On June 28, 2019, the opening ceremony of the “Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College at Bangkok” (the first overseas branch school of SUCC), was held at the Saowabha Vocational College in Bangkok, Thiland. Vice President Gan Aipin, Deputy Director of International Cooperation Division Wang Aihua, Vice Dean of the School of Public Management & Services He Chunping, and professional teacher of the School of Health & Social Care Wang Chunhua attended the ceremony on behalf of SUCC. The opening ceremony was hosted by Chompunuch Buabangsorn, Director of Institute of Vocational Education, Bangkok. Presidents of more than 10 colleges under the Institute and the principals of other relevant departments attended the ceremony. Leaders, professional teachers, and students of the Saowabha Vocational College were also present.

President of Saowabha Vocational College Wasumadee Imkaew and Vice President of SUCC Gan Aipin, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. They expressed their full confidence and expectation to cooperate in talent training, teacher training, professional teaching standards docking, and Chinese language education. Chompunuch Buabangsorn fully acknowledged the significance of the cooperation. She encouraged other vocational colleges in Bangkok to seize the precious opportunity brought about by “the Belt and Road” initiative and actively expand and deepen their exchange and cooperation with Chinese colleges to cultivate high-quality talents that both meet the need of industry development and possess the knowledge of Chinese.

Witnessed by all of those who were present, the Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College at Bangkok was inaugurated jointly by Chompunuch Buabangsorn, Gan Aipin and Wasumadee Imkaew. From that point onwards, SUCC became the first vocational college in Shanghai to have an overseas branch school enrolling international students. The opening of an overseas branch college is an important advancement for SUCC to serve both the national and regional development strategy as well as a powerful breakthrough to improve its international influence.

It is worth mentioning that our cooperation with Wasumadee Imkaew received attention from the Vice Sangharaja Phradhamphawanawikrom. He signed his Chinese name on the nameplate of the branch school and promised to support distance education and internships for international students at SUCC. Phradhamphawanawikrom is the Vice President of the Global Foundation and the Dean of the Maritime Silk Road Confucius Institute. He has spared no effort in popularizing Chinese education, enjoying a level of high prestige and status in the Thai educational circle.

At the event, the SUCC delegation visited and surveyed the Shaowapa Vocational College, the Dhonburi Vocational College, the Dhonburi Business College and the Royal College of Gold Making Art. Additionally, they discussed talent training with Thai teachers, visited practical training bases, and communicated with Thai students. The delegation also presented the campus while telling the story of SUCC to Thai teachers and students with the help of a video. The SUCC delegation was warmly welcomed.