Author: zomchay

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, STOU’s OU5 coordinator, and researchers, joined the OU5 Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, during 30 October – 4 November 2023.

The OU5 refers to five open universities that use distance education in the ASEAN region. The OU5 member universities include Hanoi Open University (HOU), Open University Malaysia (OUM), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Universitas Terbuka (UT), and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. The OU5 Meeting is organized twice annually to stage the discussions among Presidents, coordinators, and researchers.

This year’s research topics include the following.

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?)

The OU5 member universities took this opportunity to sign the Addendum to the ASEAN Studies MOA on 1 November 2023.

During the meeting, Hanoi Open University celebrated its 30^th Anniversary, so the delegates from STOU had the opportunity to join in their celebration ceremony at HOU headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation and International Affairs, and Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs participated in the Sixth Kunming Forum on Education Cooperation in South Asia and Southeast Asia – The Cooperation and Exchange Forum of Lancang-Mekong Open Education” convened by Yunnan Open University in Kunming, Yunnan, China, on 12 October 2023.

During the conference, Dr. Manit joined the panel discussion on “New Mechanism of Lancang-Mekong Education Cooperation.” Dr. Gan gave a speech on the Digital Transformation of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

The delegates also discussed and exchanged views on the theme of “sharing open education for lifelong ubiquitous learning” and concluded an MOU. The participating institutions included Yunnan Open University of China, IIC University of Technology of Cambodia, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University of Thailand, Siam University of Thailand, Lampang Rajabhat University of Thailand, National University of Laos, University of Foreign Languages, Yangon of Burma, The Maldives National University of Maldives, and Bangladesh Open University of Bangladesh.

The delegates visited the Chenggong Campus of Yunnan Open University where they had the opportunity to discuss possible collaborations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) led the administration delegates to join the 36^th Asian Association of Open Universities Annual Conference (AAOU 2023) which was held under the theme “The Future of Open Universities in the Age of Digitalized Higher Education.” The conference was held in Istanbul, Turkiye, by Anadolu University. During 28-30 September 2023.

The delegates included (1) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narathip Sriram, Acting Vice-President for Education and Learning Support, (2) Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting Vice-President for Human Resources, Research, and General Administration, (3) Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation and International Affairs, and (4) Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs.

The aim of the AAOU 2023 is to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to present and discuss a broad range of topics related to open and distance learning. Sub-themes and topics are as follows:

• Re-considering the roles of open universities
• The effects of Covid-19 period on open and distance learning practices
• Management of ODL
• Innovative delivery modes
• Online assessment and evaluation
• New pedagogical approaches
• Learner support systems
• Increasing access and quality in ODL

In the Closing Ceremony of the AAOU Secretariat meeting, there was a tribute to Prof. Wichit Srisa-an, who was the first President of AAOU, on the occasion of his passing.

On 2 October 2023, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation and International Affairs, and Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs, visited Anadolu University, Turkiye, to meet with Prof. Dr. Fuat Erdal, Rector of Anadolu University. The goal of the visit was to exchange knowledge on university management.

The delegates had the opportunity to listen to a lecture on Educational Management from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Ucar and Asst. Prof. Dr. Erdem Erdogdu, Vice Deans from the Faculty of Open Education. They also discussed cooperation on faculty and knowledge exchange between the two universities with Asst. Prof. Dr. Ertugrul Gokcekuyu, Director of the Office for International Affairs.

The STOU administrators ended their study trip at Anadolu University with a tour of the studios and the R&D Department for Learning Technologies. Located in the center of Eskisehir, Turkey, Anadolu University was founded in 1958 as Eskişehir Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences. Transformation was made in 1982, and distance education has been offered since then. The university is recognized as the third largest university in the world with over one million students in the distance education system, providing educational opportunities in over 30 countries around the world.

5 October 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation and International Affairs of STOU welcomed Dr. Jinwon Ahn, Professor and Executive Director of Handong Institute for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Hyunmo Sung, Professor from Handong Global University, Ms. Eunhye Lee, and Ms. Seona Jo, researchers of Handong Institute for International Development Cooperation. The representatives from the two universities shared experiences regarding Handong Global University’s UNESCO UNITWIN Projects, STOU’s education and management methods employed to pass through challenges, separations and difficulties caused by COVID-19, and also discussed possible future collaboration between STOU and HGU.

Dr. Gan made welcome remarks stating that it was a good opportunity for the two institutions to exchange knowledge and strengthen relations as both are members of the UNESCO UNITWIN cooperation framework.

Prof. Ahn spoke of encouraging new generations to realize the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and presented various innovations in HGU’s distance learning.

Dr. Sung introduced HGU’s MicroLearnable, a platform which supports distance learning worldwide. It is designed to be used with low-spec computers, making distance learning accessible to people in developing countries as well. Currently, there are a number of students taking courses in producing mobile applications through MicroLearnable from 11 universities in 6 countries. Moreover, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pantipa Amornrit and Dr. Patthanan Bootchuy from the Office of Educational Technology, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kunchon Jeotee from the Office of Registration, Records and Evaluation, and Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of International Affairs, joined the meeting and discussed learning and examination management during the COVID-19 outbreak at STOU.

25 September 2023 – H.E. Abderrahim Rahhaly, Moroccan Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand welcomed Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and the team from STOU to discuss possible academic cooperation at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Bangkok.

The meeting resulted from the official visit to STOU of H.E. Abderrahim Rahhaly in June earlier this year. The administrators and faculty members who joined the meeting included:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation and International Affairs;
• Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs;
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Pudinan Adithipyangkul, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics;
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supawadee Theerathammakorn, Deputy Dean of the School of Science and Technology;
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Narat Rattanacharoen,            Lecturer from the School of Agriculture and Cooperative;
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Junya Singkham, Lecturer from the School of Agriculture and Cooperative; and
• Dr. Sutida Maneeanakekul, Lecturer from the School of Agriculture and Cooperative

Ambassador Abderrahim Rahhaly gave advice on academic cooperation with universities and organizations related to various fields, emphasizing the importance of sustainability development goals, which is in line with the cooperation proposal from STOU. It is also agreed that the Embassy will provide assistance in coordinating between STOU and universities in Morocco.

On 12-15 September 2023, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, attended the 26^th SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Center (SEAMOLEC) Executive Board meeting as a representative of Thailand, in Jakarta, Indonesia. During the meeting, a regional policy on the topic “Empowering Education Digital Transformation through Open and Distance Learning” was discussed among representatives from the 10 countries in the ASEAN region. Dr. Manit took this opportunity to make a study tour to Universitas Terbuka (UT) which has long-standing cooperation with STOU.