Blog Ambassador Kees Rade (2)
The ambassador to Thailand, Kees Rade, writes a monthly blog for the Dutch community, in which he outlines what he has been doing in the past month.
Dear compatriots,
The month of October started with my first working visit to Chiang Mai. During a well-attended NTCC event on health care and aging, I was able to explain our priorities with regard to this increasingly topical theme in both the Netherlands and Thailand. I also visited a number of Dutch companies, good to see that our entrepreneurship is also leading to appealing results in that region. I would especially like to mention the Elephant Parade, a Dutch initiative with a beautiful history and a global reputation. Impressive to walk around there, and to see how the elephants are made, which can eventually be admired at Schiphol Airport. Recommended!
I also met part of the Dutch community, which showed me that it is very difficult for us as an embassy to reach all Dutch people. Our Website and Facebook page turn out to be insufficient to achieve wide distribution, we will think further about possibilities to come up with a solution for this.
The musical highlight of the month was undoubtedly the performance of the Dutch Swing College Band outside the EmQuartier shopping centre. This traditional Dutch jazz band, active for almost 75 years, was asked to play some of the 49 compositions of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the occasion of the commemoration of his death two years ago. A fantastic concert, where it was clear that all Thai attendees know these compositions from A to Z. In case you missed it, Adrie Braat, the driving force behind the DSCB, will return to Thailand in March with his Biggles Big Band to perform even more Dutch jazz.
Dutch higher education was also in the news this month, in various ways. First of all, through the visit of the Rector Magnificus of Nyenrode University Miša Džoljić, looking for opportunities for cooperation with comparable Thai business courses. Subsequently, a panel on Dutch higher education was organized by NHL/Stenden in collaboration with their Thai partner PIM. A group of experts from business and higher education, and a number of Dutch Stenden students who are currently following a course in Thailand, debated why someone who wants to follow a (company) course should come to the Netherlands. Key words: dynamic education of good quality, learning on the job, international society, largest offer of English-taught education within the EU (with the exception of the UK, but how long will that take…).
Less good news came from the regional Nuffic-Neso representative: “The Hague” has decided to close the local Nuffic-Neso office at the end of this year, despite the good functioning of this office. Reasons: declining subsidy in the Netherlands, coupled with too little growth in the number of Thai students studying in the Netherlands. A pity, but given the sharply declining number of Thai students starting university studies in Thailand itself (ageing…) not entirely unexpected.
I ended this month in Hua Hin, where the Dutch Association Thailand Hua Hin had organized a grand spectacle to celebrate its 10th anniversary. A business lunch with mainly Dutch SME entrepreneurs, where our Head of the Economic Department could explain what we as an embassy can do for this important group of entrepreneurs (90% of the Dutch economy), and in the evening a grand performance by Karin Bloemen for 130 enthusiastic guests. A chunk of dynamics, she played as if she had a sold-out Carré in front of her. Nice initiative by Do and the other members of the board, definitely worth following!
Sincerely,
Keith Rade
Source: Netherlands Worldwide
About Nuffic-Neso:
1. The market has been shifting for some years now from 4 years of Bachelor programs studying abroad to formulas of 3+1, 2+2…ie 3 or 2 years studying in Thailand, 1 or 2 years abroad.
2. The procedures for Thai students to study or do an internship in the Netherlands have become much more difficult. So: the Netherlands itself is partly responsible for the fact that the enthusiasm to study in the Netherlands is declining.
3. Renowned and less renowned Western universities are opening branches in Asian countries, throwing in their own glasses a bit.
2 years ago and this year the Dutch Embassy has been here in Changmai.
Well organized, nothing to say.
What is disappointing to me is that there were very few people present, about 25 people.
Are there so few Dutch people here in Changmai and surroundings? or is the togetherness among the Dutch so bad, in Changmai ..
When I read in the TB in Hua Hin, Pataya and Bangkok at the NVT there, the turnout is very good and I think it's also fun.
Here in Changmai, despite the small turnout, it was still fun.
Hans
Dear Hans.
Not a bad word about our new ambassador. I am now in the Netherlands and could not attend.
Some people may still have some cold feet. When I look at myself, I immediately think of our sadly deceased Karel Hartog. A very lovable, charming and open man and still think of him with sadness.
Hank.
Dear ambassador, dear Kees,
I think you can generate much more interest with a blog if it is not so much a summary of where you have been, but more a substantive story about what the future plans are.
And, for example, each month highlights a subject that the embassy / ambassador sees as a priority, with action points to be expected for the reader. You yourself mention health care in this blog. Now explain why, what the role of the Netherlands is in this, and what the embassy will do to strengthen that.
Kind regards, Peter