RTC Happenings
Dr. Kezang Sherab is an Associate Professor/Dean of Research and Industrial Linkages at Paro College of Education. He has a PhD from UNE, Australia and a MEd from StFXU, Canada. He teaches Physical Education, Research methodology and provides Professional Development to school teachers, university academics, and youth groups. He has published articles, reviewed manuscripts, examined theses, and led consultancies. He is the Editor-in- Chief of RABSEL the Centre for Educational Research and Development Journal and founder of Journal of Educational Action Research. He has won many projects and convened seminars.
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Dr. Deki C Gyamtso is an Associate Professor at the Paro College of Education. She holds a PhD from the University of New England, Australia, a PGCE from Institute of Education, UCL London and a MA from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. She supervises the Educational Research Projects of M.Ed students, and teaches M.Ed Social Studies, Curriculum Studies, and provides Professional Development to university academics, and school teachers. She has published articles, reviewed manuscripts, and examined theses and is an affiliate member of Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia.
In addition to the ongoing student exchanges with our global partners, Royal Thimphu College has sent more than 60 teaching and nonteaching staff on outbound mobilities to 13 universities in Europe this Summer. The Erasmus+ programme for higher education funded by the European Union supports teaching and administrative staff to take part in professional development activities every year. The programme allows staff to teach and train abroad, creating an international learning experience for all involved. RTC currently has partnerships with over 40 European universities.
- A group of 15 faculty and staff attended a 2-week long summer school at Vrije University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The participants enrolled in Master’s level courses relevant to their current roles at RTC and areas of their personal and professional interest.
- 8 members of the RTC’s faculty and staff visited VIVES University of Applied Sciences in Belgium along with 14 other participants from 7 countries. 1 RTC student will be studying for a year at VIVES starting this Fall. 3 staff members from the group additionally visited WSB University in Poznan, Poland. During their visit, they had professional gatherings to share knowledge and experience, and discuss future collaborations. RTC faculty and students have already engaged in cross-institutional teaching-learning through credited virtual exchanges with WSB Poznan.
- A team of 3 faculty and 3 staff visited The Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine în Timișoara, Romania to attend an international week organized by the host institution. During the visit, the team met more than 13 university representatives from around the world. Also in Romania, another group of staff and faculty members visited Vasile Goldiş University. Participants had the opportunity to discuss various means and approaches to the internationalization of higher education institutions around the world.
- The first 2 groups of RTC’s faculty and staff visited the SRH University in Heidelberg, Germany. SRH University is one of Germany’s oldest private universities, and Heidelberg is world-renowned as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, combining both historical ambiance and top-level research. 5 RTC students will be at SRH Heidelberg this fall as part of the Erasmus+ mobility to study abroad for one academic year.
- 2 staff from RTC attended the 5th FRIENDS partner meeting at the Silesian University of Technology, in Gliwice, Poland. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the Project Progress during the pandemic, Project Management, Financial Reporting, and the 6th upcoming project meeting to be held in Bhutan at RTC.
3 faculty and staff visited Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE) in Hungary. ELTE is Hungary’s largest and oldest university dating back to 1635. The three participants from RTC spent 12 days in Budapest taking part in various professionalization and familiarization activities organized by ELTE’s International Strategy Office.
2 members of the RTC staff visited the RheinAhrCampus in Germany. They participated in an international week consisting of presentations and networking with participants from institutions around the world. Additionally, they had the opportunity to give guest lectures to the students at the host institution.
- 1 RTC staff member visited the University of Liechtenstein, engaging in discussions with the Rector, Deans, and International Office staff on internationalization, systems, good practices, and challenges. RTC Bhutan and the University of Liechtenstein will soon be implementing the first-ever exchanges of students between the two countries.
- A team of 7 RTC staff and faculty visited the University of Huelva in Spain. The participants attended an international week held at the host institution and had the opportunity to meet university representatives from around the world.
A team of 6 staff and faculty visited Vilnius University of Applied Sciences (VIKO) in Lithuania. Faculty members had the opportunity to teach and the administrative staff learned about the institutional practices of the host university. 
