Fourteen delegates of Prince of Songkla University, led by PSU President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chusak Limsakul, visited the Thai Students' Association in Cairo under the Royal Patronage on October 10, 2017. The delegates were warmly welcomed by the President, committee, and members of the association.

          Through this visit, delegates learned that currently there are approximately 3,500 Thai students studying at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, with the majority of them hailing from the Southern border provinces of Thailand. Most of these students are undergraduate Social Science majors in the fields of Education, Communication Arts and Languages. Others are specializing in Medicine and Engineering. Their proficiency in Arabic language could be an important asset in Thailand’s ability to answer the growing demand in certain segments of the job market. In the past, more than half of such graduates found positions in educational institutions, while others got hired by the private sector.

          In order to ensure an optimal workforce integration of Thai graduates from Egypt, PSU plans to offer practical post-bachelor education to students graduated in academic fields where the university sees a potential.

          To gauge student interest, PSU Pattani Campus conducted a survey among target students. The survey showed that most respondents are interested in short-term courses in subjects related to Halal food (e.g. Halal food inspector). Other positions of high interest are tour guide and interpreter. Some students expressed interest in pursuing graduate studies in education and related fields.  

          The PSU College of Islamic Studies has already opened a pilot program, while plans for further development are also being put in place, in coordination with the Thai Students Association in Cairo. The successful integration of a Thai workforce fluent in Arabic will be a boon both to Thailand in general and to the Southern region in particular.