Universal Cultural Exchange  (UCE)

Objective

Universal Cultural Exchange, briefly called  UCE,  a cultural exchange program run under the supervision of  the Thai-Universal Culture & Education Foundation, a non-profit making organization, established in 1994 by a small  group of the young generation of the Thais who has realized the importance of education as a means to one’s country development and progress.  Consequently, they would like to boost overseas education and experience for Thai youths  so that they can keep pace with the globalised and dynamic world in which they currently live. 

Activity

The UCE program is therefore set up so as to provide more opportunities for Thai youths to experience overseas education and learn about the different cultures in the real environment to boost better understanding between people of different cultures.  The youth and the interested people participating in our program are encouraged to speak and to express their ideas, to learn to solve any problems confronted, to learn to adjust oneself with other members in the group as well as learning to adapt oneself in a  new environment.    We normally send the group to do the cultural exchange activities in the English speaking countries: the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and etc.

Scholarships for Exchange Students

The youth will be granted either full or partial scholarships to participate in our short exchange programs overseas :  3-week and 5-week programs which normally take place in April and October of every year to coincide with the school term break in Thailand.  

Each year an approximate number of 350-700 youth participate  in our exchange program overseas  since the first intake up to now.

Teacher Program

                Apart from organizing the UCE exchange program overseas, we have also provided opportunity for school administrators and teachers in high school education  all over Thailand  to visit schools and  observe teaching  methodology in  England, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and  Switzerland.   

Special  Programs: 

1) Outbound Visits

There are at present  3 special programs we offer:

- The 9-week  Live and Learn in New Zealand.

- The 7-week English  study for Effective  Communication in England and Canada  - for the students and other interested people.

- UCE Kids in the UK -   This is a program for the Thai kids aged 7-12 years to explore a different world and culture in the UK, to learn and to practice speaking English and to experience life over there to make them feel acquainted with the English language since they are quite young.    This is a  program for parents  with a  vision to prepare their children for the English speaking  world  in the future.

2) Inbound  Visits

                We have also received groups of exchange students from overseas - England, New Zealand and Australia to do the cultural exchange in  Thailand.   All of  these  have been a great success. 

                The group of overseas students come to do the cultural exchange activities as well as to visit interesting places in Thailand at cost basis as we would like to also expand more opportunities  for the foreigners to learn and know more about Thailand.   In the past 10 years, we have received  many group of overseas students:  2 groups from Coventry Education, England,  1 group from Adelaide, Australia, and 2 groups from New Zealand, visiting Thailand.   The recent visit was that of a Kapa Haka group from Gisborne, New Zealand, who came to visit us in  September  2006.  And we are now planning for the next group visit of the Kiwi students from Te Kuiti, New Zealand to happen in November 2010.  

3) Scholarships for  Poor  Students in the Upcountry

                This scholarship is to be  granted to young students whose parents are poor and are unable to afford for them to study further.  Students with good grades  who complete  Pratom 6 (Primary level)  will be granted a 3,500 Baht scholarship to continue their study in  M. 1, the first year of  the  secondary school level.   This scholarship will be fully granted on the condition that the students are to proceed on to  M.1  education.   And this is a  continual  scholarship until  M. 6.   In addition, necessary items like school uniforms, socks, shoes, boy scout, girl scout dresses and  books are also provided.

                Since the  beginning up to now,  500 poor children have been granted.