Leicester partners with Thailand with support of Thai Prime Minister, British Ambassador and Leicester City Football Club

The University of Leicester has marked its commitment to Thailand and Vietnam through a series of partnership agreements that will pave the way for Thai students to study in Leicester, open the door to research collaborations and promote bilateral knowledge exchange. 

In the year that the UK and Thailand celebrate 170 years of diplomatic relations, the University has developed bilateral science and education partnerships with Thai’s top ranked universities, including Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, Bangkok University, Khon Kaen University and Assumption University, as well leading cultural destination the National Science Museum. 

These partnerships come after news that the University has been selected to host 50 Thai students in Leicester as part of the Prime Minister of Thailand’s One District One Scholarship Programme and agreed a strategic relationship with Leicester City Football Club and its owners King Power, who hosted the University delegation throughout the visit.  

British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Gooding OBE and Leicester City Football Club Chairman Khun Top spoke to guests who attended the University of Leicester’s Thailand Reception – a celebration of the University’s commitment to Thailand, hosted by King Power. 

Thai and British Government representatives, education leaders, partners and University alumni gathered for the reception and heard from President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Nishan Canagarajah.  

At the reception, Professor Canagarajah announced the launch of new King Power and Leicester City Football Club scholarships to support students who want to study at the University. He also confirmed the extension of the Leicester City Football Club Children’s Health Partnership to support children in Thailand. The partnership between the football club and University was launched in 2018 to support the health of children in Leicester. 

During the weeklong programme the University delegation also met with key figures in Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, including the Permanent Secretary, to discuss strategic opportunities for education and research in Thailand. 

The University delegation also travelled on to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to sign a partnership agreement with the University of Economics and host a reception with alumni and partners. 

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, Professor Nishan Canagarajah, said: “Through our partnership and provision of scholarships with Leicester City Football Club and King Power, collaborations with leading universities in Thailand, and participation in the Prime Minister of Thailand scholarship programme, we will deliver impact and create opportunities both in Leicester and globally.  The University is committed to working with Thailand, as well as Vietnam, to ensure our education and research has a global impact.” 

British Ambassador, Mark Gooding OBE, said: “In the year that the UK and Thailand celebrate 170 years of diplomatic relations, I am delighted to see the University of Leicester leading science and research collaborations with many of Thailand’s leading institutions. Thailand has so much to offer the UK and I look forward to working with our world-leading universities, including Leicester, to develop long and meaningful partnerships here.” 

CEO of King Power and Chairman of Leicester City, Khun Top, said: “Our partnership with the University of Leicester stretches many years and we are the only football club in the whole of the UK to fund a professorship at the University in child health. I am proud we are bringing this knowledge and resource to Thailand and, together, we will be dedicated to improving the health and well-being of babies born pre-term. We will build on this commitment to benefit communities in Leicester and in Thailand as well as create new opportunities for learning at the University of Leicester.”