Cultural exchange programs aim to connect, enlighten, and empower people from all around the world. Students from schools, colleges, and universities can study abroad at one of their partner institutions through cultural exchange programs. Furthermore, exchange programs expose students to people from a wide range of cultural, geographic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, allowing them to have a greater understanding of diversity in both their home and visiting nations. The University of Baguio (UB) and Khon Kaen University-College of Local Administration (KKU-COLA) collaborated and facilitated their students to visit each other's campuses. This program allows students to interact with and learn from people who are different from themselves, as well as to participate in new and unique experiences outside of their communities, and it assists students in developing positive relationships with others, understanding a broader range of perspectives, and developing the knowledge and skills required for participation in our multicultural society, which aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 17.
Ten (10) Thai students from KKU-COLA stayed at the university for almost 5 months and were exposed to different offices and schools. During their stay at the University of Baguio School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (UB-SIHTM), the Thai exchange students from KKU-COLA were able to learn a lot of things, make discoveries, and hone their skills. They were assigned to several offices and were exposed to the SIHTM through several activities such as educational tours in the Baguio Smart City Command Center, Emilio Aguinaldo Museum, Centennial Park, and Burnham Park. They were also given a chance to interact with the SIHTM students in several classes and school events such as the SIHTM Annual Skills Olympics and the 7th International Tourism and Hospitality Students’ Convention. They had the opportunity to learn our language through interaction with the SIHTM students and playing popular Filipino games. Nonetheless, this cultural interaction allows Thai students to function better as they become more comfortable interacting with the people around them. It may also be fun for them because they can mingle with other students and have a chance to meet new friends. Students had the opportunity to learn how to make coffee and travel itinerary as part of their activities at the SIHTM Centennial Hall Kiosk and Onyx Travel and Tours last March 27 to 31, 2023. The KKU-COLA students get to learn more about coffee varieties besides how to make them. In addition, the students also did upsell and deal with UB students as their customers, which has helped to improve their ability to communicate with people from other cultures. Moreover, at the Open House, the KKU-COLA students learned how to do passport processing, visa assistance, and ticketing. On top of that, as part of this cultural exchange program, the KKU-COLA students had fun and established positive relationships with UBSIHTM students. Before returning to Thailand, the Thai exchange students' concluding task was to conduct their online forum to discuss the various facets of Thai culture and language thus they came up with the title "Discover Land of Smile: A Glimpse of Thai Language and Culture" during their brainstorming session. The three selected speakers, Ms. Natthanicha Haela (Noey), Ms. Suwira Chamaep (Ging), and Ms. Pornpilin Prommool (BK), discussed religion and superstitions, their culture, family customs, Thai festival, Thai foods, tourist attractions, and Thai language during the online forum. After a semester filled with learning and opportunities, the KKU-COLA students headed back to Thailand last April 27, 2023.
After a month, UB and SIHTM sent thirteen (13) students to Khon Kaen, Thailand to participate in a two-month Exchange Student Program under KKU-COLA. The students were accompanied by Dean Jenelyn Mangangey-Magpatoc together with the BSTM-IT Program Chair, Ms. Joanna Marie B. Victorio, and Ms. Rachel Grace A. Liclican, a BSTM faculty member. The UB team was warmly welcomed by the KKU-COLA family headed by the Dean Dr. Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Dr. Grichawat Lowatcharin, Associate Dean for Academic, Research, and Global Affairs, Kewaree Sangsawang, the International Relations Officer among others. The students attended Thai Language Classes and Multicultural Diversity Classes. They are given opportunities to take part in COLA’s major school events and even created their own program to maximize their interaction which is titled COLAUB: The Linguistic Youth Camp participated by the KKU-COLA students. Furthermore, the students are also given a chance to visit Nong Khai, Thailand, and Vientiane, Laos before heading to Bangkok, Thailand for their return trip to the Philippines.
UBSIHTM continues to trailblaze international collaborations to provide more opportunities for students to be continuously exposed to global education. This cultural exchange in education exposes students to different customs, traditions, languages, and beliefs. It broadens their understanding of global perspectives, enhances cultural sensitivity, and helps them develop the ability to interact effectively with individuals from various backgrounds. Indeed, such programs help students understand diverse customer needs, promote destination attractiveness, facilitate cross-cultural collaboration, and encourage innovation in the industry. Embracing cultural exchange empowers professionals to provide exceptional service in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world to be globally competitive in their field of specialization. Additionally, the Thai exchange students can also strengthen their knowledge of other cultures and learn how to connect with various people while improving their communication skills. They had the chance to engage in various activities that refined their abilities, talents, and confidence, contributing to a successful cultural exchange.
Nonetheless, the success of the Cultural Exchange Program contributes to the overall success of the Khon Kaen University-College of Local Administration and University of Baguio-School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management students.