The Thailand Research Fund (TRF), as state research funding agency, in co-operation with the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the National Science and Technology Development Agency, launched the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme under the TRF, to commemorate H.M. the King’s Golden Jubilee year of reign. Its main aim is to produce high-quality Ph.D. researchers of international standard to strengthen the graduate program in Thailand to international standards. Awardees, both Ph.D. advisors and students, were selected intensively on research records and experience at international levels.

Associate Professor Dr. Namtip Wipawin, and doctoral student Ms Jirawan Sriwong from the School of Liberal Arts at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) have been awarded this honourable national grant. A condition of the grant is that the student needs to have a professor in a recognised university abroad as a collaborator to advise the student while she gains international research experience.

As an internationally distinguished researcher, Professor Archie Dick, HoD of Information Science and Chairperson of the School of Information Technology at the University of Pretoria was invited to join the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. program under the Thailand Research Fund. This collaboration will benefit both universities in sharing research experience at international level.

On Thursday 12 October, Prof Archie Dick officially welcomed Prof Wipawin and the student Ms Sriwong to the department.

Ms Sriwong conveyed that it was very easy for her to choose which University she wanted to go to as the Information Science Department at this university is the best she’s ever seen. She is happy for the opportunity being afforded to her and is looking forward to the learning experience at the University of Pretoria.