BGU Academics return to Thailand

Academics from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) returned to Thailand earlier this year to continue their overseas consultancy with the Thai government on improving teacher development.

Professor Chris Atkin and Dr Nick Gee, Head of School of Teacher Development, participated in a workshop hosted by the British Embassy in Bangkok to build on recommendations for initial teacher training first presented to Thai government in August 2016. Other participants included representatives from the University of Ulster, the University of Leicester and the University of Aberdeen.

Supported by the Thai Minister for Education (who championed BGU’s original recommendations) and the UK Foreign Office the event covered a number of training ideas to aid teachers in understanding the impact of their work on students and communities. It also marked the launch of a new competency framework for teachers in South East Asia.

In addition to launching the framework the workshop offered an updated review of initial teacher training in Thailand and looked to encourage further opportunities for collaboration between BGU and the Thai Education Sector. The event in Bangkok was incredibly well received and as a result BGU have been asked by two Rajabhat universities to send out representatives to provide teacher training courses.

Having led the original review in 2016 Professor Atkin was delighted to see the project have such a positive impact:
“The success of the initial review has placed BGU at the heart of educational policy reform in Thailand. It is a distinct honour to have our experience and expertise as providers of teacher training so emphatically recognised by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Thai government.

“It is a responsibility we do not take lightly. At the heart of successful education are highly trained teachers. We look forward to continuing our part in supporting trainee and experience teachers across Thailand.”

Supporting educational reform in Thailand is just one part of BGU’s activities in South East Asia. Following the initial review in 2016 BGU Vice Chancellor, Revd. Canon Professor Peter Neil, visited Thailand last December. During the visit he exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Phranakhon Rajabhat University in Bangkok and met with members of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand as well as colleagues from the country’s 38 Rajabhat universities.

You can keep up to date with all of BGU’s projects in Thailand and across the world on our news page.

Find out more about Teacher Training at BGU.