Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University welcomed H.E. Ambassador Abderrahim RAHHALY of The Kingdom of Morocco to Thailand on 7 June 2023 at its headquarters in Nonthaburi.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President, led the meeting which discussed the potential collaborations between Moroccan universities and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Attending the meeting also were Mr. El Mostafa Trifaia, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission and representatives from STOU Schools and Offices.
Later, the guests enjoyed the campus tour at the King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni Documentation Center and the Rajamangalaphisek Educational Park and a cultural visit at Koh Kret, Nonthaburi.
In 2023, Visakha Bucha Day, which is the ceremony that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha, falls on 3 June.
Sukhothai Thammahirat Open University (STOU) held an event to celebrate on 2 June 2023 at Tri Sorn Building and Ho Phra Phut Ming Mongkhon Dhammasathan (Buddha Hall) in the Rajamangalaphisek Education Park. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of STOU, presided over the ceremony.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University has always supported Thai cultural preservation through the work of the Office of Continuing Education. Significant holidays are observed regularly throughout the year.
1 June 2023, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs welcomed Dr. Raziff Jamaluddin, Head of Corporate Communication and Event Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.
Dr. Raziff Jamaluddin made a study visit to the STOU Seminar and Training Center and met with faculty members of the School of Management Science to discuss possible academic cooperation.
31 May 2023 – Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, represented Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University to deliver the donated recyclable items to related organizations, after carrying out several donation projects to raise awareness regarding Green University and sustainability among faculty members, staff and students.
Desk calendars were delivered to the Educational Technology for the Blind Center, Foundation for the Blind in Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen, which will be used to produce Braille-printed instructional materials for the blind. Panty hosts and plastic cups were delivered to Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute (SNMRI), which will be used in the making of artificial legs.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) joined the 2023 Focus Group Discussion surveying informal education needs of Bangkokians organized by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on 25 May 2023 at 9.00 hrs. at Thani Nopparat Building, BMA Bangkok City Hall 2. Miss Punchapat Lakdee, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presided over the opening ceremony.
Participants included the Director of the Office of Recreation and Learning Promotion, faculty members of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Heads of Offices and Units in the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Education, and Department of Social Development, as well as personnel from Huai Khwang District Office and Ratchathewi District Office.
The Focus Group Discussion is executed under the cooperation agreement between STOU and BMA planned to survey the informal education needs of Bangkokians of different age groups in the 10 pilot areas for the fiscal year 2023 including the District of Phra Nakhon, Dusit, Min Buri, Khlong Sam Wa, Bang Khun Thian, Thung Khru, Ratchathewi, Bang Khen, Chatuchak, and Huai Khwang. The faculty members from the School of Liberal Arts, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, joined the Focus Group Discussion as the advisors.
STOU and BMA established a common intention through an academic MOU to build learning organizations. One of the fundamental mechanisms to achieve this goal is to create a cooperation network that works together in an integrated manner by exchanging knowledge and supporting each other so that both agencies can support research works, develop learning resources in Bangkok, and organize related training sessions. The MOU also aims to develop new knowledge and enhance related work in various fields including providing academic services efficiently and effectively.
12 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), 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 the MARA Technological University (UiTM) and met Prof. Ts Dr. Haryani Haron, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Hij Zainab Mohd Noor, Director for Department of International Affairs, and administrators from the Colleg of Computing, Informatics and Media, at UiTM headquarter in Shah Alam and UiTM Puncak Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.
The delegates discussed the signing of MOU and future collaborative activities between STOU and UiTM. They also took the opportunity to explore the two campuses and witnessed the advantageous academic facilities of UiTM.
Congratulations to faculty members from the Office of Educational Technology, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU OET) for receiving awards at the 34th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2023) held during 11-12 May 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemmanat Mingsiritham and Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan received two awards including Diploma Silver Medal and Outstanding Award by Citizen Innovationfrom Singapore for “Open Learning Resource Management System; STOU SmartLearnX.”
Asst. Dr. Phantipa Amornrit and Dr. Pimprapa Phanphai received Diploma Silver Medal for “Watpon.tools: Individual Innovator Competency Assessment Tool.”
The Office of Educational Technology is one of the key supporting units that drive the development of the distance learning system of the university. The faculty members have continuously expanded the range of their innovative and research works to enhance STOU’s open and distance learning.
The executives from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) participated in the OU5 Meetings hosted by the Open University Malaysia during 10-11 May 2023 at Perdana Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Asst. 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, and researchers from STOU attended the meetings between OU5 member universities to follow up with the on-going research projects and other collaborative works to enhance open and distance education in the region.
STOU researchers who joined the meeting for 2023 research projects in the two categories – International Research and ASEAN Studies include the following.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamolrat Intaratat, School of Communication Arts, on “The Role of Open Universities in ASEAN in Sustainability Development or The Role of Open Universities in ASEAN in Sustainability Development”
Asst. Prof. Pol. Maj. Dr. Napaphen Jantacumma, School of Nursing, on “Disaster Risk and Reduction Management in ASEAN”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Lugsamee Kimura, School of Liberal Arts, on “Innovative Pedagogy in the 4IR Era”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Songluk Sakulwichitsintu, School of Liberal Arts, on “A Development of Metaverse based on Gamification Concept for Practical Learning Management of Students at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University” and
Asst. Prof. Dr. Padcharee Phasuk, School of Economics, on “Educational Inequality from Gender Inequality Among the Indigenous Peoples of Northern Thailand: A Case of Karen Hmong and Lahu”
There was also the discussion to elaborate on the work under the project “University of the Future.”
9 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), 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 made a visit to Open University Malaysia (OUM) to discuss future collaborations. The delegates were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Iznee Bin Awang, Vice-Chancellor and executive members of OUM.
STOU and OUM took this opportunity to share experiences regarding corporate communication, marketing and media production, and distance education that employed digital technology in all aspects. After the collaboration discussion, the team took the campus tour and witnessed the advantageous academic facilities of OUM.
8 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), and Prof. Ho Chin Kuan, Vice-Chancellor of Asia Pacific University of Technology (APU), Malaysia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at APU headquarter in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Ts. Dr. Murali Raman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Development and Strategy of APU, 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 of STOU. The team took this opportunity to visit the Digital Learning Hub and other student facilities at APU.
The signing of MOU between STOU and APU, which is a leading university of technology in Malaysia, stressed the aspiration of the university to enhance the quality of education, staff, and research in response to the university’s vision to be a world-leading open university utilizing technology and educational innovation to provide lifelong education for all.
The executives of the two universities discussed also the joint activities to be held, including the research initiative under the UNESCO Chair program themed “Harnessing Innovations in Technology to Support Teachers & Quality Learning” and other research collaborations.
Additionally, STOU and APU will co-host a hybrid international conference – Digital Business, Society and Economy (ICDBASE2023) themed “Explore the possibilities in a Connected World” on 24-25 October 2023, which will be physically held at APU headquarters in Malaysia.
ICDBASE is planned to become a recurring annual event that APU, STOU, and other partner institutions will alternately hold physically. The next ICDBASE is scheduled to be held at STOU headquarters by the end of 2024.
