Southeast Asia has long been recognized as a crossroad of various civilizations and thecentre of international political economy since the past to the present time. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the cold War, regionalism and cultural diplomacy are the main driving force for international relations which stimulate every nations in Southeast Asia to investigate further information about this region for ASEAN prosperity. Thailand is situated in the central part of ASEAN and Chulalongkorn University is considered as the well known educational institution of Asia.So, learning about Southeast Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn is an appropriate choice which can provide a better understanding for our region,in our region with our perspectives to broaden the knowledge and create some
interesting ideas for regional development in the future.

      Personally, it is a wonderful time for me to study Southeast Asia The pattern of this program is based on multi-dimensional approach which gives me various interesting concepts in the context of history, culture, politics, economics and foreign affairs. I have learned a lot of theories and can apply these precious things to analyze the situations in ASEAN or even apply it as a useful things for my everyday life. I love Southeast Asian Studies very much. There are many nationalities who studies in this program, for example, Thais, Laos, Vietnameses, Cambodians, Germans,Americans, Englishes, Japaneses, South Koreans and so on. We share our ideas, perspectives, and experiences more often both outside and inside the classroom. Cultural interaction is the main characteristic in this program. We exchange ceremonies or traditions each other and can understand various aspects of each nation comprehensively. Southeast Asian Studies also provides a great opportunity for me to practise my English skills such as listening, speaking and writing. I have learned more technical terms and this program can help me improve my English, effectively. Field trip is the most interesting part of the curriculum. We gain a lot of informations and participate in cultural activities from this part. We went to Ayutthaya, refugee camps near Thai-Myanmar border, Ancient castles in Phimai and had a special traveling classroom to the southern part of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore which gave me multi dimensional knowledges about Malaya peninsular. So, I would like to emphasize that Southeast Asian Studies is the most wonderful program in my life and also most of students who attend in this precious program.

      Now I would like to recommend you about my course work in the first semester, I enrolled four interesting subjects comprising of Modern Southeast Asia: Colonialism, Nationalism and Democratization, Research Methodology in Southeast Asia, Foreign Communities from Thai Perspectives and Political Issues in Southeast Asia The contents of each course are as follows:

      1. Modern Southeast Asia : Colonialism, Nationalism and Democratization: The lecturers in this course are Dr. Alec Gordon and Dr. Teera Nutchpiam- the well known specialists in Southeast Asia. I learnt about the general history of insular and mainland Southeast Asia, the concept of colonialism and its evolution in Southeast Asia, National
movements for independence and Japanese occupation during World War II, an deological conflict and confrontation in the Cold War era, democratization in the Post Cold War and also the impact of globalization in Southeast Asia. From this course, I received a deeper understanding about history and the main characteristics of each nation such as Myanmar, Lao, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

      2. Research Methodology in Southeast Asia: In the course , Ajarn Pornpimol Trichot- a specialist in ethnic politics and many lecturers from University of Hanoi, Singapore and so on taught us many approaches concerning with quantitative and qualitative methods that used by French, British and American which can provide me an effective instrument for analysis and doing academic works. We went to Maesot in Tak province closed to Myanmar border for field trip and there, we applied various approaches with our newperspectives in research.We also exchange our culture with various people in Maesot society such as Burmans,Shans,Karens,Mons,Chineses,Muslims,etc.
      3. Foreign Community from Thai Perspectives: The lecturers in this subject are Dr. Sunait Chutintaranond- a famous historians of Thai-Burmese Studies and many specialists about Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Iranian and Portuguese in Thai Society. The contents of this course cover history, character, interaction and social role of foreign communities in Thailand. We learned about French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese and Persian communities in Ayuthaya period , especially in the reign of King Narai, Chinese, Lao, Vietnamese and Muslim Communities in Bangkok. The most interesting point in this subject is the field trip with Dr. Sunait. We visited ancient foreign communities in Ayuthaya by cruising along the Chao- Praya river and also visited muslim communities in Nong-Jog district, Bangkok by crusing along Sansaep canal.

      4. Political Issues in Southeast Asia: This course is conducted by Assoc. Prof. Ji Ungpakorn- a well-known political scientist in Chulalongkorn University. We learned about interesting political concepts, for example, Nation-State, Civil-Society, Governance, Democracy, Marxism, Imperialism, Post- Modern and Feminism. The lecturer showed us many special issues in Southeast Asia,for example, Buddhism and Marxism in Lao, democratization in Cambodia, ethnic politics inside Mayanmar, money politics in Singapore and monarchical institution of Thailand.This couse also gives me a wider vision
about ASEAN in the context of contermporary political economy.In conclusion, I would like to say that Southeast Asian Studies is an interesting program for everyone who aim to broaden knowledge of Southeast Asia, based on multi-dimensional approach. Additionally, I recommend that if you decide to learn this curriculum in Chulalongkorn University, it’s quite perceptive choice for your education. Finally, I would like to encourage everyone who want to develop or improve our region in the context of globalization to study in this program which will fulfill and enrich your life, your country and your region in the future.

Mr. Dulyapak Preecharushh