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PROTÉGÉS Issue no. 3 | 2022
PROTÉGÉS
Short Term Mobility Programme:
Burapha University, Thailand

By Nur Rees Ain, 3rd Year, BA International and Strategic Studies

This is a reflection on behalf of 11 representative students
who went on the short-term mobility program to Burapha
University Chanthaburi Campus from 5th to 12th
September 2022. Prior to the program, our familiarity with
Thai culture, people and even Thailand in general, was
minimal, except for a few similarities with Malaysia; most
of us had never been to Thailand. After the program
finished, we came back understanding more about
Thailand and its culture including its history, food and the
landscape.

The stay at Burapha University Chanthaburi Campus also
made us apply survival skills and appreciate more of what Certificate offering session of Malaysian buddies with the Dean of
we already have. Since the campus is in the countryside, the Faculty, Asst. Prof Dr. Vasin Yuvanatemiya, Programme Director
and Asst. Prof Tanonrat Naktang
it was a change from our lifestyle because we're used to
city life. Physical human interaction has been decreasing
over the years because of smartphones, and this lack of
interaction of course got a lot worse due to Covid-19. So
we did appreciate taking the time off from our electronic
devices and truly spending time with the Thai buddies,
professors and lecturers, and even ourselves. As students,
we all had different experiences: some were fascinated by

Group photo of The Dean of the Faculty, Programme Director,
lecturers, along with all Thai and Malaysian buddies
the historical aspects, some bewildered by scenic
Chanthaburi, and some just enjoyed what the program
had to offer. We all realised, however, that what we
learned in the program can definitely be applied in our
studies. We were delighted to be introduced to new
things such as gems, Chanthaburi's pride, the legendary
During the process of planting Mangrove trees in the Mangrove
forest King Taksin and the vast amount of food offered
everywhere.

Personally, I felt that the program was more memorable
and enjoyable than we thought it would be. We went
there with the mindset of serious students prepared to
absorb all the knowledge we can get but we left Thailand
with improved social skills, new friends, and warm
feelings, having lived as Chanthaburi people. On another
note, we joked about being human throughout the
program but, in the end, we really did go back to being
the humans we used to be before our hectic student lives
One of the Malaysian Cultural Performance; Dikir Barat began.

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