On the morning of February 23, 2021, the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between Hubei University of Economics (HBUE) and North-Chiang Mai University (NCU) in Thailand was successfully held online, marking the official launch of JADE Project developed by East & West Institute for International Education (EWIE). Ms. Chutima Chavasint (Cai Pingping), Vice-President of NCU, Prof. Fu Hong, Vice- President of HBUE signed the agreement document on behalf of their distinctive university. Mr. E Xuewen, Secretary-General of the Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU) and representatives of EWIE were invited to attend and witness the signing ceremony.

The Joint Academic Degree Enrollment Program (JADE) is a unique training program developed by EWIE to help Chinese and Thai universities in joint training of undergraduate students by using mutually recognized curricula and teaching standards. It is a “2+2” undergraduate program with a general education curriculum of the first 2 years developed and provided by EWIE and delivered in cooperation with partner universities. The curriculum is designed to allow students to spend their first 2 years with a home university and another 2 years at an overseas partner university to attain the undergraduate degree(s) granted by either or both of the partner universities. It is meant to be bi-directional, i.e., it aims to make it possible for both partner universities to send their students to their counterpart for another 2 years to complete the training program.

At the signing ceremony, the leaders of HBUE and NCU in Thailand respectively introduced about their universities and expressed their enthusiasm and expectation for the successful implementation of this project. The two universities thanked EWIE and all parties for their support in promoting educational exchanges between China and Thailand. In his speech, Mr. E Xuewen, Secretary-General of ACTU, congratulated the two universities on the establishment of cooperation, and said that ACTU is committed to promoting exchanges among ACTU members and will render active support to HBUE and NCU. Discussions were also held on how to cope with COVID-19 influence on cooperation between the two sides with online exchanges and course teaching as an option. 

Also present at the meeting were Mr. Dhruv Choudhary, Director of International Exchange and Relations, Dr. Phoom Srisook, Dean of Business School and Hotel Management, and Guo Hui, Dean of School of Innovation of NCU; Prof. Wang Hong, Director of International Exchange and Cooperation, Prof. Jiang Xin, Vice Dean of School of Tourism and Hotel Management of HBUE; Ms. Yan Haixia, Vice President of EWIE, and Mr. Feng Jishang, and Mr. Zhang Lei.