To Return To Thailand As Engineering Adviser

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 10

To Return To Thailand As Engineering Adviser

Mr K. Stephen, a former senior lecturer in electrical engineering at the University of Canterbury, will return to Thailand soon as an adviser under New Zealand's Colombo Plan. He will join a Canadian Colombo Plan team in establishing a faculty of engineering at the new University of the North-East at Khon Kaen, about 400 miles from Bangkok.

Mr Stephen returned to New Zealand at the end of last year after two years in Thailand as an expert of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation assisting with the establishment of electrical engineering at the Thonburi Technical Institute.

Announcing the new assignment, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said Thailand had sought Mr Stephen’s further services as a result of his earlier undertaking.

“New Zealand is already assisting in the establishment of a faculty of agriculture at Khon Kaen, and we are pleased to be able to extend some aslstance in another faculty of one of the newest universities in South-east Asia,” said Mr Holyoake. In Christchurch on Monday Mr Stephen said he found the work in Thailand satisfying and the people easy to get on with.

At the Thonburi Technical Institute there were about 600 students, including about 200 in electrical engineering. Most had university entrance qualification but could not get into the university at Bangkok, so they chose these new courses for technicians. Most would readily find employment in national, district and local public authorities and industries.

The new University of the North-East at Khon Kaen was a long way from major centres of population in Thailand, but it was being established in line with the Government’s policy of decentralisation.

Canadian Interest The Canadian Colombo Plan had shown special Interest in the new engineering faculty, chiefly civil engineering, and this was the reason he had been asked to assist in electrical engineering, Mr Stephen said. The new engineering school would open in June. As in his Technical Institute assignment, he would have a Thai counterpart whom he would advise and assist in “getting things going.” Mr Stephen joined the staff of Canterbury University from England in 1950 and resigned at the end of 1963 to go to Thailand. His wife and family were with him there for about six months, but they returned to New Zealand and will stay here for the family’s education. Mr Stephen’s new appointment is for one year.