Another milestone in the relations of Technische Universität Chemnitz to Thailand
High-ranking delegation of Chulalongkorn University Bangkok visited Technische Universität Chemnitz on 11 July 2014
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The delegation members were welcomed by the university management members Eberhard Alles (m.), Chancellor of Technische Universität Chemnitz and member of the AC21-Steering Committee, and Prof. Dr. Heinrich Lang (r.), Vice-Rector for Research and Promotion of Young Scientists, as well as the Head of the International Office, Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht (l.). Photo: Steve Conrad -
The next day the delegation visited the motor plant of Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH Chemnitz. The tour was guided by Alfred Schollmeier (4th from right), Head of the production department. Photo: Jörg Kaufmann
Chulalongkorn University Bangkok counts among the long-lasting and well-proven partners in the world-wide network of Technische Universität Chemnitz. So both universities belonged to the founding members of the global network “Academic Consortium 21” (AC21) in the year 2002 which aims at promoting cooperation in higher education and research between its currently 20 member universities and beyond, at bridging between different societies in the world and at delivering wisdom to all people to mutually understand and share values, knowledge and cultures necessary to improve the quality of life and to foster co-existence beyond national and regional boundaries in the 21st century. Since then, both institutions consequently worked on the enlargement and deepening of their partnership. In 2010, an additional inter-institutional cooperation agreement was concluded providing detailed framework conditions for intensified collaboration in research and the exchange of students.
The high mutual appreciation of both partners also finds its expression in the visits of high-ranking delegations. For these reasons, Katrin Schulz, project coordinator and also AC21-coordinator at Technische Universität Chemnitz, said that Technische Universität Chemnitz was very delighted and honored of the visit of a delegation of Chulalongkorn University at Technische Universität Chemnitz on 11 July 2014 consisting on the Vice-President for Research, Prof. Dr. Mongkol Techakumphu, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Bundhit Eua-arporn, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Dr. Supot Hannongbua, the Dean of the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pomthong Malakul, as well as the Assistant to the President for International Affairs, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kriengkrai Boonlert-U-Thai, and the Director of the Industry Collaboration Office, Dr. Supichai Tangjaitrong.
In the morning the delegation members were welcomed by the university management members Eberhard Alles, Chancellor of Technische Universität Chemnitz and member of the AC21-Steering Committee, and Prof. Dr. Heinrich Lang, Vice-Rector for Research and Promotion of Young Scientists, who emphasized the importance of this partnership for Technische Universität Chemnitz and their great delight to receive the delegation of Chulalongkorn University at their institution. Subsequently, the Head of the International Office, Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht, gave an overview of main characteristics as well as facts & figures of Technische Universität Chemnitz.
Then a part of the delegation was transferred to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Technische Universität Chemnitz where they were welcomed by the Dean, Prof. Dr. Lothar Kroll, who introduced them to the profile and important projects of the faculty and especially of its Institute of Lightweight Structures. A special emphasis was given to the presentation of the Cluster of Excellence “Merge Technologies for Multifunctional Lightweight Structures” (MERGE) and the discussion of cooperation opportunities between this cluster and Chulalongkorn University in research and promotion of young scientists but also concerning additional perspectives of student exchange within the new Master-degree program “Merge Technologies for Resource Efficiency”.
Prof. Michael Mehring, Dean of Faculty of Natural Sciences, welcomed other members of the delegation at the faculty and presented the research and teaching areas. They visited together the Institute of Chemistry and spoke about possibilities of collaboration.
The first day was completed by tours through the laboratories of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Technische Universität Chemnitz in the afternoon. On the following day, Technische Universität Chemnitz had arranged a visit of the delegation at the motor plant of Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH Chemnitz as one of its very important industrial partners where they got a deep insight in the production and the collaboration with Technische Universität Chemnitz.
Once more, this delegation visit could well be considered as a great success for both partners because it contributed significantly to the mutual information concerning the newest developments and projects at both partner institutions, to the initiation of additional joint projects on the areas of research, promotion of young scientists and student exchange (especially in the areas of mechanical engineering and natural sciences) and – last but not least – to the further deepening of this partnership in general thanks to its constructive and trustful atmosphere. In conclusion, this delegation visit represented another milestone for Technische Universität Chemnitz in its relations to Thailand.
(Author: Dr. Wolfgang Lambrecht)
Katharina Thehos
17.07.2014
