THAILAND's Professor Doctor Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol has landed in the Hunter to launch a new dual degree program that will be offered between the institute she founded and the University of Newcastle.
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Applications will open in December 2020 for the four year undergraduate medical innovation - engineering (MIE) program, which combines UON's bachelor of medical engineering (honours) and Chulabhorn Royal Academy's bachelor of science (medical innovation) degrees.
UON Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO and Her Royal Highness signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, before she met with Thai students studying at UON.
Professor Zelinsky said UON had strong engineering and medical programs and would provide students at the recently-established Royal Academy with "international experience with a world-class university".
He said UON would gain international students, benefit from "internationalising our program" and pursue joint research grants.
"I'm very much about making this university a global university for the Asia Pacific, we want to work with the best in all these areas. This is totally aligned with that idea of globalisation."
He said UON needed to "lift its game internationally".
"We have to do more. We are seeking to have more Asian students here."
The new program targets Thai students, who will spend 18 months studying in Bangkok, followed by two years in Newcastle and another six months in Bangkok.
Students will graduate with two degrees and be able to pursue careers including medical manufacturing engineer, medical product developer and healthcare scientist.