Connecting international education
The work of the British Council in higher education and science aims to extend, strengthen, and deepen connections between the UK education sector and governments and institutions around the world. It is motivated by the belief that international collaboration produces more effective research for addressing global problems, while enhancing teaching and learning to produce graduates with the skills necessary for economic development. This initiative is part of the Going Global Partnerships programme.
Opportunity for UK universities to join the Thai-UK World-class University Consortium
The British Council Thailand, in partnership with the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), launched the Thai-UK World-class University Consortium to support Thailand’s ambition to reinvent universities towards becoming globally competitive and develop internationally recognised and connected higher education focusing on the shared challenges of quality, inclusion and internationalisation with the UK.
The objective of the Consortium is to increase commitment and strategic partnerships between Thai and UK universities to support excellence in teaching, research, and innovation capability through the provision of a more equal and inclusive tertiary education.
The Consortium will offer opportunities for UK higher education institutions to engage and collaborate with Thai members to deliver its strategic objectives through submission of a joint Thai-UK proposal. UK universities will automatically become members of the Consortium upon selection of their joint proposals. A Catalyst Grant of up to £10,000 will be available for applicants to support the delivery of the project in the first year (limited number of grants available).
Benefits to UK universities:
- Increased strategic partnerships with world ranking higher education institutions in Thailand
- Increased international networks, platforms, and opportunities for future collaboration
- Sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise between Thailand and the UK through joint research and academic programmes, as well as academic and student exchanges.
Activities open to UK institutions:
| Activity | Timeline | Important notes |
| Open call for Joint Thai-UK Project Proposal and Catalyst Grant under the Consortium | 16 August 2021 - 31 October 2021 (23:59 GMT) | See details in the section below |
| Thai-UK Higher Education Forum (Hybrid) | 7 October 2021 | See details in the section below |
| Networking session with Thai universities in the Consortium | 8 October 2021 | See details in the section below |
| The first meeting of Thai-UK Consortium members | TBC January 2022 | To be announced |
| The second meeting of the Thai-UK Consortium members | TBC March 2022 | To be announced |
Project implementation (Year 2 onwards) and the continuity of the Consortium
Project activities from April 2022 onwards will involve the implementation of a joint plan for the submitted proposal, meetings of TH-UK Consortium members, and UK visits (this activity may change depending on the situation).
MHESI and the British Council will revisit and redefine the project plan, activities, and funding for the following years and announce the next phase of the project. Please click here to stay connected and receive updates via our website.
Call for Joint Thai-UK Project Proposal under the Thai-UK World-class University Consortium
The Consortium is offering opportunities for UK higher education institutions to engage and collaborate with Thai members to deliver activities that meet the strategic objectives through the submission of a Joint Thai-UK Project Proposal. Following successful proposal selection, UK universities will join their Thai counterparts and become members of the Consortium.
Fifteen members from 7 Thai institutions have been selected to become part of the Thai-UK World-class University Consortium in 7 priority areas: Architecture and Built Environment, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Medicine, Geography, and Developmental Studies. A list of Thai Consortium members can be accessed through the following link.
A Catalyst Grant of up to £10,000 will be available for applicants to support project delivery in the first year (the number of grants is limited).
Call for application is now closed. Please contact thidaporn.wareenin@britishcouncil.or.th for further information.
This initiative is part of the Going Global Partnerships programme. Find out about other Going Global Partnerships funding calls, events, policy dialogues and other opportunities.
