A group of 23 delegates, led by H.E. Mr. Korn Dabbaransi, Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boonsom Siribumrungsukha, PSU President, and Mr. Adinan Pakbara, Deputy Director of Southern Border Province Administrative Center, made a visit to Ningxia Autonomous Region, China, from September 24–27, 2011. The objective of their visit was to establish academic relationships with Ningxia University and other schools in the province.
The initiative of this trip came from the ongoing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the provinces of Pattani and Ningxia, which was signed on September 11, 2008. This MOU supports cooperation between these regions, in order to promote mutual prosperity and development, encourage exchange of visits, and implement joint projects.
During the trip, PSU executives visited Ningxia University to discuss the possibilities of cooperation and sign an MOU between the two universities. Possible collaborations are staff and student exchange programs with the Islamic College, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Arabic and Chinese), and Faculty of Science and Technology (Halal Food), as well as a study abroad program with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Chinese). The delegation also visited the Ningxia Liu Panshan High School, Yinchuan Tanglai Hui Middle School, and a number of industrial parks.
Other outcomes of this visit were that PSU offered to award two PSU President Scholarships to eligible staff of Ningxia University to further their studies at graduate level at any PSU campus, and 10 PSU scholarships to eligible students of Ningxia Liu Panshan High School and Yinchuan Tanglai Hui Middle School to further their studies at bachelor level at the PSU Pattani campus. Moreover, representatives from PSU Pattani will present their programs of study and have a road show at Ningxia Liu Panshan High School and Yinchuan Tanglai Hui Middle School in Ningxia at the beginning of December.