• 
• 

A four-year collaboration between Australia's University of New England (UNE) and Naresuan University (NU) in health and medical education and research has resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between these two rural-based institutions.

A significant project to emerge from this collaboration is the establishment of the National Centre of Expertise on Hospital and Health Service Management. UNE is a key partner in the project, which is recognised by the World Health Organisation.

David Briggs, a senior lecturer in UNE's School of Health, has been working with a large team of health researchers from both Australia and Thailand - and Thai students in the Doctor of Health Service Management programme at UNE - on projects associated with rural medical education and health-service delivery models. The establishment of the WHO Centre in Thailand offers a further opportunity to increase the number of programmes related to workforce training in health-service management in Asia.

NU president Mondhon Sangauansermsri said: "This agreement will further promote and support a number of teaching and scholarship activities that will make a difference in improving healthcare delivery."

Mondhon has also provided scholarships for senior staff of his university to undertake the doctoral programme in Health Service Management at UNE.

The vice chancellor of UNE, Prof Alan Pettigrew, said the long-standing relationship between UNE and NU was a strong reflection of both universities' commitment to address rural issues and workforce training through collaboration.

"The most significant advances in the future will come from international collaborations such as these, where the partners have an opportunity to learn from shared experiences in their respective countries," Pettigrew said.

Discussions were held about the exchange of medical students from UNE and NU that would enrich both their medical education and their cultural awareness. The UNE delegates also learnt about the delivery of rural dental education in Thailand - a subject of great interest to Australia given the shortage of dentists working in rural dental practices.

UNE is discussing with NU the delivery of a range of flexible courses and training programmes in the field of health-service management designed to assist middle and higher-level health officials in becoming better equipped to deal with the complex changes occurring in health services. It is hoped that the courses will be offered in Thailand, with UNE academic staff delivering lectures locally with the assistance of tutors from NU at their Bangkok and main campuses.

Source: Australian Embassy, Bangkok