The International Buddhist College (IBC) Dhamma Tour is to show gratitude to the people of Malaysia and Singapore as well as to acknowledge their kind support and generosity, without which IBC would not be a reality today. The Tour will start on 31 March 2007 and end on 15 April 2007. This Tour will also provide the IBC students an opportunity to practice doing social work and also to report on the current situation and development of IBC. It is hoped from this Tour, more students from Malaysia and Singapore would enroll in IBC.

About IBC

IBC is located in the beautiful and peaceful Amphoe Sadao sub-district of Songkla, Southern Thailand and covers an area of about 110 acres. It is 36km from the Bukit Kayu Hitam border point and is only a 3 hour drive from Penang.

IBC was officially opened on 17 July 2005. The first phase of development, covering an area of 100,000 sq. ft. of administrative office, lecture rooms, library, a computer laboratory, and multi-purpose hall, has been completed. The second phase of development includes a canteen, lecturers' hostel, male staff hostel, students' hostel, and khutis.

IBC was established with the approval of the Education Ministry of Thailand, so the degrees are recognised by the Thai government. IBC currently offers three B.A. programmes of 4 year duration for each programme. They are:

• Bachelor of Arts in Buddhist Thought

• Bachelor of Arts in Historical & Cultural Studies

• Bachelor of Arts in Scripture Language and Literature.

IBC also offers a M.A. programme in Buddhist Studies. The M.A. courses are conducted in both English and Chinese languages; the first college in Thailand to offer this. (See IBC website for more details: http://ibc.ac.th/ or email: enquire@ibc.ac.th)

B.A. Certificate Courses and Postgraduate Certificate Courses in Buddhist Studies are offered to students who cannot study full time in IBC. These courses are offered in Than Hsiang Buddhist Research Centres in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. (For more details, please call bro. Yew at +604-641 4822 ext 2215 or Bro Ooi at +603- 7983 2290 or email: education@thanhsiang.org)

IBC is a fully residential college with most of the students being members of the Sangha from Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana Traditions. The students come from Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The academic staff, including visiting lecturers, are from Belgium, Canada, USA, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

The Klintiendharm (Than Hsiang meaning ‘sandalwood fragrance') Foundation was formed in 1999 with a view to set up IBC following Venerable Wei Wu's vision of education playing an important role in Buddhadhamma propagation. With this vision in mind and with the strong support of Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai Buddhists, IBC was able to take in its first batch of students in October 2004. In the near future, secular courses such as Child Care Education, Psychology and Geriatics will be introduced.
IBC does not belong to any individual temple or society. It belongs to all Buddhists. It is thus hoped that with the steadfast faith in our vision and with your continuous and generous support, we will together make IBC a success “For the Good of the Many” – motto of IBC.

Schedule of the Dhamma Lecture Tour