Ambassador of Thailand meets with students at St Petersburg University
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Russian Federation H.E. Mr Sasiwat Wongsinsawat has visited St Petersburg University. During his visit, he talked to students and answered their questions.
Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University, welcomed the distinguished guest on behalf of Rector Nikolay Kropachev and the entire scientific community of the University. He also thanked Sasiwat Wongsinsawat for his assistance in establishing cooperation networks between St Petersburg University and universities and scientific organisations in Thailand. Over the past few years, St Petersburg University researchers, together with their Thai colleagues, have published more than 250 research publications.
The meeting was held at the Thai Cabinet at St Petersburg University, opened in 2012. It is a cultural and educational space for students to gain a deeper insight into Thai culture.
‘Thanks to the support of the Embassy and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, we are firmly committed to promoting cooperation with Thai universities and fostering academic exchanges with five partner universities. We have opened the Representative Office of St Petersburg University at Walailak University to facilitate collaborations between our countries in research and education,’ said Sergey Andryushin.
The Representative Office of St Petersburg University in the Kingdom of Thailand opened at Walailak University in the autumn of 2023, the year of the 125th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Thailand. It is a venue for lectures by St Petersburg University researchers and joint scientific conferences.
It is vital for St Petersburg University to promote Thai research of exceptional quality, which was first introduced in Russia by the University. We are committed to preparing high-calibre professionals who will help our country promote cooperation with Thailand.
Sergey Andryushin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at St Petersburg University
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand Sasiwat Wongsinsawat said that this is his fourth visit to St Petersburg University and during each visit he sees the remarkable success in expanding a network of partnerships and collaborations with Thai universities. The diplomat focused on the recently established cooperation between St Petersburg University and the Surat Thani Rajabhat University. He also announced the upcoming visit of the administration of this university to St Petersburg. Sergey Andryushin expressed his readiness to hold a meeting with the delegation of Surat Thani Rajabhat University at St Petersburg University to discuss the implementation of student and academic exchange programmes.
During a conversation with students, Sasiwat Wongsinsawat discussed the history of literary translation from the Thai language and touched upon the issues in Thai diplomacy, the intricacies of Thai legislation, and the socio-psychological characteristics of the Thai people.
Fourth-year students in programme ‘History of Thailand’ — Kseniia Aniskevich, Irada Museeva, Ekaterina Panfilova, Ekaterina Terekhova, and Valeriia Shtepa — had the opportunity to discuss with the ambassador the topics of their graduation projects on the demographic development of Thailand, the history of the Thai Communist Party, and the problem of the death penalty. Second-year students in the programme ‘History of Thailand and Myanmar’ — Alesia Poladenko, Elizaveta Donskaia, Margarita Fesenko, Alisa Shtoda, and Mariia Somova — asked about the nature of Thailand’s relations with its neighbouring countries. First-year students in Thai Philology spoke about their passion for Thailand and their desire to study the Thai language.