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The Beijing Language and Culture University has boosted its presence in Thailand and revealed an ambition to build its Bangkok arm into its branch college not only for Thailand, but also for Southeast Asia.
"BLCU's reputation could be well augmented by its foreign alumni including politicians, diplomats worldwide and even a Noble laurel winner and an UN deputy secretary general," Cui Xiliang, president of BLCU told China Daily.
"And the move to set up overseas branches like the Bangkok college has taken the lead in China," he said.
Since 2001, the BLCU, China's prestigious higher education institute renowned for the largest number of foreign graduates majoring in Chinese language in the country, has teamed up with the Assumption University, Asia's esteemed private university and the first Thai university adopting top international-level text books including Harvard and Yale, and the Bangkok college is based in the Assumption Commercial College.
In 2002, the Business Chinese courses for adult students at the Assumption Commercial College were opened. In 2006, the course was extended to the Master’s degree program at the Assumption University in "Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language". The Master Degree course in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language is unique in Thailand and has strong development potential.
In 2008, it was expanded to a dual bachelor’s degree program at the Assumption University as Chinese for Economy and Trade. The twin degree of the Assumption University and the BLCU are seen as "winners' cards" in Thailand's Chinese education.
Charnchai Leelawatanasuk, dean of the Bangkok College of the BLCU said that in recent years, the college has seen a steady growth in students' enrolments and more students aged as old as even nearly 70 learning Chinese there.
"Even in the evening class they will surely arrive on time despite Bangkok’s heavy traffic jam," he said.
Following China's university regulations, undergraduate students should defend their degree thesis, while in Thailand it's no need to tackle such challenges according to local education system. However, the college insists on following the Chinese system in a bid to sustain its quality for degree programs, he said.
Despite this, more students are determined to take part in the course there.
Eyeing this, Charnchai is looking for setting up more city campuses in Thailand's capital and to offer more degree and non-degree curriculum.
He expects the orientations of the curriculum could be expanded to Chinese-English bilingual study, tourism Chinese and secretary training. More master degrees will be offered including Chinese literature or culture. Non-degree curriculum training could be opened for HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, or Chinese Level Examination, the Chinese Tofel), Chinese teaching, Thai-Chinese interpretation and programs tailored for local companies’ staff members.
On his agenda also includes selecting more high-level university partners in the country, or even expanding to Southeast Asia region.
Rev. Bro. Bancha Saenghiran, president of the Assumption University, said: "Such success will be well augmented in the future through a doctoral degree program."
In total, the number of students has topped 300 for all BLCU courses.
