School of Communication associate professor, Dr. Jonathan Adams, and research associate, Dr. Anchalee Ngampornchai, travelled to the Ubon Ratchathani University’s (URU) campus, in Mukdahan, Thailand, on January 18 through February 3.  Adams and Ngampornchai, who is originally from Thailand, are helping the Thai university’s efforts to plan a new Information Communication and Technology (ICT) major.

During their meeting with Dr. Mantana Samart, director of the Mukdahan campus, they discussed the current Information Technology curriculum and the goals that the university hoped to achieve in partnership with FSU.  Through their conversation, they began developing courses to be included in URU’s degree programs, with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and data security.  There also spoke about setting up a faculty exchange program that would benefit both FSU and URU.

In an effort to learn more of the student’s concerns about learning the English language and their career choices, Adams and Ngampornchai spent a day interviewing students who attend URU.  Through these interviews they gained a better understanding of how students perceive the courses currently offered by this Thai university and ideas to encourage enrollment in an ICT major.

Adams and Ngampornchai also presented to two different audiences at Princess Chulabhorn College.  They discussed advances in educational technologies and intercultural communication.

Towards the end of their visit, an agreement to begin a faculty exchange and visiting scholars program between the two universities was arranged.  They also plan to collaborate further on curriculum development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and data security.