[CDU eNews] - THAI AMBASSADOR VISITS CHARLES DARWIN UNI

[Peter.Hurt at cdu.edu.au]

Thai Ambassador visits CDU

Charles Darwin University today (Monday) hosted the Thai Ambassador to
Australia, Miss Suchitra Hiranprueck, as part of an ongoing commitment to
international students and raising the university's profile overseas.

Professor Eugene Clark, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Business and Arts,
invited Miss Suchitra (eds: correct) to visit the university on hearing of
her visit to Darwin to open a new Thai temple at Marrara last weekend.

"This is all about building relationships," Professor Clark said. "The
university is keen and committed to an expansion of its international links
and we hope to increase our numbers of international fee-paying students.
We also are keen to build relationships between Charles Darwin University
and tertiary institutions in Thailand and are working on staff and student
exchanges.

"The Thai Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra has publicly invited
Australian educational institutions to further increase their presence in
Thailand under the free trade agreement between our two countries.

"There is a strong Thai community in Darwin and we at Charles Darwin
University are keen to strengthen our links with Thailand and the Thai
community here."

About 200 international students attend Charles Darwin University, drawn
from about 50 countries.
There are about 10 international fee-paying students from Thailand, plus an
estimated 50 Territory students from families of Thai origin.

Professor Clark has strong Thai connections, having established agreements
with several Thai tertiary institutions while Professor of Law at the
University of Canberra prior to his appointment at Charles Darwin
University last year.

Miss Suchitra has also been a guest of the Northern Territory Government
and had informal talks today with the Chief Minister Clare Martin, Minister
for Asian Relations and Trade Paul Henderson and the Minister for Ethnic
Affairs Kon Vatskalis.


Peter Hurt
Media Manager
Charles Darwin University
Tel: 08 8946 6019 or 0438 466 439

CRICOS Provider No: 00300K