Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sarintip Tantanee, President of Naresuan University (NU), welcomed a delegation from the Institute of International Education (IIE), led by Dr. Jonathan Lembright, Regional Director of IIE Southeast Asia, to discuss opportunities for expanding international collaboration, academic exchanges, and language education initiatives. The visit reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to strengthening global partnerships and enhancing educational opportunities for students, researchers, and academic staff.
During their visit, they met with president Tantanee and members of the university’s executive team to explore collaboration with U.S. universities, scholarship opportunities for students and alumni, Myanmar-related initiatives, and cooperation in English language support and proficiency assessment. Madam President expressed her appreciation to IIE for its important role in supporting the International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) Thailand 2025, which has helped Naresuan University expand its international network and establish new connections with institutions in Thailand and the United States. She emphasized that these partnerships provide a strong foundation for long-term cooperation in education, research, and community development.
The discussions also highlighted NU’s expertise in research and engagement along the Thailand-Myanmar border, as well as its work in English language teaching, learning, and assessment. Faculty members from the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. Juthamad Boonchoo, Head of Department of Eastern Languages, and Mr. Wathanyoo Phakthong, Deputy Head of the Department of Eastern Languages, joined the meeting to exchange perspectives and identify areas of mutual interest with IIE. In addition, representatives from the Institute of International Education (IIE) presented two scholarship opportunities aimed at expanding educational and professional pathways for students and young professionals. The first, the Odyssey Scholarship, supports refugees and displaced students from Myanmar pursuing bachelor’s degree studies. The program is designed to bridge educational gaps, enhance employability, and empower beneficiaries with the skills and qualifications needed to secure sustainable livelihoods and support their families. President Tantanee noted that Naresuan University (NU) was willing to collaborate with IIE through a cost-sharing approach to expand educational opportunities for Myanmar students and encouraged IIE to explore diploma and certificate programs at NU, emphasizing that these shorter-term courses, which typically require only one to two years of study, could provide more immediate pathways to employment and career development.
The second opportunity highlighted was the Ocean Futures Fellowship (OFF), an initiative supported by the non-profit organization OceanX that promotes career development in ocean-related fields. The fellowship offers aspiring ocean professionals a unique opportunity to work alongside internationally renowned oceanographers for a six-month immersive experience. Due to its highly competitive nature, only six fellows are selected annually, with each awardee placed in 6 distinct positions across various disciplines within oceanography.
Following the discussions, the IIE delegation toured key university facilities, including, NU Art Gallery, Arsom Salao Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic at Faculty of Public Health, the Physical Therapy Clinic and Hydrotherapy Center at Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, the Naresuan University Center for Animal Research (NUCAR), and the Naresuan University Language Centre (NULC). The visits showcased the university’s contributions to society through language services, healthcare, traditional medicine, public health, and advanced research facilities.
The meeting took place on Thursday, 10 September 2026 at Naresuan 304 Meeting Room, Office of the President.
