IIFM and Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University strengthen Italy–Thailand partnership with new joint programme

The Italian Institute of Fashion Management (IIFM), Milan, and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University (SSRU), Thailand, have launched a new strategic academic partnership aimed at developing joint international programmes in fashion, luxury, design and the creative industries, strengthening academic and professional exchange between Italy and Thailand.

The partnership was officially presented on 14 August 2026 during the Exclusive Press Conference & Private Studio Visit with the Italian Institute of Fashion Management (IIFM), Italy), held at the Saisutthanaphadol Building Museum at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. A particularly significant moment of the event was the intervention of the Vice Head of Mission of the Embassy of Italy in Thailand, whose participation highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional and cultural ties between Italy and Thailand, particularly through initiatives that promote international education, creative industries and people-to-people exchange.

The collaboration brings together SSRU’s expertise in art and design education with IIFM’s international perspective and direct connections to Italy’s fashion, luxury and creative sectors. The partnership is intended to serve as a platform for the development of joint programmes, executive education initiatives, academic exchanges and industry-oriented projects, creating new opportunities for students, academics and professionals from both countries.

For IIFM, the collaboration represents an important milestone in its international development and marks the institute’s first partnership with a Thai higher education institution. For SSRU’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, it reinforces the university’s commitment to international academic engagement and to connecting Thai education and professional practice with global standards and industry realities.

The first initiative developed within this new partnership is “Experience the Italian Essence: Milan Edition 2026”, an international executive education programme taking place from 19 to 28 October 2026. The 10-day, 8-night programme will lead participants through Milan and northern Italy, offering an immersive exploration of the country’s fashion, luxury, design and creative industries.

Structured around four pillars — Design, Gastronomy, Culture and Art of Living — the programme combines lectures by IIFM faculty members and industry experts with private-access visits to design studios and artisanal ateliers, as well as exchanges with executives and professionals from the luxury sector. Participants will gain first-hand insight into the values, craftsmanship, creative processes and business dynamics that shape the Italian fashion and luxury ecosystem.

As the first concrete expression of the new Italy–Thailand academic partnership, “Experience the Italian Essence: Milan Edition 2026” reflects a shared commitment to connecting education, industry and cultural experience. More broadly, the collaboration between IIFM and SSRU establishes a new platform for long-term cooperation and future joint initiatives across the global fashion, luxury, design and creative industries.