On 9 June, WMU welcomed a delegation from the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) led by Lt. Sutthinan Hatthawong (RTN), Director General of PAT. WMU says the visit provided the opportunity for the parties to discuss areas of mutual interest in academic, research and capacity-building collaboration.
The delegation also made a presentation to the current MSc students entitled Port Development for Thailand 4.0. The presentation highlighted the major expansion plans for the ports of Bangkok, Laem Chabang, and Ta Phut that include efficiency and environmental improvements. The delegation also visited the newly renovated TanYeon Computer Lab, which has just been upgraded with new equipment generously provided by a donation from PAT in the sum of USD 42,500.
The delegation was welcomed on behalf of the President by Professor Neil Bellefontaine, WMU Vice President Academic. Additional members of the PAT delegation included Deputy Director General Lt. JG. Kamlosak Promprayoon, and five additional PAT officers, four of whom are already graduates of WMU and the fifth will join the Class of 2018 in September. To date, there are 67 graduates from Thailand, 23 of whom have been employed by PAT.