To advance the 2026 Chinese Bridge Exchange Program and strengthen bilateral educational and cultural ties between Thailand and China, Assumption University of Thailand (AU) organized a 5-day study tour to China from June 15 to 19, 2026. Led by Vice President for Moral Development Education, Dr. Kitikorn Dowpiset, the delegation consisted of 18 education practitioners from AU and its affiliated partner schools. Visiting Tianjin and Beijing, the team focused on institutional collaboration, Chinese language teaching and cross-cultural communication, and achieved fruitful bilateral cooperation outcomes.
On June 16 morning, the AU delegation visited Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST) and held a bilateral exchange meeting. Professor Qu Zhigang, Vice President of TUST, attended the session. All attendees watched the university promotional video to learn about TUST’s disciplinary advantages, campus development and global cooperation achievements.
Professor Qu Zhigang welcomed the AU delegation warmly. He stated that TUST and AU have co-established the Confucius Institute at Assumption University since 2015, marking a decade of steady partnership. The Confucius Institute has served as a core platform for Chinese language instruction and cultural exchange, bridging academic communities in Thailand and China. Both sides have maintained long-term cooperation in academic exchanges, joint talent training and joint research projects. He noted that this visit will open a new chapter for deeper collaboration, including joint academic programs, faculty and student mobility, and interdisciplinary research, to cultivate global-minded talents with cross-cultural literacy.
Dr. Kitikorn Dowpiset thanked TUST for the thoughtful hospitality. He highly acknowledged the outstanding contributions of the Confucius Institute at AU in local Chinese education and Sino-Thai cultural communication over the past decade. He also introduced AU’s international development strategy and key majors. Dr. Kitikorn added that the two universities possess solid cooperative foundations, and AU aims to expand cooperation in food biotechnology and artificial intelligence, optimize joint degree programs, and boost Sino-Thai educational cooperation via the Confucius Institute and Chinese Bridge platforms.
During the meeting, TUST officially renewed the inter-school cooperation memorandum with Assumption College Samutprakan, consolidating long-term friendly partnership between the two educational institutions.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited Tianjin Yinghua Experimental School to observe onsite Chinese teaching classes and campus management modes. The group held discussions with school senior management, including General Principal Lin Xiangyang, Assistant General Principal Qu Xiaobin, and International Affairs Director Zhou Yan, to share experience on basic Chinese language education. In the evening, delegates enjoyed a Haihe River night cruise to experience the unique urban charm of Tianjin.
While staying in Tianjin, the delegation paid visits to Tianjin Museum, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street and Tianjin Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. Delegates explored Chinese historical heritage via cultural relic displays, experienced traditional folk customs, and witnessed Tianjin’s integrated development of traditional culture and modern urban construction.
On June 18, the delegation visited the Center for Language Education and Cooperation in Beijing, joining immersive Chinese cultural workshops to deepen understanding of Chinese language and traditional culture.
The delegation also visited iconic cultural sites in Beijing, namely the Palace Museum and Summer Palace, to appreciate classical Chinese imperial architecture and profound traditional cultural heritage.
The five-day official study tour concluded successfully. Rooted in language education and people-to-people exchange, this activity built a mutual-learning platform for Thai and Chinese educators, and enhanced the long-standing friendship between Thailand and China. Moving forward, AU and its partner schools will continue to cooperate with Chinese institutions via the Confucius Institute and Chinese Bridge projects, advance international Chinese language education, and promote sustainable Sino-Thai educational and cultural exchanges.
WRITER: CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY
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