4 November 2022 – Ms. Rattana Changyao, examination coordinator at Umphang Witthayakom School, representing Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), made a medicine donation to Umphang hospital.
STOU carries out an ‘unused medicine donation’ campaign to raise awareness of sustainability and green university development among the university’s employees and students. This was the second time the donated medicine was delivered to the hospital and was accepted by Mr. Supan Pintakaew, Thai Traditional Medicine Technical Officer.
The donated medicines will be reexamined by the Pharmacist before dispensing to patients with no access to health insurance or other hospitals with limited financial resources.
On 2-4 November 2022, a delegation of administrators from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) joined the 35th AAOU Annual Conference (AAOU2022) at the International Convention Center Jeju (ICCJEJU), South Korea. Hosted by Korea National Open University (KNOU), AAOU2022 was themed “Opening a New Path to Open University: Responding to Global Issues”
The STOU delegates included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niranat Sansa, Dean of the School of Educational Studies; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Araya Prasertchai, Dean of the School of Health Science; Assoc. Prof. Krittika Jiwaluk, Director of the Office of Documentation and Information; Dr. Sarun Nakthanom, Director of the Office of Computer Services; and Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs.
There were also three lecturers from the university joining the AAOU2022 Conference to present their academic works including Asst. Prof. Major Dr. Napaphen Jantacumma, School of Nursing; Asst. Prof. Dr. Parichat Dittakit, School of Agriculture and Cooperatives; and Dr. Worrawit Nakpan, School of Health Science.
During the Conference, Dr. Niranat represented the university in receiving a certificate of appreciation from AAOU for the university’s contribution to the publishing of the Book of Open and Distance Education in Asia: Good Practices from the AAOU Members. The Book of ODE was a collaboration of 8 member universities of AAOU namely, Korea National Open University (KNOU), Open University Malaysia (OUM), Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Open University of China (OUC), Open University of Japan (OUJ), Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU, and Universitas Terbuka (UT). Edited by Prof. Dr. Tian Belawati, Former Rector of Universitas Terbuka. The Book of ODE is currently available on the AAOU official website or this link.
4 November 2022 – Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) donated discarded lottery tickets to Wat Huai Mu Home for Children with Special Needs in Ratchaburi.
STOU has continuously carried out a campaign for discarded lottery tickets donation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Namtip Wipawin from the School of Liberal Arts and Asst. Prof. Dr. Kultida Bunjongsiri from the School of Health Science represented the university to make the donation which was the second time. Phra Chandra Sirakorn, Abbot of Wat Huai Mu, accepted the donation. The tickets will be used to produce flowers, decorative wreaths, and other crafts for sale. The income from the sale is spent on the execution of Wat Huai Mu Home for Children with Special Needs.
STOU will carry on the campaign to raise awareness of sustainability and green university development among the university’s employees and students countrywide.
22 October 2022 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), chaired the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes at Wat Chanathip Chaloem, the royal temple in Satun. The Ceremony was witnessed by STOU administrators, faculty members, and staff, as well as personnel from provincial organizations and the general public.
The Royal Kathina Robes was bestowed by His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. This is the 42nd time STOU organized this religious ceremony. Phra Thep Sitti Muni, the Ecclesiastical Regional Governor of Region 18, chaired the reception ceremony where Phra Kru Wimol Thammaros, the Abbot of Wat Chanathip Chaloem, was chosen to receive the Kathina Robe. There were 17 monks who had completed the rains retreat this year. In addition to the Kathina offerings, a total of 1,550,411.50-baht donation was given to the royal temple.
Wat Chanathip Chaloem, formerly known as Wat Mam Bang, was built in 1882. It is believed to be the first Buddhism temple in Satun. The temple was renamed Wat Chanathip Chaloem in 1939. The temple’s chapel was built in 1940. Wat Chanathip Chaloem was promoted to a third-rank royal temple in 1991.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, together with Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), joined the Annual Conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) hosted by University of Warsaw, Poland, during 26-28 September 2022. The conference was held on the main theme “Bridges for Science and Education.”
ASAIHL Conference in Poland
During the trip, Dr. Gan and Mrs. Rattip made a study visit to the University of Warsaw in Warsaw and Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, to learn and share experiences about the management of international collaboration and activities, to observe the operation of the universities, and to discuss the possibility to establish collaborative projects.
Study visit at the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University
The STOU administrators also had the opportunity to pay a courtesy call to the Royal Thai Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, to promote the education opportunity for Thai residents in the country through online learning at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
On 1-5 August 2022, The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the Research University Network Thailand (RUN) organized the Thailand Research Expo 2022 at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre Central World.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony on 1 August 2022 at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre Central World where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), has the opportunity to present the report on the research project “Water, Life, Learning and Community Power: from Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan to Chao Phraya.”
