CHULA-ECAM LaSalle Celebrate 10 Years of Partnership

Celebrating a Decade of Partnership: The 10th Anniversary of the Collaboration Between Chulalongkorn University and ECAM LaSalle to drive engineering education

Bangkok, Thailand – [1st October 2024] – The Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University (Chula Engineering) and Ecole Arts et Métier LaSalle (ECAM LaSalle) proudly commemorate the 10th anniversary of their successful partnership, marking a decade of groundbreaking collaboration in engineering education. 

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Ms. Lise Talbot-Barré, Counsellor for Culture and Cooperation, French Embassy in Thailand, presides over the 10th Anniversary Ceremony with Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, and Mr. Didier Desplanche, Rector of ECAM LaSalle, Leading French Engineering School,  also Assoc. Prof. Dr. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Dean Faculty of Engineering,  at the Faculty of Engineering, welcoming honored guests from academics, public and private sectors as well as representative from French business community led by President of the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce, Patrice Pischedda. 

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Since its inception in 2014, the collaboration between ECAM LaSalle and Chula Engineering have been a cornerstone of academic excellence and international cooperation. Over the past ten years, this partnership has achieved remarkable milestones, including cross-cultural student exchange programs, and innovative educational initiatives that have enriched the academic experience for students and faculty alike.

Key Achievements of the Partnership:

  • Student Exchanges and Internships: The exchange programs have provided students with invaluable international experience, equipping them with a global perspective and enhancing their professional prospects. More than 50 students from ECAM LaSalle France have come to study at Chula Engineering over the past 10 years and almost 20 Thai students from Chula Engineering have been studying in ECAM LaSalle.  
  • Shared Pedagogical Methodology and Practical Expertise: Faculty members from both institutions have engaged in fruitful exchanges of knowledge and teaching methodologies, as well as the hands on practical with industries, that fostering a richer learning environment and driving forward engineering skill

The partnership has not only advanced academic knowledge but has also fostered a deeper cultural understanding between Thailand and France. It has strengthened the bonds between the institutions, laying the groundwork for future collaborative efforts that address the evolving needs of the global engineering community.

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Prof. Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University commented, “Today’s Chula engineers are innovators, people who create new things. It’s not just someone who builds houses and buildings, but engineers who create innovations for the quality of life for Thailand and for the world.  And we are joining forces with ECAM LaSalle to create a Global Future Leaders: we build people who understand the world. We do not teach only knowledge, but we give Mastery and Wisdom, they will excel both in theory and in practice, responding to industrie and society.”

Statements from Key Figures:

Dr. Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University, commented, “The past decade has been an incredible journey of innovation and mutual growth. Our collaboration with ECAM LaSalle has set a high standard for international academic partnerships, and we are excited to continue building on this strong foundation. We will focus more on working with industries. These partnerships create a win-win scenario, where the university’s research and innovation capabilities are aligned with the needs of the private sector. It helps advance industry while providing students and researchers with opportunities to work on impactful, real-world projects.”

Mr. Didier Desplanche, Rector of ECAM LaSalle, added, “Our ten-year collaboration with Chulalongkorn Engineering has been a testament to the power of global cooperation in engineering education. We look forward to furthering our joint efforts and exploring new opportunities for research and student development. ECAM LaSalle emphasizes learning and working with industries, so that our students can learn from real work with leading industries.  We also focus on students creating innovation and management. Examples of new collaborations are joint start-ups, joint innovation projects, consultancy and problem solving to industries etc.”

Mr. Patrice Pischedda, President of the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce said “As a French Chamber in Thailand, we foster collaborations with Thai partners and institutions in rendering our members, mostly French companies based in Thailand, to work efficiently. One key point is to recruit and train good employees, especially good engineers. We therefore encourage and support close collaborations and dialogues with academics in order to have young talents working skillfully and competently in the real world.”

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Looking Ahead:

The next milestone will be enhancing the collaboration with industries, both Thai and French industries in Thailand and in France. These partnerships will focus on research, innovation, technology transfer, and addressing societal and industrial challenges. Some of the key areas of collaboration include R&D, technology transfer & innovation, internship and workforce development, consultancy and problem solving, joint laboratories and research centers.   

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