Sponsors & Partners

Sponsors: Royal Thai Embassy and the Foreign Ministry of Thailand

In March 2008, the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business announced the launch of the Thai American Business Study Program, sponsored by the Royal Thai Embassy and the Foreign Ministry of Thailand. The Smith program is Thailand's first partnership with an American business school and awards a three-year, $100,000-per-year grant to create a student club and a course on U.S.-Thailand/Southeast Asia business interaction, sponsor student and faculty exchanges, and support student study trips to Thailand. The program also includes plans for Smith to collaborate with the Thai government and universities to explore initiatives that expand business education in Southeast Asia, including numerous guest speakers and professional conferences.

“The university thanks the Royal Thai Embassy for providing our business students with an authentic exposure to Thai culture and business practices,” said University President C.D. Mote Jr. “The Smith School is very excited that its students and faculty will have more opportunities to work and study in Thailand. This agreement builds on more than a decade of university partnerships with Thailand, an increasingly important economic and cultural force in Southeast Asia and friend of the University of Maryland.”

Thai Ambassador Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn joined Mote, Smith School Dean G. Anandalingam, and Smith Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Patricia Cleveland to kick off the program at the Smith School in March 2008. The event included a reception and a Thai classical dancing performance.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to educate our students about Thailand and, conversely, share our knowledge with Thai people, too,” said Cleveland. “The Smith School strives to offer our students global experiences, and this program introduces both undergraduate and MBA students to the dynamic business environment in Southeast Asia a vitally significant piece of the global economy.”

Partners: Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University

Student and faculty exchange programs have been established with Chulalongkorn University and with Thammasat University, both top-ranked universities located in Bangkok, Thailand. Chulalongkorn University, established in 1917, is Thailand’s oldest higher education institution, while Thammasat University is the second oldest university in Thailand with six campuses across the country. Establishing a strong student exchange program with Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities will allow the Robert H. Smith School of Business to grow its presence in Bangkok and expand the exchange program to invite other universities in Thailand, including Chiang Mai University, which has three campuses in Thailand.