Mon, 20 June, 2022
TWI Ltd and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish Thailand’s first National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC).
The MoU was signed on behalf of TWI by Innovation and Skills Director, Professor Tat-Hean Gan, and Dean of the Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS) at KMUTNB, Professor. Dr. -Ing. Nisai Fuengwarodsakul.
Members of the MoU Signing Ceremony between TWI and KMUTNB. Photo: TWI Ltd
Covering a number of joint initiatives, TWI and KMUTNB will establish an industry focused postgraduate research centre under the NSIRC International programme.
Founded in the United Kingdom in 2012, NSIRC host Masters and Doctoral programmes that are design to equip students with high-level research skills and industrial experience.
Upon graduating, these highly skilled engineers, scientists and mathematicians, are prepared to work within industry at project leader or equivalent positions, without the need for retraining that can be costly and time consuming for a prospective employer.
Academia that is solving industrial challenges
Speaking at the MoU Ceremony, TWI Director, Tat-Hean Gan said, “We are very proud to begin this partnership with KMUTNB and our aim for NSIRC Thailand is more than just highly impactful PhD graduates.”
“NSIRC was founded because research being produced by UK universities was not being utilised or progressing beyond the initial project. A problem that is not unique to the UK. So we created a programme that could allow students to work on topics that where called for by industries to solve the challenges that they are facing.”
“Producing research that is in demand by governments and industry puts students in a position of strength. Their research is more likely to have an impact across academia and industry, there are more avenues for further investigation within an academic of industrial organisation, and they are more employable, knowing that their knowledge and skills are highly sort after, valued and in demand."
Also speaking at the signing, KMUTNB Dean Prof. Nisai Nisai Fuengwarodsakul said, “I would like to share my gratitude [to TWI] for this MoU, I can see the opportunities that we can do things in many aspects and get fruitful collaborations.”
Funding for the NSIRC International programme is provided by Lloyd's Register Foundation (LRF). LRF was one of three founding partners of NSIRC since 2012, and continue to support research that will make the world a safer place to work and live.
This MoU is the second to be signed by TWI in June 2022, following on from a ceremony between TWI and UNPAR (Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Indonesia) and is continuation of NSIRC's Technology Strategy and Roadmap.
The Roadmap focuses on four key themes that were voted on by the TWI’s Industrial Members; digitalisation, smart manufacturing, new materials and circular economy, and net zero.