In an era of globalisation, universities are increasingly investing in international partnerships. Such collaborations benefit not only students and academic staff but also help raise institutional standards in teaching, learning and research. Recently, the Swiss Institute of Management and Sciences (SIMS) and Thailand’s Shinawatra University (SIU) formalised their collaboration — marking a new bridge between European and Asian higher education.
Founded in 1999 by Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister of Thailand, Shinawatra University is among the country’s leading private international universities. With campuses in Bangkok and Pathum Thani, SIU has more than 25 years of experience delivering globally relevant programmes in business administration, technology, languages and the social sciences. A key strength of SIU lies in its international focus: many of its programmes are taught in English, attracting a diverse community of students and scholars while maintaining partnerships across Asia, Europe and the United States.
Beyond academic programmes, research collaboration remains a shared priority. SIMS and SIU plan to co-host international conferences, participate in joint research projects and co-author scholarly publications. These initiatives not only reinforce the academic reputation of both institutions but also make a meaningful contribution to the global research community. Furthermore, the partnership seeks to expand links with other higher education institutions across ASEAN and Europe, establishing a dynamic and sustainable network for collaboration and innovation.
The partnership between SIMS and SIU offers tangible benefits for both students and academics. Students will gain access to diverse learning approaches, draw insights from two distinct educational systems and enhance their employability in an increasingly competitive global job market. Academics, in turn, will have opportunities to engage in joint research, broaden their professional networks, access shared resources and strengthen their scholarly profiles.
According to representatives from both institutions, this agreement extends beyond short-term initiatives, aiming instead to establish a long-term strategic partnership. The shared objective is to advance sustainable education while elevating the academic standing of both SIMS and SIU on the global higher education map.
This collaboration also reflects a wider movement in the global landscape of higher education, where universities actively engage and share expertise to enrich the quality of teaching and research. With Shinawatra University’s strong academic foundation and SIMS’s international outlook, the partnership is expected to deliver meaningful outcomes in the years ahead — leaving a lasting imprint on both regional and global academic communities.
