, the presenters were Mathilda Ramba, Aizatul Alyaa, Khoula Khan, and Nur Anis Fadzil, who shared their PhD research work. From KMITL, PhD students such as Judy Di, Apichaya Khwankaew, and others also presented their research. These sessions facilitated knowledge exchange, and highlighted shared research interests.

Following the academic session, the delegation visited the International Office of Industrial Education and Technology and had a brief engagement on postgraduate student support systems, offering useful insights into the student experience and academic culture at KMITL. The visit also included a tour of KMITL’s newly completed postgraduate building, which features smart classrooms, flexible seminar spaces, and dedicated research areas – reflecting the university’s strong commitment to postgraduate learning. The experience provided valuable takeaways for UTM in exploring ways to enhance its own postgraduate learning environment, support systems, and overall student learning experience.

In the afternoon, the delegation met with the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Assistant Professor Ekkarat Suwannakul, along with several lecturers from the School. During this session, both sides discussed areas of mutual interest and identified multiple avenues for collaboration.

Among the proposed initiatives were staff and student mobility programmes for short-term research, teaching, or training; joint supervision of postgraduate students, particularly in interdisciplinary fields; webinar series and virtual sharing sessions to facilitate sustained academic exchange; collaborative research proposals and co-authored publications in regional and international journals; as well as joint academic conferences and postgraduate symposiums on shared research themes.

Prof Dr. Hadina Habil, Chair of the Language Academy, UTM, remarked that these initiatives will be part of a new collaborative direction that reflects a shared commitment to strengthening academic ties between neighbouring ASEAN countries. The visit also contributes to regional goals of higher education integration, intercultural exchange, and shared academic development.

Prof. Dr. Hadina Habil, Chair of the Language Academy (right)

In conclusion, the visit marked a significant first step in establishing a sustainable academic partnership between UTM and KMITL. It opened doors to future collaboration that will benefit both institutions through joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and capacity building, which will ultimately support the development of globally competent, research-driven scholars and fostering stronger regional academic networks.