TWINNING AND DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN INDIA & THAILAND

FACULTY WORLDWIDE

Group T Leuven Campus has a 20-year long tradition in dual undergraduate degree programmes with several renowned Chinese universities. For years, hundreds of students from China have populated the English taught bachelor programme in Engineering Technology. The strategic target regions for international students also include Thailand and India. In October 2020, the first group of undergraduate students from Vellore Institute of Technology (India) and Thammassat University (Thailand) started their study in Leuven.

In January 2020, KU Leuven and Vellore Institute of Technology signed a cooperation agreement for the establishment of a twinning degree programme in Engineering Technology. An intensive campaign was then launched at VIT to promote the programme to their students. Ranjini Mayichery of the Group T International Office, active in the field of admissions and recruitment and contact person for India, welcomed the first three students and guaranteed a smooth start-up. Arvind Giridhar, Sanat Kumar and Arfaat Ahmed Peer Iftequar arrived in Leuven last August. They are still getting used to the cold temperatures in Belgium, as the south of India has quite a different climate with temperatures of more than 40 degrees in summer.

Arvind, Sanat and Arfaat were already planning to go abroad after their bachelor study, but the new possibilities changed these plans. Arvind remarks: “The information came close to the deadline for application, so we had to decide quickly. Of course, our parents also came into the story, because their support is essential in carrying out our plans. Months later, I can now recommend everyone to study abroad and take on an international programme”.

Arvind Giridhar, Sanat Kumar and Arfaat Ahmed Peer Iftequar (Vellore Institute of Technology – India)

©Julie Feyaerts

“One advantage is that many Indian students already have an international outlook”, adds Sanat. ”Still, the KU Leuven system of study proved to be challenging. The focus on student autonomy and guided self-study is new to many international students. Time management is an important skill in planning your study at KU Leuven.”

“The first days were not easy, with no other Indian students around, so there was no other option than to socialise with Belgian students. The WhatsApp group set up by Group T Leuven Campus proved to be extremely useful, but still it was so cold”, shivers Arvind. “Moreover, on Sunday everything is closed. The campus life is also radically different. VIT is a community with everything present on-campus; in Leuven, the university is a city with a large city campus.

Nevertheless, the message to future candidates for the twinning programme VIT–KU Leuven is unanimous. “Go for it!”, Ahmed confirms . “If you want to improve your CV as an engineer, KU Leuven is a very good place to go”. The students plan to do a master’s course also in Leuven, Ahmed sees a future in international business. “This way, our study is a stepping stone for our future career as an engineer, be it in R&D or in business.”

Dual degree

At Thammasat University, information sessions were set up by Kantima Thongkhao, who since 2018 has been the KU Leuven international liaison in Thailand and is involved in the KU Leuven alumni chapter for Thailand. Kawin Sirichantakul, Naphrut Wandee, Chutkaew Girdpra are the first Thai students from Thammasat University in the dual degree programme in Engineering Technology at Group T Leuven Campus.

The engineering programme at Thammasat has two study tracks, one of which is taught in English, geared towards international mobility during the undergraduate study phase. Kawin, Chutkaew and Naphrut were all three in this study track, with an international mobility to the UK or Australia in mind. The international perspective already implies a thorough knowledge of English as well as an international outlook.

Naphrut Wandee, Chutkaew Girdpra and Kawin Sirichantakul (Thammasat University – Thailand)

©Julie Feyaerts

Chutkaew admits: “It was the first time that we heard about the possibility of study at KU Leuven. I did some research and found that KU Leuven has a very good reputation for research and technology. Moreover, the quality of life in a small city like Leuven is high. The facilities for students are very affordable and of high level. ”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the preparation happened in an untypical way. The visa processing and preparation was compressed into a three-week period just before the start of the academic year. On 7 October, the students could finally start their study, with specific guidance to catch up with in the first few weeks of the academic year. The International Office on Group T Leuven Campus supported and advised them on how to get organised.

Naphrut explains: “The start was overwhelming; the way of working is totally different at KU Leuven. The welcome was warm, with a Thai buddy guiding us, even cooking for us every week”.

About the engineering programmes on Group T Campus, Kawin says: “The engineering programme here is more hands-on, you need to conceive and design things, e.g. running an actual programme to make a robot move. In Thammasat, a system of mid-term and end of term exams is used, so this will also put some flexibility in our study approach”, according to Chutkaew.

“Self-discipline is essential for students coming to KU Leuven”, says Naphrut, “Students have to work independently, which obviously is also strengthened by the COVID-19 situation”.

The Thai trio has no doubt about it: “COVID-19 or not, by the time we graduate, we will be global engineers”.

Hilde Lauwereys