The collaboration between Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand, and the University of Waterloo, Canada, has created meaningful international learning opportunities for students from both institutions through co-operative education and research-based mobility. Launched in 2024, the partnership enables Waterloo students to complete co-operative education placements at SUT, while SUT students are provided with opportunities to undertake research placements at the University of Waterloo. This initiative reflects both universities’ shared commitment to experiential learning, international collaboration, and the development of globally competent graduates.
In 2025, the collaboration continued to expand with the participation of two Canadian students from the University of Waterloo, Jeffrey Ling and Blake Edwin Hills, who undertook their co-operative education placements at SUT. Their participation reflects the growing momentum of academic and experiential learning collaboration between the two universities and reinforces SUT’s role as a destination for international co-operative education, research collaboration, and cross-cultural learning.
Jeffrey Ling and Blake Edwin Hills, students from the University of Waterloo, Canada, participated in the 2025 co-operative education placement at Suranaree University of Technology under the partnership between SUT and the University of Waterloo. Both students undertook their placements at the Center for Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Suranaree University of Technology (CRSPG-SUT), where they gained hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability-related research activities. Their placement provided opportunities to learn from real working environments, develop scientific and professional skills, and enhance cross-cultural communication through collaboration with SUT researchers and staff. The participation of Jeffrey and Blake highlights the value of the SUT–Waterloo partnership in creating meaningful international co-operative education experiences and strengthens SUT’s role as a platform for global learning and research engagement.
Nutnicha Suvittawat, a student from Suranaree University of Technology, participated in a 12-week research placement at the University of Waterloo, Canada, where she worked with the Mechatronics Vehicle Systems Lab on the WatBus autonomous bus project. Her research experience included supporting LiDAR-camera calibration, preparing and labeling datasets, and training YOLO models to improve object detection under challenging weather conditions. Through this placement, Nutnicha gained first-hand exposure to an international research environment that encourages collaboration, open discussion, and practical engineering problem-solving. Her participation demonstrates the potential of SUT students to contribute to advanced research projects at leading global institutions and reflects SUT’s commitment to preparing students for future careers in innovation-driven fields.
Siripanchara Promnil, a student from Suranaree University of Technology, joined a research placement at RoboHub, University of Waterloo, where she worked on controlling the Clearpath Jackal mobile robot for indoor navigation and mmWave signal mapping. Her tasks involved Python scripting, data collection and analysis, as well as learning new technologies such as ROS2 and SLAM. Beyond gaining technical knowledge in robotics and autonomous systems, Siripanchara also developed greater confidence, independence, and adaptability through living and studying abroad. Her journey reflects how SUT supports students in developing academic excellence, professional skills, and global perspectives through international research experiences.
The achievements of these students illustrate that the partnership between SUT and the University of Waterloo goes beyond student exchange. It serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, cultural understanding, and real-world experiential learning between Thailand and Canada. Through this collaboration, students are empowered to strengthen their academic and professional capabilities, expand their international outlook, and return with the confidence and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Source and Cr: University of Waterloo Co-operative Education News
https://uwaterloo.ca/co-operative-education/news/thailand-partnership-experiences