On 1 April 2013, the 1st Project Steering Committee was held for the Project on Teaching Thai Language at Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL), co-chaired by Ms. Suchada Thaibunthao, Deputy Director-General of Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and     Dr. Lwin Lwin Soe, Rector of YUFL.  

     The meeting reviewed the past activities and discussed the work plan for 2013, which would include postgraduate scholarships for lecturers, training on development of teaching materials, dispatch of Thai language teaching assistants, provision of teaching materials, and exchange of students.

     On this occasion, TICA presented books to YUFL for use as teaching materials, while YUFL presented gifts as token of appreciation for the kind support and close cooperation.

 

     Afterwards, Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Ambassador of Thailand to Myanmar, hosted lunch for the Thai delegation and the YUFL team.  Both sides discussed additional activities which could be implemented to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Establishment of Thailand-Myanmar Diplomatic Relations.

 

     YUFL opened the Thai Language Department in 2010 with the support of Naresuan University.  Currently, there are around 300 students majoring in Thai language.  Each year, more students express their interests in studying Thai language than YUFL can accommodate.  Such increasing interest in Thai language reflects not only the popularity of the language itself, but also the business and career opportunities after graduation due to increasing demand from the Thai private sector investing in Myanmar for local staff who are fluent in Thai language.