Carnegie Mellon and Thai university opening new school

Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University and the King Mongkut Institute of Technology (KMITL) began taking admission applications this month for a new school to develop Thai computer engineers as the two institutions expanded their partnership in research and education.

Carnegie Mellon is one of several American and European universities that have been opening branches, often in partnership with local universities, in recent years. Thailand is determined to develop its human resources, especially in science, technology, engineering, and other technical fields. A larger pool of educated professionals in those disciplines would support the Kingdom’s goal of creating an economy driven by research and development, and innovation.

“KMITL’s passion for excellence is a perfect match with ours, and I see great potential in our partnership,” said James Garrett, Jr., dean of Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering. “This partnership establishes an excellent foundation for even greater collaborations yielding wider impact.”

The CMKL (Carnegie Mellon, King Mongkut Institute of Technology Latkrabang) University will offer masters and doctorate degrees in computer engineering. Students and faculty will also conduct research to support Thailand’s industrial and technological development.

CMKL University is a degree program for students at King Mongkut campus in Thailand, but graduates will receive a degree from Carnegie Mellon upon completion. Carnegie Mellon is at the forefront of industrial robot technology and computer engineering.

Supan Tungjitkusolmun, President of CMKL University, said Carnegie Mellon is deeply involved in research on self-driving cars and artificial intelligence.

The new school is also launching an Entertainment Innovation Center, an interdisciplinary program concentrating on the use of technology for the entertainment industry.

Photo courtesy of www.cmkl.ac.th/cmkm