Author: zomchay

The School of Liberal Arts, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), in collaboration with the Thailand Literacy Association (TLiA) and its networks, organized the seminar “Literacy for Lifelong Learning and Digital Citizenship” on Friday, 16May 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

The event, officially named “Thailand Literacy Seminar 2025”, was held at the Multipurpose Room, 1^st Floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. In addition to STOU’s School of Liberal Arts and TLiA, the event saw participation from the Bangkok Metropolitan Library Network and the Academic Resources Center, Central Library, Chulalongkorn University.

Morning Session: English Academic Lectures

The morning session featured academic lectures delivered in English by distinguished speakers:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katina Zammit (Western Sydney University, Australia)
• Prof. Dr. Rosalyn G. Mirasol (Social Science University of Santo Tomas, Manila)
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amorn Petsom (Director, Academic Resources Center, Chulalongkorn University)
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Wutthiphong Laoriandee (Deputy Director, Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University)
• Mrs. Chutipa Kongsombut (Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University)

Faculty members from the English program at the School of Liberal Arts, STOU, moderated this session.

Afternoon Session: Group Discussions

The afternoon session consisted of three breakout groups for participants to discuss and brainstorm ideas. The facilitators for these groups were:

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Duangkaew Ngernpoolsup (School of Liberal Arts, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University)
• Mr. Sopon Sud-iad (Library and Learning Section, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration)
• Lecturer Dr. Sorakom Dissaman (Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University)

English program faculty and Ph.D. students in Information Science from the Faculty of Liberal Arts summarized the group discussions in English.

The group discussions focused on brainstorming approaches to develop lifelong learning skills and digital citizenship. The seminar aimed to promote knowledge, inspire participants, and build collaborative networks to foster reading and literacy for the development of lifelong learning skills and digital citizenship among the public.

The seminar concluded with closing remarks delivered by Prof. Dr. Namtip Wipawin, Professor of Information Science at STOU and President of TLiA, in her capacity as the Organizing President.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice President for Academic Services, Arts and Culture Preservation, and International Affairs, was assigned by the President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) to attend the Workshop on “Mapping the Landscape of Open and Distance Learning” in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 14-17 May, 2025. This workshop was hosted by the SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMEO SEAMOLEC).

The workshop brought together representatives from various ASEAN countries to jointly explore, analyze, and review the overall landscape of distance education systems in each nation. It featured a series of presentations and discussions addressing equity and inclusion, quality improvement, system management, and infrastructural conditions associated with Open and Distance Learning (ODL). Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan represented Thailand, presenting and providing an overview of the country’s distance education system, including the educational model of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, which serves as Thailand’s leading institution for distance learning.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, along with Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Head of Internationalization Development, Department of International Affairs (the OU5 coordinator for STOU), and five STOU researchers – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Office of Educational Technology; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pithak Srisuksai, School of Economics; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anothai Ngamvichaikit, School of Management Science; Asst. Prof. Dr. Songlak Sakulwichitsintu, School of Liberal Arts; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Supamas Chumkaew, Office of Registration, Records and Evaluation – attended The OU5 Retreat 2025 held from 22-26 April 2025, in Penang, Malaysia.

The bi-annual meeting welcomed Presidents, researchers, and OU5 coordinators from five member universities: Hanoi Open University (HOU); Open University Malaysia (OUM); University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU); Universitas Terbuka (UT) and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU). The objective was to develop distance learning and joint research among the members.

The meeting included a Presidents’ Meeting and the 2^nd meeting on the research topics
for 2024, which are:

1.  Technology Trends in Education: Nano Learning, Authentic Online Assessment, Gamification, Blockchain and Others (and How AI Will Impact These Technologies);

2. Open University Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: A Design in View of Fulfillment of SDG 11;

3. Roles of ASEAN Open Universities in Enhancing Entrepreneurship and Global Presence;

4. Roles of Open Universities in STEM Education (Way Forward with a Focus on the State of Gender Equality in ASEAN);

5. Student-Lecturer Ratio as a Parameter of Quality in OFDL Context (What Are the Factors that Determine the Quality of Open Universities?).

Additionally, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity involving tree planting and waste collection in front of the hotel was organized.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University will host the next meeting, now renamed as the 27^th OU5 Bi-Annual Summit. The summit is scheduled to take place in Phuket, Thailand,
from 27-31 October 2025.