News
UK-Thailand ISPF Strategic Project in Science and Engineering leads to three new signed partnership agreements in Thailand
31 January 2025


Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) currently welcomes more than 130 students from Thailand every year. Most of these are postgraduate students looking to further their expertise at a UK university, and around 10-15 of these students are funded by Royal Thai Government Scholarships.
QMUL was recently awarded strategic funding from Research England via the International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF) to support UK researchers and innovators to work with international partners. The ISPF aims to create partnerships with official development assistance (ODA) member countries that leverage the expertise and resources of the UK's scientific community to tackle the major challenges in Science and Engineering.
Having identified this existing fruitful relationship, Professor Wen Wang FREng, Vice Principal for Science and Engineering, formed a delegation from QMUL, including Professor Alex Clark, Dean for International (Science and Engineering), Dr Craig Wheway, and Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas, to build stronger research and educational relationships in Thailand. Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas from the School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) has been assigned as the Principal Investigator for the ISPF ODA project – Thailand.
The delegation visited Thailand between the 13th and 17th January 2025 and successfully agreed three new partnerships with Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University.
During the trip, they met with Dr Piyawat Sivaraks, Secretary General of the Office of Civil Services Commission (OCSC) to discuss about the initiative on PhD partnership agreement between QMUL and OCSC to attract more Thai students funded by Royal Thai Scholarships to study for PhDs at QMUL, and Professor Dr Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) to discuss further Postgraduate partnership opportunities, towards Regional Higher Education Hub in Thailand and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.
After a productive meeting with Professor Dr Wilert Puriwat, D.Phil. (Oxon), President of Chulalongkorn University, a partnership with Chulalongkorn University was confirmed, focussing on research collaboration in Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between QMUL Faculty of Science and Engineering and Chulalongkorn University has been signed at Chulalongkorn University, marking a key strategic partnership between two institutions. QMUL delegation has discussed specific research and education partnerships with Professor Dr Pranut Potiyaraj, Dean of Faculty of Science, Associate Professor Dr Witaya Wannasuphoprasit, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor Chanchai Sittipunt MD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor Dr Yuttanant Boonyongmaneerat, Director of Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institute (MMRI) at Chulalongkorn University.
At Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII), Professor Dr Suchada Sukrong, CSII Executive Director, has received the QMUL delegation and the 4+1 Agreement for MSc programmes at SEMS (MSc Advanced Robotics, MSc Biomedical Engineering and MSc Sustainable Energy Systems) and School of Business and Management (MSc Business Analytics, MSc Blockchain in Business and Society, MSc Digital Marketing, MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation, MSc Marketing and Digital Analytics) has been fully signed to receive the first cohort in 2025.
At Mahidol University, Professor Piyamitr Sritara MD, FRCP, President of Mahidol University has received the QMUL delegation, and we discuss about the collaboration focusing on transnational education, forming a Global Partnership Programme and Dual Degree Programmes in Digital Health, Soft Robotics and Sustainable Engineering. The collaboration will also develop proposals for joint research. The first Memorandum of Understanding between QMUL Faculty of Science and Engineering and Mahidol University has been signed at Mahidol University, providing a key platform for further collaborations. They also met with Associate Professor Dr Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, Vice President for Global Partnerships and University Council, Associate Professor Dr Thanapat Wanichanon, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Associate Professor Dr Prasit Suwannalert, Dean of Faculty of Science at Mahidol University to discussed specific research and education possible partnership agreements.
The group were also able to visit Meticuly, Co., Ltd. (Thailand). Assistant Professor Dr Chedtha Puncreobutr, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, and Ms Peeranoot Lohwongwatana, Chief Operating Officer have received the QMUL delegation to show an exhibition on the success of 2000 personalised 3D printed implants available more than 20 countries around the world, with which Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas has collaborated in 3 Royal Academy of Engineering projects since 2017.
The QMUL group also visited the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre (MTEC) at the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). Over there, Dr Jintamai Suwanprateeb, Director of Biofunctional Materials and Devices Research Group and ‘SEMS Alumnus,’ and Associate Professor Dr Toemsak Srikhirin, MTEC Executive Director, have received the delegation and discuss various possible research collaborative programmes especially PhD studentships in biomaterials and materials science and engineering.
These strategic partnerships and collaborations between QMUL and Thailand will open many doors of opportunities for Thai students to study at QMUL and strengthen both our research and educational offer. The strategic partnerships with Thailand will diversify UG, PGT and PGR international students’ intake across QMUL.
Contact: | Chinnapat Panwisawas |
Tel: | 07551 428989 |
Email: | c.panwisawas@qmul.ac.uk |
People: | Chinnapat PANWISAWAS Wen WANG |
Research Centres: | Intelligent Transport Bioengineering Sustainable Engineering Research in Engineering and Materials Education |