Day of Thailand at Ural Federal University

15:38, September 30, 2013

The University has opened the "Thai Room" and signed a memorandum with one of Thai universities

September 27 has been announced as the Day of Thailand at  Ural Federal University. UrFU Rector Viktor Koksharov and H.E. Dr. Itti Ditbanjong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Russian Federation together opened the "Thai Room" at UrFU. Then the Rector signed a memorandum of understanding with Burapha University. The memorandum includes all the main areas of cooperation planned for the nearest future.

The opening ceremony of Thai Culture Museum at UrFU took place in the building of the Institute of Physical Education, Sport and Youth Policy.

The decision to hold this event was taken in May 2012, when the Ambassador visited the University.  He participated in the closing ceremony of the Martial Arts Universiade, which was part of the  festival "Spring UPI in the Ural Federal".

The first to visit Thai Room were members of the Thai delegation and UrFU students, who will now be able to learn more about the development of Russian-Thai relations.  The exhibition comprises artefacts representing cultural heritage of the two countries.  Here you can also see the results of UrFU students and faculty's multiple victories in the sphere of Thai boxing: medals, cups, diplomas and photos.

After the opening ceremony, Viktor Koksharov met representatives of  Burapha University's International College. Burapha University is a major public university which has recently been actively engaged in establishing contacts with foreign partners.  The delegation was led by the Dean of the International College Assoc.Prof. Dr.Rana Pongruengphant.

Now UrFU students can learn about Thai culture and practise Thai boxing at the Martial Arts Department: "The University has trained a number of international masters of sport.  In 2001 the University alumnus Dmitry Putilin, who is now the President of Thai Boxing Federation in Russia, became the world champion", said the Director of UrFU sport complex Evgeny Shurmanov.

UrFU's Thai boxing club, which has been working since 2003, has about 500 student members.  Its achievements are significant: according to Evgeny Shurmanov, the University has already trained about 3-4,000 boxers.