็German Alumni Seminar “Experiencing Germany: Culture, Law and Politics, from Thai – German Perspectives”

German Alumni Seminar “Experiencing Germany: Culture, Law and Politics, from Thai-German Perspectives” 

Date: Friday 2nd August ,2019 

Venue: Room no.123, 1st floor, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University (Tha Prachan)

Jointly organized by Asia Governance Foundation (AGF) with kind support of Lufthansa 

Agenda   Report   Photos

Agenda

3.30-4.00 pm                          Registration

4.00-4.15 pm                          Opening Remarks

Jan Scheer, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economic  Affairs, German Embassy Bangkok

Henning Glaser, Director of German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

4.15-5.15 pm                        Experiencing Germany: Culture, Law and Studies, from Thai Perspectives

H.E. Kasit Piromya, Citizen Activation Academy/ Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand

Dr. Pananya Larbprasertporn, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Bangkok

Moderator: Dr. Naporn Popattanachai, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University                                                         

5.15-6.30 pm.                       Experiencing Germany: Culture, Law and Studies, from German Perspective

Dr. Alex Brezing, DAAD Lecturer, Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok

                                                German Law and Culture; Does it matter in Thailand?

Henning Glaser, Director, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

                                                Studying in Germany

Dr. Duc Quang Ly, Project Manager, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

Moderator: Jan Kliem, Senior Researcher, CPG, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University

6.30-7.00 pm                          Awarding Ceremony for CPG German Language Class 2018/2, 2019/1& Lucky Draw

 Andreas Knoop, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University

7.00 pm                                   Concluding Remarks

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittisak Prokati, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Bangkok

Report

On 2 August 2019, the German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), with the kind support of Lufthansa, hosted the German Alumni seminar, “Experiencing Germany: Culture, Law and Politics, from Thai-German Perspectives”. This is held in conjunction with the certificate awarding ceremony for successful participants of CPG’s German language classes. The event provided information and interesting insights into German history, law and culture as well as opportunities and scholarships for studies at German universities. 

The seminar was opened with the welcoming remarks of Jan Scheer, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy in Bangkok. He highlighted the importance of learning languages and its ability to prevent nationalistic thinking. CPG Director Henning Glaser also gave a warm welcome to all participants, and encouraged greater engagement with CPG’s many fulfilling activities.

Thereafter, H.E. Kasit Piromya, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Thai ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Pananya Larbprasertporn, lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law and alumnus of Göttingen University, shared their first-hand experiences and perceptions of Germany in terms of its cultural and social aspects. For instance, Dr Pananya remembers being impressed with the strict conformity to the rule of law in Germany. Subsequently, DAAD lecturer at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok Dr Alex Brezing elaborated on his views on German culture and the various ways in which students can benefit from studying in Germany. He shared that studying in Germany allows one to enjoy open discussions as well as obtain a larger toolbox of social skills. CPG Director Henning Glaser followed up by presenting on the link between language and culture, highlighting that learning a foreign language is an essential way to broaden one’s own intellectual horizons and to understand one’s own country by exposing oneself to a foreign country’s history, law and culture. After which, CPG’s Program Manager Dr Duc Quang Ly shared information on various scholarship opportunities for studying in Germany and the many ways in which CPG provides support for students interested in or preparing for a study program in Germany. Finally, Andreas Knoop, lecturer at the German Department of Thammasat University and representative of the instructors of CPG’s German language classes, introduced the content, structure, and participants of the classes.

The fruitful event was completed by the presentation of the German Language Class certificates to the students and a lucky draw with cash prizes and non-cash prizes, which includes travel bags from Lufthansa. Dr. Kittisak Prokati, lecturer of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law and alumnus of Bonn University, closed the seminar with remarks on his own experiences as a student in Germany and how they have altered his way of thinking. 

Overall, it was a fulfilling and informative session, and CPG would like to extend its gratitude to all participants for attending and sharing this special occasion with us.

Photos