Directon
Dr. Sunanta Fabre ( sunanta@mfu.ac.th )
Status
The Centre is currently under the supervision of the Vice-President for Planning and External Relation Affairs of the University Mae Fah Luang
.
Historical Review :
The Center was established on September 24th, 2004 by Dr. Sunanta Fabre. The Center was inaugurated on June 27th, 2005 by the president of the university, Dr. Vanchai Sirichana and Mr. Jacques Morcos from the French Embassy of Thailand. In the beginning the center was engaged in the study of tourism, agro-industry and ICT due to the pressure of public demand and the strive to expand and strengthen economy of the Upper Mekong Sub-region. In 2005 the Center geared towards the research of a more sustainable development and thus a more prosperous economy. When the university opened new branches in social science, such as the fields of health science, cosmetic science and doctoral program; the Center's attention was drawn to the social dynamics of contemporary Thailand. With the creation of a new laboratory in the school of cosmetic science, the centre was finally able to acquires modern tools for which to analyze spatial and temporal interrelations between these societies.
Missions and vocation :
The center has 4 primary missions :
1. Develop research activities
2. Develop academic activities : Under graduate and graduate programs, expertise and Training
3. Encourage cultural exchange between France and Thailand
4. To be a centre of documemtation
The vocatoin of the centre is to involve itself in Lanna and in GMS.
Vision :
The center will be the center of knowledge transference between France and GMS countries.
Fields of Research
1. Lanna cultural knowledge and heritage
2. Immigration and integration of minorities in Thailand
3. Agro-industry
4. Health science
5. Cosmetic science
6. Tourism - Ecotourism
7. Information - communication
8. French language - Applied french language - French language for foreigners (FLE)
Four Thai and French Scholarships in France :
Mr. Surapong Uttama is preparing the doctoral degree in The application of indexing techniques for preservation of ancient Graphical Heritage. at La Rochelle University.
Mr. Sukchatri Prasomsuk is the co-rechercher in the Franco-Thai Cooperaton Program in Higher Education and Recherche in the field of computational linguistics, Automatic Segmentation for Thai words with INALCO (Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales ) Naresuan University, Franc Comt? University, Sophia-Antipolis of Nice Univer-
sity, Institut de Langues Orientales and Burapha University.
Miss Saranya Srisuwan is preparing the doctoral degree in Origin and evolution of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its wild relatives ai Paris Sud-Orsay university
Mrs. Nathapornpan Uttama is preparing a doctoral degree in Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN countries in the University of Nantes.
Support structures for research :
A Center for Documentary Resources is in our long-term project ( in about 10 years ) : The computerized collection of books, journals, palm-leaf manuscripts, transcripts, maps and photographs from particular temples and edifices in Lanna.
Other missions
Expertise The documentation kept in this center will be available for researchers and decision makers from scientific fields to social fields of research. The various uses for the information warehoused in the center can be used for scientific events
(conferences, seminars, and etc.), it may also be used for consultancy (advisors in particular), and libraries ; and the promotion of scientific culture and technology ( information, exhibits. etc.).
Training The Centre hosts, in the framework of its research projects, young trainees
( masters, postgraduate diploma, etc. ), doctoral and post-doctoral students of different nationalities (French, GMS, European and others).
Publications :
Three books have been published since the openning of the Center :
1. Sunanta Fabre: Le siam dans l'Opinion Fran?aise de 1815-1868. Published in 2005
2. Sunanta Fabre: Egyptian civilization (Comparative to Thai civilization). Published in 2005
3. Sunanta Fabre: Siam under the reign of King Mongkut by French drawers in nineteenth century. Published in April 2006.
Will be published :
- Craft and Culture : The Future of Lanna Textile
- Historical Atlas of Thai people
Moreover, the center aims to publish a newsletter named, Mae Fah Luang, in collaboration with French universities or institutions
Personnel :
The permanent personnel of the center consists on average of 5 persons. In 2006 our Permanent center hopes to host research financed by outside sources, experienced professors, and students from France associated with projects in their local universities.
Partnership agreement
Non-institutionalized agreements between Mae Fah Luang University, La Rochelle University and Montpellier 3 University have been agreed upon.
The center has agreed to partnerships with Thai universities or institutions, research institutes and technical departments of government; in particular tourism.
Means of operation
he financial support for the centre is provided by Mae Fah Luang university and French embassy of Thailand.
Planning
In 3 years
- Develop a structure for co-research and research networks.
- Develop the capacities to host post-doctoral research.
- Create a Centre for French Language for Foreigners (FLE)
- Develop a centre of training in Tourism
- Develop the capacities to host research for master degrees and doctoral degrees.
5 years :,
- Develop a center for the research of Agro-industry (Tropical culture) in Asia.
In 10 years :
- The creation of a center to warehouse documentary resources.
Activities of the Centre in year 2006
Research :
1. A research project in the field of social science with Montpellier 3
2. The First Franco-MFLU Seminar : Changes in Rice Production Systems and New Technological Challenges.
Academics/Training :
3. Exchange professors/students with French universities
4. One conference with French universities
5. Agreement on Joint Degree / Joint Certificate with French universities
6. Scholarships for professors and students
Language and Culture
7. One or two French researchers at the center will help teach Thai students to listen, speak, read and write French
8. Establish an E-learning program in French
9. Establish a joint certificate (FLE) with the university of Montpellier 3
10. Let's Discover France ! ( With language and culturel activities ) - 2 activities / year
11. Two cultural activities per year with Alliance Fran?aise Chiang Rai
Publication :
12. One book per year.
13. Newsletter Mae Fah Luang ( 2 per year )
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