The University of Birmingham and Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (18 Jan 2016) to formalise a partnership in education, training and development in railway and vehicle technology research. The signing ceremony was followed by an official gift exchange between Professor Prasart Suebka, Rector of SUT, and Professor Adam Tickell, Provost and Vice Principle, University of Birmingham.
The signing was witnessed by academics from both institutions including A/Professor Flt. Lt. Kontorn Chamniprasart, Dean of Engineering, SUT and Professor Clive Roberts, Director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, University of Birmingham.
The MOU will serve as a platform for future international collaborations with the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham. It will bring together British and Thai researchers to work on collaborative interdisciplinary projects based in the institutes, therefore, supporting railway, automotive and internal combustion engine and other transport industry developments in Thailand. It will also promote and enable existing and new opportunities for staff and research student mobility between the University of Birmingham and SUT.
Thailand has been considered as a transport hub of Asia, backed by major investment bids from Japanese and Chinese Governments. Significant development of transport infrastructures will need help from many sectors including technical services providers, suppliers, product innovators, etc. This collaboration will not only enhance research and development in railway and transportation, but also bring together business relationships and engineering capability between British and Thai railway and transport industry. It will also offer new opportunities for socio-economic prosperity between both countries.