Date of the exchange:
October 2019
Partners:
Coventry University
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thornburi
“There was a successful exchange of research ideas and teaching experience for both academics of Coventry University and King Mongkut’s University Technology Thonburi”
– Dr Yueping Fang, Coventry University
Initiatives in progress
Dr Yueping Fang visited the School of Energy, Environment and Materials (SEEM), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand (KMUTT) in October 2019. Dr Pattana Rakkwamsuk hosted the visit and arranged the schedule at KMUTT.
Day one – Attended a welcome meeting presented by the senior management team and professors of SEEM. During the meeting I introduced my research work from Coventry University and they introduced SEEM’s research and teaching work and their research in electrochromic coating, solar thermal and daylighting. These are mutual research areas for both SEEM and Coventry University’s Research Centre in the Built and Natural Environment. We introduced our published papers in these areas, and held discussions on the potential of a joint proposal on electrochromic coating for Newtown Fund or UK-Thailand collaboration grant.
Later in the afternoon I attended a research collaboration meeting with SEEM’s Polymer for Energy, Environment and Technology (PENTEC) Research Group and colleagues from the Department of Physics. I introduced the work of Coventry University Research Centre in Built and Natural Environment, and both sides discussed their work in the areas of electrochromic coating, solar thermal and daylighting. I also visited PENTEC’s laboratory and thin film coating laboratory at the Department of Physics and talked with their researchers and students.
Day two – I delivered a three-hour lecture on Passive Building and Daylight for their students. Some members of staff also joined this activity.
Days three and four – KMUTT’s international office arranged for three students to guide my visit of their campus, labs and tour the famous temples in Bangkok. This gave me an opportunity to better understand the life cycle of KMUTT students. I also gave an overview of the student life cycle for Coventry University undergraduates and of Coventry as a city.
Day five – I delivered a two-hour seminar which attracted over 30 members of staff and students. This was the highlight of my visit. The audience asked many questions relating to my research and were very keen to learn more about my simulation method for heat transfer in advanced glazing.
Days six, seven, eight – Dr Pattana Rakkwamsuk discussed the mutual research topics and decided to develop a joint proposal for application of energy storage of electrochromic coating and will be looking for joint UK-Thailand research grant to apply. We also explored the possibility for another proposal in the area of daylighting application in buildings and underground stations.
In summary, I am confident the exchange activity sponsored by WTUN completed the aims and objectives. There was a successful exchange of research ideas and teaching experience for both academics of Coventry University and King Mongkut University Technology Thonburi, the visit enhanced the mutual understanding of different cultures and improved the experience of students and academics of KMUTT and myself.