On 6 July 2026, Professor Dr. Supasawad Chardchawarn, Rector of Thammasat University, welcomed Mr. Scott Hagg, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, and Mr. Garett Gietzen, Executive Director of International Affairs and Senior International Officer at the University of California, Merced (UC Merced), USA, during their visit to Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan Campus.
The meeting was also attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supreedee Rittironk, Vice Rector for International Affairs, and Dr. Thanet Makjamroen, University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) Liaison Officer in Thailand.
The visit reaffirmed the longstanding strategic partnership between Thammasat University and UC. During the meeting, both institutions reviewed the current status of their student exchange programs and noted a decline in participation in both directions. They also exchanged views on the challenges affecting mobility, including visa issues, rising costs, and the growing preference among students for internship opportunities over traditional exchange programs.
In terms of academic partnership development, UC Merced is currently collaborating with the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University through a Summer Internship Program. Both sides identified strategic opportunities to expand internship programs through broader university-level collaboration.
Additionally, UC Merced expressed interest in co-developing 2+2 and 2+3 academic pathway models in Engineering. In response, Thammasat affirmed the readiness of both the Thammasat School of Engineering and the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) to engage in further discussions and explore areas for potential cooperation.
The visit underscored the value of the longstanding academic partnership between Thammasat University and UC, reaffirming their mutual commitment to continued collaboration and paving the way for deeper cooperation across a broader range of academic disciplines and university-wide initiatives.
