Phuket school inks agreement with Shelton College, Singapore

PHUKET: Phuket’s Kajonkietsuksa School has established an exchange program with Shelton College International in Singapore in a move aimed at preparing its students for bright futures in the travel and tourism industries.

The agreement became official after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two schools on Wednesday morning at Kajonkietsuksa School.

The terms of the MoU include: exchange of faculty, staff and students; mutual assistance in terms of internship placement, and exchange or transfer of academic credits.

Lesley Lim, chief executive officer of Shelton College International, said the college is very pleased to provide Phuket students a head-start in their transition towards higher education.

“I believe this school is one of the best in Phuket. We are also very impressed with the quality and the standard of the language ability of the students here. Importantly, the founders here and ourselves share the same visions to make global education possible,” she said.

“We have students coming from many different countries. From our experience, we have found that Thai students are very good to have. We would like to find ways to reach out to Thai students and parents. I think this collaboration is one of the best ways to promote and provide information for better decision making,” Ms Lim added.

Similarities in the areas of trade and industry shared by Thailand and Singapore would allow Shelton students to learn through this collaboration in the areas of tourism, hospitality and business, she said.

“I think the cultural aspect is something of an attraction. We would like to learn more from Thailand and the business environment here. For the exchange students from Thailand, they will be exposed to a cosmopolitan city with cutting-edge business practices and tourism related industries,” she said.

Through this collaboration, students will be able to learn, create and develop, and bring back the innovation to their own countries which enhance the progress of the nation, Ms Lim explained.

Kajonkietsuksa School Director Permkiet Ketkul told the Phuket Gazette the initiative was one of many the school was making to prepare for the great changes that are expected when the terms of the Asean Free Trade Area agreement go into effect in the Thai tourism industry in 2015.

Earlier this year, the Kajonkiet group of schools opened its first international program based on a British curriculum at its new campus on Phra Phuketkaew Road in Kathu.

— Janpen Upatising & Stephen Fein