The Thai World Affairs Center (Thai World) is located at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, 7th Floor, Prajadhipok-Rambhai Barni Building, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Tel: 662-251-5199, 662-218-7463-64, Fax: 662-255-1124, E-mail: info@thaiworld.org and Website: http://www.thaiworld.org

The International Understanding Program (IUP) was the forerunner of the present Thai World Affairs Center (Thai World). It was officially established on October 1, 1986, and carried out its objectives under that banner until the end of 2003. The change of the name at this time was due to the changing world situation. The advancement of new information technology has enabled the organization to operate more efficiently and has resulted in adjustments to the organization’s structure, activities and name. However, the present Thai World organization remains an independent agency attached to the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) at Chulalongkorn University.

Since its establishment, IUP (now Thai World) has engaged in a variety of activities relevant to its objectives. In the first 8 years, it organized lectures and seminar series aimed at promoting international understanding. These included “Meet the Ambassador” forums which provided opportunities for foreign ambassadors in Thailand to meet with the public in an informal setting. Second, it gave awards to a number of eminent Thais who had an outstanding record for promoting international understanding. Third, in two consecutive years (1996-1997) it administered nation-wide competitions, with the cooperation of a number of newspapers and television programs, to select 7 promising young students and teachers as its “people ambassadors” to Japan and China. In this role, the chosen representatives interacted with their counterparts during 8 day visits to partner countries. Fourth, the program has produced papers or information sheets to be supplied to interested individuals, institutions of higher learning, government agencies and other selected organizations. Finally, from the beginning of 1997 to the end of 2003, Thai World produced a monthly periodical entitled the “Thailand Monitor” for world-wide distribution.

The original format of the Thailand Monitor was a collection of articles on Thailand published in English by the mass media in Thailand. It differed from the current Thailand Monitor, which is available on the Thai World website, in that the former’s copyright belonged to the original publishers and IUP was allowed to reproduce and distribute articles by mail only. The copyright of the current version of the Thailand Monitor belongs solely to Thai World, and the stories contained therein are written and edited by the Thai World team of experts. However, the objective remains the same: to promote better understanding of Thailand among foreigners. It should be noted that Thai World is currently sharing its website with a Thai version of World Society, dedicated to promoting better understanding of the world among the Thai people. You are cordially invited to visit the Thai World website (www.thaiworld.org) as well as to provide advice on how it can be improved.

Contact : Telephone 02-218-7464, 02-218-7466, Fax 02-255-1124 and E-mail : info@thaiworld.org

Website : http://www.thaiworld.org