The research project “Water, Life, Learning and Community Power: from Ping, Wang, Yom, Nan to Chao Phraya” is the study led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sajja Bunjongsiri from the STOU School of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The project was exhibited throughout five days of Thailand Research Expo 2022. On this occasion, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting Vice-President for Human Resources, Research, and General Administration represented STOU and received a certificate of participation from Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) during the closing ceremony of the Expo.
Moreover, STOU faculty members presented research works at the Expo on 5 August 2022 as follows:
The Development of the Interactive E-Tutorial System to Develop Problem-Solving Ability and Self-Regulation for Undergraduate Students in Open University by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanathnuth Chatpakkarattana, Office of the Educational Technology;
Online Learning Communities Model to Enhance Knowledge Management in Research for Graduate Studies by Dr. Chutiwat Suwatthipong, Office of the Educational Technology;
Development of guidance activities using digital technology for self-development planning on education and career of students by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niranat Sansa, School of Educational Studies; and
Model Development of Online Knowledge Center to Promote Necessary Skills in Industrial Establishment by Dr. Duangporn Sapluck and Assoc. Prof. Supanita Sudsawat.
The Open University Malaysia (OUM) hosted the OU5 Virtual Meetings via Google Meet featuring OU5 Researchers Meeting on 21 July 2022 and OU5 Presidents Meeting on 25 July 2022.
OU5 Presidents Meeting
The OU5 Virtual Meetings were organized to follow up the works under the OU5 cooperative scheme between Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Universitas Terbuka (UT), Open University Malaysia (OUM) and Hanoi Open University (HOU).
The OU5 Researchers Meeting allowed the researchers from five universities to discuss the ongoing projects, which were presented in the Presidents Meeting by the representatives of each project. The OU5 Presidents Meeting also reviewed the project’s execution in the past and discussed the projects to implement in the following year.
OU5 Researchers Meeting
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University will host the next OU5 Meeting face-to-face from 29-30 November 2022 at its main campus in Nonthaburi.
25 July 2022 – The university Educational Quality Assurance Coordinating Center held the Innovation & Good Practice Award Ceremony 2022 at Room 5209 Seminar I Building. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Theppasak Boonyarataphan, Acting Vice-President for Strategy, Planning, and Digital Technology, presided over and presented the awards to the inventors.
There were 13 works submitted and the awardees are as follows.
The School of Communication Arts was awarded second prize for their Innovation to Increase Learning Outcomes and Reduce Costs for Online Training on Cinematic Skills.”
The School of Health Science was awarded third prize for their “Gamification: Card Game on Public Health Law.”
Honorary Mention Awards were granted to:
The Office of Educational Technology for the Development of Information Systems for Teaching and Learning Management and The Production of e-Learning Media;
The Office of Computer Services for the Development of the Online Student Assignment Submission System; and
The Office of Computer Services for the Development of Information System for Work-from-Home Performance Report.
All participating inventors also were given certificates of participation for their effort in joining this important campaign.
STOU has promoted and supported the Innovation and Good Practice campaign since 2015 to encourage STOU faculty members and staff to recognize the importance of innovations that help enhance the quality of education the university provides.
SEAMOLEC and STOU jointly conducted an online training on “Digital Learning Material Development: E-module & lnfographics” on 20-21 July 2022.
SEAMOLEC has been a long-standing partner of STOU. The training on Digital Learning Material Development has been conducted consecutively for two years to support the needs of the new paradigm happening in teaching and learning in the 21st century.
The objective of this year’s training is to allow the participants to learn about e-module and infographics and be able to plan, do and share them, as well as adapt to their teaching.
The training was a success thanks to the trainer, Ms. Zahrani Balqis, and all participants.
The National Research Council of Thailand participated in the national fisheries exhibition: The 32nd Annual Pramong Nomklao Fair, showcasing 3 research findings. Among them was a project by STOU’s lecturers i.e. the development of THE SIAM FISH: ornamental fish hub.
THE SIAM FISH is a project of the Academic Center for Educational Communications and Technology, Office of Educational Technology, by Dr. Wachira Brahmawong (project leader), Dr. Pimprapa Phanphai, Dr. Suebwong Chuensombat, and Dr. Sirikanya Maneenil. It is an online platform aimed to be a central virtual market and knowledge hub for ornamental fish in Thailand.
The 32nd Annual Pramong Nomklao Fair was organized by Thailand’s Department of Fisheries together with the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital and Future Park Rangsit shopping mall during 1-10 July 2022 under the theme “Aquatic of Luck.”
