Australia is a popular study destination for Thai students. Around half a million international students enroll in Australian Schools, Universities and Colleges every year and more than 20,000 of them are from Thailand. The Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce, AUSTCHAM, and the Australian Embassy, believe Thai graduates from Australian institutions are the best ambassadors for promoting study in their country.
Austcham has a well-established Alumni program and recognizes the most outstanding graduates at the annual Australian Alumni Awards. These are usually Thai students whose extra-curricular activities have included charity work in Thailand and innovative community projects during their stay in Australia. While undertaking a science degree at the University of Queensland, Sutthi Suteerasan collaborated with the Thai Embassy to organize the First Thai Food and Cultural Festival in Brisbane.
Austcham’s Alumni group aims to be a focal point of business, social and cultural networking for Thai Australian alumni. It’s of key interest to Lak Kridakorn who is on the Board of the Chamber and is herself an Australian University graduate.
AUSTCHAM believes Thai students who’ve studied in Australia bring a lot more than a new accent back home to Thailand. These alumni also bring the two countries closer together through friendship and potential future business ties.