The Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, which will provide training for Thais to learn Japanese manufacturing and management techniques, is scheduled to open next month in Bangkok.

The TNI, which will focus mainly on human-resource (HR) development, aims to foster a closer relationship between Japan and Thailand and also support Japan's interest in Asean.

The institute comprises three undergraduate departments, in engineering, information and business management, and one post-graduate department, in industrial management. Emphasis is placed on practical, on-site education, which is achieved through strong ties with industry, to improve practical skills and know-how.

The university seeks to produce engineers with Japanese-language capability. Consequently, Japanese language classes are compulsory for all students.

It also aims to increase cooperation in the region as the Asean economies move into high gear and become more integrated with the Japanese economy. Developing human resources to underpin both economies and industries has become a critical issue.

According to the latest copy of the Institute for International Study and Training magazine, issued on March 15, Thailand is credited with taking the initiative of establishing an engineering university that uses Japanese technological know-how in human-resource development.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of friendly relations between Thailand and Japan, and it is hoped that the opening of the TNI will lead to even closer relations between the two countries.

Dr Supong Chayutsahakij, a graduate of the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Engineering, is to be appointed chairman of the institute's board of trustees, while Krisada Visavateeranon, a graduate of Kyoto University's Faculty of Engineering, will be the first TNI president.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is currently looking at working with industry to extend various types of cooperation, including dispatching experts to develop TNI education programmes, holding seminars for lecturers and students, and providing practical guidance.

Moreover, using the Asian Young Leaders Development Fund Initiative, which was launched earlier this year, METI can now work together with Japanese universities to attract talented foreign students and support their employment at Japanese firms, which also opens up cooperation possibilities in this area.

The efforts of the Thailand-Japan Technology Promotion Association and the establishment of the TNI represent successful cases of developing-country human-resource development projects arising from Japanese economic cooperation.

METI said it looks forward to pursuing further economic cooperation and extending this policy to other developing countries.