Date: 9 November 2024
Location: Siam University, Bangkok
Partners: UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), Paris & Siam University
Category: News / International Academic Cooperation & Education Policy
Overview
On 9 November 2024, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit, Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Business at Siam University, hosted a strategic working meeting with Suguru Mizunoya — Technical Cooperation Team Leader at the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in Paris — along with UNESCO colleagues. The meeting centred on exploring avenues for deeper cooperation between Siam University and one of the world’s foremost institutions for educational planning and policy development.
A Meeting Between Columbia Alumni and Global Education Experts
The connection between the two institutions runs deeper than formal institutional ties. Dr. Jomphong and Suguru Mizunoya share a bond as alumni of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) — one of the world’s premier programmes for international affairs, education policy, and development. This shared intellectual heritage gave the conversation a collegial depth that extended beyond protocol, grounding the discussion in a mutual understanding of evidence-based policy and the imperatives of sustainable development.
Suguru Mizunoya brings exceptional credentials to the table. As Technical Cooperation Team Leader at UNESCO IIEP, Paris, he leads a team that has provided technical cooperation to more than 58 countries, supporting the development of education sector plans and strategies that shape the learning outcomes of millions of children and young people. His career spans more than 25 years across UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and ILO — with direct experience in Thailand, Kenya, Syria, Pakistan, and Lao PDR, among others. He has authored over 100 UN reports, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed publications focused on education economics, planning, and disability-inclusive education.
What UNESCO IIEP Does
The UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) is a specialised centre of UNESCO, headquartered in Paris with offices in Buenos Aires and Dakar. It is globally recognised as a leading authority in education system analysis, sector planning, and capacity development for Ministries of Education.
UNESCO IIEP’s technical cooperation work focuses on:
- Analysing the strengths and weaknesses of national education systems
- Supporting governments in developing robust, evidence-based national education plans
- Building the capacity of education planners and policymakers at all levels
- Advancing equity, inclusion, and quality in education — particularly for out-of-school children and learners with disabilities
- Strengthening the role of the “middle tier” of education systems — district and school leadership — as a critical driver of system-wide improvement
The presentation screen visible during the meeting — displaying “Today’s priorities for a strong future” — reflected the forward-looking, policy-oriented nature of the discussion.
Areas of Potential Cooperation
While specific outcomes of the meeting remain internal, the discussion is understood to have covered a range of potential collaboration areas consistent with both institutions’ mandates, including:
- Education system research and policy analysis relevant to Thailand and the wider ASEAN region
- Capacity building for education planners and institutional leaders
- Data-driven approaches to monitoring education quality, equity, and inclusion
- Lifelong learning and skills development as a shared agenda connecting UNESCO’s global framework and Siam University’s institutional priorities
- Joint research and publication drawing on IIEP’s global expertise and Siam University’s regional networks
Why This Partnership Matters
The meeting between Siam University and UNESCO IIEP reflects a growing recognition that addressing Thailand’s education and skills challenges — from equity gaps and out-of-school youth to the rapid transformation of skills demanded by the digital and green economies — requires not just domestic solutions, but the integration of global best practice and evidence.
For Siam University, a partnership with UNESCO IIEP would open access to some of the world’s most rigorous thinking on education planning, system governance, and inclusive development. For UNESCO IIEP, Thailand and the wider ASEAN region represent a strategically important context in which its tools and frameworks can contribute to meaningful reform.
At its heart, this meeting exemplified the value of the Columbia University network as a bridge — connecting individuals shaped by the same intellectual tradition, now working in different institutional contexts, toward the same overarching goal: building education systems that serve everyone.
Key Takeaways
- The 9 November 2024 meeting between Siam University and UNESCO IIEP signals a potential deepening of international academic and policy cooperation at the highest level
- Suguru Mizunoya’s background — spanning UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and more than 25 years of education policy experience across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — brings exceptional value to any collaborative endeavour
- The shared Columbia SIPA alumni connection between Dr. Jomphong and Suguru Mizunoya reflects the long-term impact of world-class postgraduate education in building global networks for meaningful development work
- UNESCO IIEP’s technical cooperation model — evidence-based, country-led, and focused on systemic improvement — aligns well with Siam University’s commitment to outcome-focused, future-ready education
- This engagement positions Siam University as an active participant in the global conversation on education quality, planning, and equity — not merely a consumer of international best practice, but a potential contributor to it
Siam University — Building International Partnerships for a Sustainable Education Future.