2 faculty and staff represented RTC in GI_Salzburg22 organized in Paris Lodron Universität Salzburg, Austria. GI_Salzburg is an annual meeting place enabling dialogue among geospatial minds, informing the GeoInformation Society, and contributing to a more just, ethical, and sustainable society. It envisions innovation, networking, and continuing education in all areas of Geoinformatics. Interdisciplinary discussions, forward-looking ideas, and a personal atmosphere accompany and shape the exchange of science and research, business, and application. The two institutes have agreed to work on a project to enhance the GIS knowledge infrastructure in Royal Thimphu College for the benefit of the students and the country. Additionally, 2 faculty members visited the same university for the same purpose at different times.
- A team of 3 faculty members attended a 2-week intensive training at Graz, Austria, and the University of Alicante, Spain as a part of the ENCORE (Entrepreneurship Knowledge Centers to Foster Innovative Entrepreneurship Practices in Education and Research) project funded by the European Union. They attended and facilitated a series of TOTs (Training of Trainers) at the 2 institutions. During the training, they met scientists, experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, and teachers who were enthusiastic and ever-ready to communicate, share and engage with the teams.
2 staff members attended the Youth Worker Seminar for Cooperation in Thailand as part of the Erasmus+ RECALL Project funded by the European Union. The seminar focused on exploring the contexts and the possibilities for the development of green entrepreneurship in project consortium countries (Bhutan, Bulgaria, India, North Macedonia, Thailand). They also discussed designing and developing key training modules activities & competencies for the prospective green entrepreneurs which will roll out during the boot camps.
The Erasmus+ mobility partnerships and capacity-building projects were initiated in 2017 and involved the exchanges of staff and students between partner universities and long-term project works. The recent mobilities were enriching and fulfilling experiences for all the participants allowing them to explore, engage and learn. It also served as an opportunity for RTC and the host institutions to discuss and plan future collaborative programmes to explore areas for joint academic projects. The mobilities not only contributed to the professional development of the participants but also contributed to the development of their intercultural competencies. We look forward to future collaborations between the institutions.
In the Spring semester of 2023, seven esteemed faculty and staff members embarked on an Erasmus+ Mobility journey, spanning various dates throughout the semester.
Dr. Jelle J.P Wouters, then the Programme Leader of the Political Science and Sociology Programme and currently the Head of the Himalayan Centre for Environmental Humanities, set out from 3rd to 10th February. His mobility offered a valuable opportunity to collaborate with international counterparts, exchange research ideas, and strengthen the academic ties between institutions. As a key figure in the field, Dr. Wouters' participation fostered a sense of mutual understanding and cooperation between different political and sociological approaches.
Followed by Dr. Wouters was Ms. Zajano Yanthan, a faculty member of the Anthropology Programme, who embarked on her Erasmus+ journey from 28th April to 7th May. Ms. Yanthan shared, ‘’The Erasmus exchange mobility also benefited me on various levels including my academic and career journey as well as on a personal level. I experienced varied global academic practices by interacting with and observing students, scholars, and faculties.’’ Engaging with students, scholars, and faculties from different parts of the world exposed her to diverse global academic practices, leaving a lasting impact on her academic and career journey.
The third group comprising Kencho Pelzom, Tshering Yangdon, and Chimi Yuden participated in the mobility program from 16th to 22nd July. Each of them represented different offices, International Relations Office (IRO), Business Development Office (BDO), and the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL), respectively. During their time abroad, these individuals had constructive and beneficial meetings and sessions in line with their specific work areas. The exchange of ideas and best practices in their respective fields significantly contributed to their professional growth and enriched their departments back home.
In addition to the four faculty and staff members mentioned earlier, Dr. Henk Blezer and Dr. Radhika Gupta from Leiden University embarked on an Erasmus Mobility journey to Royal Thimphu College from March 25th to 2nd April. During their visit, they made significant contributions to the Anthropology and Political Science & Sociology Programme classes. Their presence brought a fresh perspective to the teaching methods, content, and knowledge, creating a vibrant learning environment for both faculty members and students. The visit of Dr. Blezer and Dr. Gupta was an exciting and beneficial experience for all parties involved, the students had a unique chance to learn from distinguished professors with diverse cultural and academic backgrounds. Exposure to new teaching styles and perspectives broadened their horizons and stimulated intellectual curiosity.
The Spring semester of 2023 saw seven exemplary individuals embark on their Erasmus+ Mobility journeys. Their active participation led to personal growth and contributed to the program's aim of fostering cross-cultural collaboration and enhancing academic practices globally. Their experiences highlight the power of international mobility in nurturing a diverse academic community.