Mahidol University hosted workshop, inviting UMAP participating universities to take part in Joint Program / Research Net for sustainable development. Office of the International Secretariat supports 8,000 US$.

    On Oct 11th, 2008 at Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Hotel, Mahidol University in cooperation with University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific International Secretariat (UMAP IS) and Commission on Higher Education organized international workshop, “University Cooperation for UMAP Joint Study Program & Research.” This workshop opened the floor for universities in the member countries to collaborate and discuss about the detail of Joint Program and/or Research Net. UMAP IS is considering supporting 8,000 US$ to develop this program. In achieving this support, the program must lead to sustainable development in various ways and participated by at least three universities/academic institutes from three full member countries in accordance with the decision from UMAP Vice President Forum Coordination Committee meeting at University of Colima.

    Since March 2006, Thailand became the Office of the International Secretariat for a 5 years period. At present, Dr. Sumate Yamnoon, Secretary-General of Commission on Higher Education, is the International Secretariat of UMAP, which is an excellent opportunity for Thailand to play a role in international organization like UMAP. This opportunity would benefit academic institutions and Thai students. The Commission on Higher Education has laid out the plans to promote international education in Thailand as follows: promote the opening of quality international program by encouraging foreign academic institutions to manage the program; establish the academic institutions in Thailand to take the central role in exchange of faculty, students, and staff; support the academic institutions to host international conference, seminar, and training; and promote Thailand to be the center of training and research in trade and international development in Asia Pacific. Currently, there are more than 400 academic institutions in Asian-Pacific region from 20 countries in UMAP (both full members and associate members) of which all public and private academic institutions in Thailand are members of UMAP.

     UMAP aims to achieve enhanced international understanding through increased mobility of university students and staff. To further promote mobility, UMAP credit transfer scheme (UCTS) was set up to ease the transfer of credit for the participating students. Not only the students would be accepted in the job market in the future, the students also learn foreign culture through this exchange program.