UNO Expands Global Partnerships with Thailand Institutions

New agreements and alumni connections in Bangkok highlight UNO’s growing global impact.

published: 2026/04/07
contact: Academic Affairs
email: academic.affairs@unomaha.edu

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Global Partnerships
Thailand

A group of nine people standing in front of a sign for the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology. Two individuals in the center hold open documents during a formal signing photo.

Andrea Stiefvater, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement and Rungsun Lertnaisat, President of Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology (TNIT), commemorate the new institutional partnership with TNIT faculty and staff.

An older woman smiling while standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books. Framed family photographs hang on the wall behind her.

Lakhana Didyasaran, Chairman and Founder of American School of Bangkok, Green Valley, standing next to a photo of herself and her husband during their time pursuing University of Nebraska graduate degrees.

A man demonstrating a small object to a woman inside a lab or workshop space, with machinery and equipment visible in the background.

Andrea Stiefvater, UNO AVC for Global Engagement Andrea Stiefvater receives a demonstration of Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology technical facilities from Engineering faculty.

A trip to Bangkok is opening new doors for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and reinforcing just how far Maverick connections reach.

➡️ What’s new:
UNO formalized a new international partnership with the Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology (TNIT) and reconnected with Nebraska alumni leaders in Thailand. Two moments that highlight the university’s expanding global engagement.

💡 Why it matters:
Global partnerships create hands-on learning, research, and workforce opportunities for UNO students and faculty. They also strengthen UNO’s role as a metropolitan university with international reach, advancing collaboration across borders and industries.

🔎 Zoom in: Strategic partnership in Thailand
Andrea Stiefvater, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement, signed a formal agreement with TNIT during a ceremony in Bangkok, marking a key step in expanding academic and research collaboration in Southeast Asia.

The partnership was facilitated by Thailand’s Ministry of Science, Research, and Innovation.
The agreement focuses on innovation, workforce development, and shared research priorities.

The partnership is already gaining attention on Thai social media, further boosting UNO’s global reputation.

🔎 Zoom in: A Nebraska connection abroad
Another moment from the trip came unexpectedly but carried equal impact.

Khun Lakhana Didyasarin, founder and chairman of the American School of Bangkok, Green Valley (ASBGV), reconnected with Stiefvater during the visit. Didyasarin and her husband are both University of Nebraska graduate school alumni.

What started as a reunion quickly turned into a conversation about future collaboration.

Shared priorities in education and global engagement emerged.
New opportunities surfaced between UNO and ASBGV.
The meeting highlighted the long-term impact of Nebraska alumni worldwide.

🌎 The big picture:
From formal agreements to alumni-driven connections, UNO continues to build a global network that supports student success, research, and workforce development. These efforts reflect UNO’s mission to transform lives locally and globally, while strengthening partnerships that drive innovation and discovery.

⚡ What’s next:
UNO will continue expanding international partnerships and engagement opportunities, creating more pathways for students and faculty to learn, research, and collaborate across the globe.