Staff Interview with Chaidarun “Jum” Tippawan

You have quite a bit of travel experience under your belt. How would you say travel has impacted your life?

Travelling has been an integral part of my life. I have traveled since I could remember as my parents would spend a weekend getaway from Bangkok at least once a month. While traveling, I could learn beyond what I had read or heard of a place and instead from observing things during the journey. Luckily, I have been able to travel for both work and leisure to various destinations around the world. I always enjoy observing people and surroundings wherever I go and that is a crucial informal learning method in my life. I became aware of multiculturalism and internationalisation, and these factors have indeed played a crucial role in my personal life and career path.

What inspired you to work for USAC?

I used to be a student studying abroad like the USAC students, but much younger. I lived their experiences a long time ago when there was no internet and no social media. Studying abroad firstly improved my foreign language skills, and then later on sharpened my academic and professional skills. I believe that international education can enhance career path growth.

As a USAC resident director, I am determined to offer an excellent, yet affordable, study program for American students, something that will help with their personal growth and pave the way in their career path. On the other hand, I am also motivated to help improve the internationalisation of education in Thailand, as we work with local professors to teach courses in English for our American students. This greatly helps the local professors to gain more academic competencies while working with international students, and also to sharpen their skills for teaching in English.

USAC is a marvelous place to work within the study abroad business; we have a great support team with colleagues at the Central Office in Reno and the useful network among resident directors around the world.

Before joining the USAC team, you worked for the Ministry of Education in Thailand. How do you use this experience in your current role?

I was in a government office for seven years, at the Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education. I worked at the Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy and that involved a lot of strategic planning and project management at national and international levels. Working at the ministry level, I could see higher education and research in Thailand as a whole as one big book that needed to be taken care of from a policy level.

While working with USAC, it is institutional level across the host university, but this involves a greater amount of detail with fewer stakeholders. Thus, I am fortunate and grateful for the connections, reputations, and recommendations from my former colleagues at the ministry and other national/international institutions.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

My working day at the office usually starts with checking emails for anything urgent for half an hour or less, and then I usually have a staff meeting to find out progress in work assignments and to assign new tasks on a timely manner. Then I may have consultation hours for students by appointment once before lunch and another after lunch. Frequently, I have meetings with professors, faculty members who can be potential professors for USAC, and administrative staff of the host university.

During semesters, I occasionally visit students while doing their internships and have follow-up meetings with the host organizations of the internships. If I am in the office all day, my program assistants will have consultation sessions and sometimes mentoring as necessary. I normally finish the day by crossing out the to-do list in order to make sure I do not miss any important and/or urgent work. Then I drive back home and devote quality time to my family.

How do you support students throughout their time in Thailand?

Before students arrive, I always send out the first email to all of them as a welcome letter and as a tool to make them feel welcome and recognized. Upon arrival with the group flight, my staff and I pick them up from the airport and take them to the program housing. The next day we have intensive orientation on various topics that are fundamental for their study abroad experience in Thailand. The topics range from intercultural understanding to health and safety. 

We provide assistance and support to students not only in class, but also for their well-being, integration to local culture and immersion through student life on campus, and even travel tips. Usually if a student misses a class, I will send them an email checking in if they are sick or something is wrong or if help is needed.

Why do you think Chiang Mai is a great place for international students to study abroad?

Chiang Mai is a truly wonderful location for a study abroad experience. It offers traditional Thai culture, but also modernity is not difficult to find. Surrounded by mountains and hidden breathtaking travel destinations, Chiang Mai is second to none when it comes to pristine nature, cultural preservation, and harmonisation of people from different ethnic groups and religions. Recently Chiang Mai has been rated as the top destination for senior expats and digital nomads, due to high standard of living and excellent internet connection. 

What makes USAC’s program different from other programs in Thailand?

Genuineness, as we care about students concerning their academic performance, well-being, integration to local community and culture, and so on. Affordability, as we charge students at a practical level so that anyone can join. Opportunities for their personal growth and career development, as we offer several internship positions and work with a lot of local organizations on voluntary activities.

You are originally from Bangkok, Thailand. How do ensure USAC’s program introduces students authentically to Thai culture?

Bangkok is a hub of different subcultures in Thailand as people from all parts of Thailand live there. My childhood and youth were spent among people from different regional and religious backgrounds, and that made me aware of subcultural differences.

In Chiang Mai, the genuine subculture is called Lanna, and it is very relaxing, accommodating, and peaceful. Through USAC activities, we ensure that students get the opportunities to take part in local communities and also immerse themselves through events and group activities with local Thai students on campus. We also work with local organizations and local communities so that students can take time to live and learn with locals through our class field studies and group activities.

What do you love most about working for USAC?

It has already been four years working for USAC and believe it or not, it is never boring! I have new challenges every term that keep me motivated to make the program better and better. I love hearing and knowing that students gained something important from their study abroad experience with us especially about their personal growth as a person, academic achievement, or even change in academic direction, and professional development in their career path. A very classy sentence from one of my students was, “I found myself from my time with USAC Chiang Mai.”