Global research and innovation opportunities, academic collaborations and student exchanges were among the topics Queen Mary University of London explored with a large delegation of higher education leaders from Thai universities last week.
The delegation, led by Associate Prof Dr Cholvit Jearjit, Vice-President of Srinakharinwirot University, was sent on behalf of Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and comprised representatives from 11 universities from across the country.
Queen Mary’s President and Principal, Professor Colin Bailey CBE, welcomed the group alongside other Queen Mary senior staff, who gave latest insights into the university’s approaches in education and leadership. Among the speakers were Professor Dr Stefan Krummaker, Deputy Vice-Principal (Education); Manyi Cristofoli, Head of International Research and Innovation Research and Innovation Management; Sophie Dilley, Director of Summer School, and Jane Pallant, Director of Governance and Legal Services.
During his welcome address, Principal Colin Bailey emphasised some of the university’s core principles: inclusivity, global and social mobility. He said:
“We are pleased to be welcoming you to Queen Mary and are looking forward to a fruitful exchange and to forging new global partnerships. Our vision of ‘opening the doors of opportunity to everyone’ is truly at the heart of what we do at this university. Everyone who works here plays a part in our mission to address inequalities, make new discoveries, and transform lives.
“One thing we do to improve social mobility locally, for instance, is to go into so-called ‘cold spot schools’ in areas with lower school performance and a limited track record of access to higher education. Here we start supporting pupils from Years 8 or 9 (Aged 12-13) to get into a 6th form college and later prestigious universities such as Queen Mary.”
Stefan Krummaker, Professor of Leadership Practice and Deputy Vice-Principal (Education), added:
“To deliver a world-class experience for students, we need bold, inspiring and authentic academic leadership. It is great to hear your warm and positive feedback on how we bring our vision of ‘opening the doors of opportunity’ to life through an ambitious education strategy which encompasses excellence in education, student engagement, student employability, and learning resources – implemented as Queen Mary’s signature pedagogy, Active Curriculum for Excellence. We are looking forward to further exchanges and welcoming more students from Thailand at Queen Mary."
Dr Cholvit Jearjit, Vice-President of Srinakharinwirot University, said: “We are excited to be visiting Queen Mary University and explore future partnerships. We look forward to start collaborating and to hosting a Queen Mary delegation in Bangkok soon.”
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