Royal Thimphu College

Project Overview

Project Title

Furthering International Relations Capacities and Intercultural Engagement to Nurture Campus Diversity and to Support Internationalization at Home

Acronym

FRIENDS

Objectives

To outline PC HEIs' internationalization landscapes and to identify levels of integration of international and intercultural dimensions into PC HEIs' formal and informal curriculum: by April 2019.
To improve PC HEIs' capabilities for internationalization through staff trainings and by translating general awareness of the Internationalization at Home (IaH) concept into streamlined institutional policies and actions embedded in IaH Action Plans: by November 2019.
To build students' intercultural knowledge and sensitivity to cultural diversity through the introduction of Intercultural Passport virtual module into PC HEIs' elective formal curriculum: by 07.2020
To transform PC HEIs International Relations Offices (IROs) into vibrant multicultural focal points through the establishment of FRIENDS Teahouses and the induction of Home away from Home Programme for integrated international student care: by February 2021.
To promote virtual mobility and campus diversity across the 5 PCs as key tools for students' global competence development: by November 2021.

Project Number

598652-EPP-1-2018-1-BG-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

Grant Awarded (Euros)

999,626.00

Project Period

2018 to 2021

RTC-FRIENDS Teahouse

Royal Thimphu College, as part of the FRIENDS project co-funded by the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Union, inaugurated a teahouse on campus on 10^th March, 2021. Towards promoting and nurturing an inclusive and multicultural environment on campus, the Teahouse has been established with the vision to serve as a hub for students from all backgrounds and cultures to interact and share intercultural experiences.

Aside from a dining area, the Teahouse is fitted with a lounge and a 65-inch smart TV appropriate for hangouts, team meetings and presentations. The facility also houses desktops and a multifunction printer along with a stable Wi-Fi connection.

FRIENDS Project Partners

Partner Institution	Country	City
VARNA UNIVERSITY OF MANAGEMENT	BULGARIA	VARNA
ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY SDN BHD	MALAYSIA	KUALA LUMPUR
BERJAYA HIGHER EDUCATION SDN. BHD.	MALAYSIA	KUALA LUMPUR
BUDAPESTI METROPOLITAN EGYETEM	HUNGARY	BUDAPEST
CEBU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY ARGADCEBU CAMPUS	PHILIPPINES	CEBU CITY
DEWEY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY	CAMBODIA	BATTAMBANG
ISTANBUL AYDIN UNIVERSITESI VAKFI	TURKEY	KUCUKCEKMECE ISTANBUL
MAHASARAKHAM UNIVERSITY	THAILAND	MAHA SARAKHAM
PAYAP UNIVERSITY	THAILAND	CHIANG MAI
POLITECHNIKA SLASKA	POLAND	GLIWICE
PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY	THAILAND	HAT YAI
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT	BHUTAN	THIMPHU
ROYAL THIMPHU COLLEGE	BHUTAN	THIMPHU
SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE, INCORPORATED	PHILIPPINES	BAGUIO CITY
SVAY RIENG UNIVERSITY	CAMBODIA	SVAY RIENG
UNIVERSITY OF CEBU, INC	PHILIPPINES	CEBU

FRIENDS Equipment Contract Awards

1st Contract Award

Contact (Project Coordinator)

International Cooperation Department

Varna University of Management

Christina.armutlieva@vumk.eu

Contact (RTC Partner)

International Relations Office