AUSTRALIA-THAILAND FUTURE LEADERS FORUM
Learning Together. Leading Together.
PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
A Flagship Education Diplomacy Initiative
Promoting Australia-Thailand
Partnership through education
Innovation and Cultural Exchange
Led by:
Australian Trade and Tourism Diplomacy Taskforce (ATTDT)
In collaboration with:
Australian Education Providers
Trade and Tourism Thailand Taskforce (TTT)
TravelOz
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Following the Australia–Thailand Joint Commitment on strengthening education cooperation, the
Australian Trade and Tourism Diplomacy Taskforce (ATTDT) proposes the Australia–Thailand Future
Leaders Forum as a flagship initiative to operationalise this commitment.
The programme will bring together Australian and Thai university students through a series of one-
week exchange rounds hosted by leading Australian universities across Canberra, Sydney,
Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. It will combine leadership development, academic engagement,
industry exposure, and cultural exchange to strengthen participants’ knowledge, leadership skills, and
cross-cultural understanding. In the long term, the programme aims to establish a Student
Ambassador Network to extend the Forum’s impact beyond the one-week programme, promote
people-to-people connections, and enhance confidence in Australia as a trusted destination for
education.
This concept note seeks ATTDT's endorsement to commence partner consultation and detailed
programme development.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
PROGRAMME CONCEPT
The Australia–Thailand Future Leaders Forum is a one-week exchange programme for
selected Australian and Thai university students, delivered through multiple rounds
hosted by participating Australian universities across Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne,
Brisbane, and Adelaide. Each round will be hosted by one university and involve a different
student cohort.
The programme combines leadership development, academic engagement, industry
exposure and cultural immersion to build skills, knowledge and lasting cross-cultural
connections.
Participants will be nominated by partner universities and institutions. Upon completion
of the programme, participants will join the Student Ambassador Network to continue
promoting Australia-Thailand educational cooperation.
PROGRAMME FEATURES
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
- University students (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- 40 students per cohort, comprising 20 Australian students and 20 Thai students
- Nominated by partner institutions in Australia and Thailand
PROPOSED PROGRAMME COMPONENTS
GOVERNANCE AND STAKEHOLDER ROLES
RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS
The Australia-Thailand Future Leaders Forum will adopt a cost-sharing and partnership-based delivery model, leveraging existing institutional resources and in-kind contributions from government, universities, industry and partner organisations to ensure effective, efficient and sustainable programme implementation.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
NEXT STEPS AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
NEXT STEPS
1. Endorsement of this concept note by ATTDT
2. Consultation with partner organisations
3. Establishment of a joint working group
4. Finalisation of Programme design and logistics
5. Participation nomination and pre-forum
6. Delivery of Future Leaders Forum in Australia
7. Establishment and activation of the Student Ambassador Network.
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that ATTDT endorse this Programme Concept Note as the proposed framework for implementing the education cooperation commitments agreed under the Australia-Thailand Joint Commitment.
Subject to endorsement, ATTDT will commence consultation with Australian education providers, TTT, TravelOz and other partners to refine programme arrangements and develop a detailed implementation plan.
