Uk Engineering Student Help?

[newt]

Hi there all,

I'm a UK mechanical engineering student and was wondering if you had any advice as to how to find a summer job or placement in thailand. There are many exchange/placement resources for english speaking countries such as USA and New Zealand etc. but very little on the net for Thailand. I wanted to experience a different culture and also get some practical knowledge on how the economy over there works. I don't speak thai so was originally looking in western international firms. Any kind of employment is ok as I'm looking to fund my stay with my pay. (though i get the impression teaching is best left to those who know some thai) Any help would be great.

thanks,

Newt

[GuestHouse]

I work for an international corporation that assigns engineers overseas, including to Thailand.

What I can tell you is, we do not assign under graduate trainees overseas, the reasons are two fold – expense and the fact that each assignee requires a work permit. A work permit issued to an undergraduate is one less work permit for a fully qualified member of the permanent staff.

As a general rule assignees overseas are in their late twenties or older and will have had at least four or five years experience in the company working back at the head office.

My best advice is take a look at Thai Universities with exchange programs, you may find one that has something suited to your needs.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I work for an international corporation that assigns engineers overseas, including to Thailand.

What I can tell you is, we do not assign under graduate trainees overseas, the reasons are two fold – expense and the fact that each assignee requires a work permit. A work permit issued to an undergraduate is one less work permit for a fully qualified member of the permanent staff.

As a general rule assignees overseas are in their late twenties or older and will have had at least four or five years experience in the company working back at the head office.

My best advice is take a look at Thai Universities with exchange programs, you may find one that has something suited to your needs.

Kasetsart Uni has some exchange programs but as far as I know, they are into Civil Engineering. Does the UK uni have any MOU's with Thai institutions ?

[ASIC]

Kasetsart also has some exchange programs on prawn farming.

I think you should try AIT (www.ait.ac.th). They do a lot of these kinds of programs, mainly with India, but also with countries in Europe (i.e. Germany, Scandinavia). Also, this is a technological institute and is more your line of study/work.

ASIC

[ASIC]

Oh I forgot,

When I started out in life many many many years ago, I got placement in Singapore through some guy at the Embassy. I don't know how big the British community is in Bangkok, but if it is rather small, someone at the embassy would be able to help you by spreading the word amongst business circles.

ASIC

[GuestHouse]

Try contacting the British Council, they may have some usefull information

[iwan]

I wanted to experience a different culture and also get some practical knowledge on how the economy over there works.

hi,

If you want to do what you mentioned, why not try Singapore where English is the business language and where you will gain easier entry. Then use it as a base to explore the other South East Asian countries. Over time, you may gain more experience and can consider working in Thailand, or wherever fancy you.

[stevehaigh]

are you any good at structural engineering? i need a bit of help designing the steel work in my house.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

are you any good at structural engineering? i need a bit of help designing the steel work in my house.

That'll get him started allright

[newt]

hi guys!

Thanks for your replies. I beleive that my uni does have a connection with a thai university. I'll make investigations into that and look to the websites/Kasetsart Uni as well as the other suggestions.

For Stevehaigh, I'm afraid structural engineering isn't my forte but my architecture student housemate said he'll have a look at it and see if he can help. Just send me an email with a short brief/spec and i'll pass it onto him and get you in touch.

Thanks again all

newt