Chulalongkorn University Collaborates with NUS on Thai Traditional Music and Cultural Exchange 

Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, on January 6, 2026, presided over the opening ceremony of an academic and cultural exchange program at the Concert Hall, Art and Culture Building, hosted by the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS), reaffirming the University’s commitment to international partnership and creative exchange in the performing arts. 

In his opening ceremony address, Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat emphasized the importance of cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration as integral components of Chulalongkorn University’s global engagement strategy, highlighting the role of the arts in fostering mutual understanding within contemporary educational contexts. 

The program commenced with welcome remarks by Professor Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, who underscored the Faculty’s commitment to integrating traditional knowledge with international perspectives and contemporary artistic practice. This was followed by Remarks of Appreciation from Ms. Sing Mohli, Deputy Head of the Centre for the Arts, Office of Student Affairs, National University of Singapore, who expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed the value of sustained collaboration between the two institutions. 

The opening ceremony featured a Ceremonial Gift Exchange at both the university and faculty levels, symbolizing mutual respect and long-term partnership. At the faculty level, Professor Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit presented a souvenir to Mr. Francis Tan Huan Chun, Music Director and conductor of the NUS Wind Symphony. The formal session concluded with a group photograph attended by university executives, faculty members, NUS representatives, and students. 

The academic program brought together a total of 154 students, comprising 55 students from the Department of Thai Music, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and 99 students from the National University of Singapore, along with five academic and supporting staff members from NUS. This strong level of participation reflected shared enthusiasm for cross-cultural learning and collaborative engagement in the performing arts. 

Following the opening ceremony, participants took part in a Thai Traditional Music Workshop led by Dr. Dusadee Swangviboonpong, Associate Dean for Special Affairs, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. The workshop introduced students to essential principles of Thai traditional music, including instrumental roles, performance techniques, and ensemble aesthetics, providing both conceptual grounding and experiential learning. 

The program further promoted critical student reflection on experiential learning and intercultural exchange through a guided academic dialogue moderated by Associate Professor Dr. Pornprapit Phoasavadi, Associate Dean for International Affairs. The discussion encouraged students to examine contemporary artistic practice in relation to tradition and to reflect on the relationship between technique, expression, and creative imagination. 

This collaborative program demonstrates the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts’ continued commitment to internationalization, student-centered learning, and the integration of traditional arts within contemporary global discourse, while laying a strong foundation for future academic exchange and joint initiatives between Chulalongkorn University and the National University of Singapore. 

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