The Mon National College (MNC) is about to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Buddhist MahaChulalongkornRajavidyalaya University (MCRU) in Bangkok, Thailand to increase cooperation between the two universities.
MNC was established in 2022 at Nyisar Camp in the New Mon State Party (NMSP)-controlled Ye Chaung Pyar region of Ye Township, in Mon State. It currently offers seven majors leading to Associate Degrees, while students specialising in Nursing Science and Medicine have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
MCRU was founded in 1887 by King Chulalongkorn with the purpose of establishing a higher education institute for Buddhist monks, novices, and laypersons. It is one of two public Buddhist universities in Thailand. It describes itself as “an institute for Tipitaka studies and higher education for Buddhist monks, novices and laypeople.”
The MoU is scheduled to be signed in December, and on 8 August, representatives from MCRU and MNC met to discuss and jointly release the initial MoU draft.
The draft MoU paves the way for MNC students to continue their studies at MCRU, participate in student and teacher exchange programs, engage in a dual degree system, and enhance their research capabilities. MCRU has also verbally agreed to assist in improving parts of MNC's curriculum, according to an abbot who also serves as the president of MCRU's Mon Monk Students’ Group.
He said: “We can't confirm yet if the current draft MoU will actually be signed, but both sides are aiming to finalise the agreement by December, and we will do our best to reach that goal. If the MoU between MCU and MNC is signed, it could bring many positive developments and opportunities for the Mon people.”
An MNC official admitted that despite ongoing efforts, there are still curricular weaknesses in all the major subjects, and MNC is not yet equipped to offer BA degrees to all students.
He said: ”There are still areas where MNC needs improvement. For instance, in social subjects, we mainly teach and focus on research from other countries, but we don't yet have the opportunity to include research specific to our own ethnic background. We need to develop and promote research papers by Mon scholars. Additionally, MNC is not yet able to provide BA degrees to all students, with most only being awarded an Associate degree. This is why we're working to sign MoUs like this, to support the continued education of MNC students.”
MNC also signed an MoU with Thailand’s Payap University, a private university in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.
