On 14 February at 9.11 hrs., HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn granted an Audience to representatives of Thai higher educational institutions at Sa Pathum Palace.
Dr. Niran Jongwutiwes, Vice-Chairman of the University Council together with senior executives and staff from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, attended the royal audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to humbly confer an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy Program in Curriculum and Instruction.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University by Rajamangalaphisek Education Park Division and School of Agriculture and Cooperatives joined hands with Kasetsart University in working on the Nonthaburi Sustainable Urban Agriculture Studies Center Project.
On 4 February 2024, the opening ceremony was held at Laddawan Garden in Nonthaburi, where Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, presided over. The event featured also workshops on urban agriculture space designing and salad vegetable plating moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Parichat Dittakit, Director of the STOU Rajamangalaphisek Education Park Division and Project Leader.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment by Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) awarded Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University a Letter of Recognition for participating in the Low Emission Support Scheme (LESS).
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University changed 53 air conditioners which helped to reduce 15.866 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The university was recognized for participating in LESS on 26 December 2024.
On 2 February 2024, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graced the “Thailand Inventors’ Day 2024” opening ceremony with Her royal presence and bestowed certificates to recipients of the National Research Awards, at Event Hall 102, Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) Bangna.
Among the awardees were Dr. Tanapond Swanpitak, Head of the Business Administration Program, School of Management Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, who presented her thesis titled “Family Control and Corporate Decision-Making: Evidence from Thailand’s Listed Firms.”
Thailand Inventors’ Day falls on 2 February to commemorate the inventorship of King Rama IX who enjoyed the invention patent for Chaipattana Low Speed Surface Aerator on 2 February 1993.
Thailand Inventors’ Day 2024 was held from 2 to 6 February 2024, at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) Bangna, under the theme of “Inventions and Innovations Leading the Nation.” The event featured various exhibitions, including ones on “The Father of. Thai Invention,” the National Research Awards and inventions and innovations from Thai and international organizations, Thailand New Gen Inventors Award 2024: I-New Gen Award 2024 and etc. The Bangkok International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEx) 2024 was held simultaneously along with other seminars and workshops.
On 26 January 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pavin Chinachoti, Dean of the School of Management Science, represented Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in making donations of unused medicine and paper and cloth bags for reuse to Umphang Hospital and nearby hospitals in need.
Umphang Hospital is the district hospital of Umphang in Tak province in the North of Thailand. The hospital is responsible for over 91,000 patients, out of which 42,000 have no access to health care welfare. The medicine donation will help out a lot of people rather than have them go to waste. The hospital’s patients can use the donated bags to carry home the prescribed medicine.
This was the sixth donation made under the Sustainability Awareness-Raising campaigns at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Those interested can contact the Department of International Affairs at 0 2504 7173 for more information regarding all ongoing campaigns.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) joined the opening ceremony of the 49th University Games of Thailand – Nonsee Games on 27 January 2024 at Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, where Miss. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation, presided over. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chatchapon Songsoonthornwong, Deputy Director of the STOU Office of Educational Services led the athletes to join the other 108 institutions at the ceremony.
Nonsee Games was organized under four main concepts: Green, Clean, Healthy, and Wellness. With a motto: “Diversity to Creativity for Sustainable Wellness,” the University Games,
in addition to focusing on excellence in sports, also aims to provide Thai youth from different institutions with sustainable good health.
The competition was organized in 32 types of sports, competing for 361 gold medals, with 109 educational institutions participating, including 18,000 athletes and officials. The competition was held within the sports field of Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus STOU sent one student-athlete to compete in table tennis that is Miss Hasanah Doloh from the School of Liberal Arts.
Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an was born on Saturday, December 22, 1934, in Sanamchan Sub-district, Ban Pho District, Chachoengsao Province. He started his primary education at local public schools near his home, namely Wat Tha Sa-an School, Prakob Ratbumrung School, and Wat Klang Bang Pakong School. He completed his secondary education at Bang Pakong Bavornvitayayon School. Due to his father’s death when he was in the third grade, he had to help his mother with her business and take care of the family while continuing his studies from elementary school to high school. With his parents’ strong belief in the importance of education, he was able to continue his education at Suankularb Wittayalai School in Bangkok and then at the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. With his determination to become a teacher, he then continued his education at the Faculty of Education. As a provincial child who came to study in Bangkok, he saw the differences in educational opportunities that were caused by various constraints. Therefore, he continued his study for a master’s degree and doctorate in educational administration at the University of Minnesota and a university management certificate from Akron University in Ohio, United States of America. This led to the development of his ideas and ideals to work for equality and expanding educational opportunities.
Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an held many important senior management positions, including Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs, Secretary-General of the Office of Civil Service Commission and President of the universities. He has made many contributions to the development of education in Thailand, including founding three universities in three regions of the country, namely Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, a full-fledged distance learning university, Suranaree University of Technology and Walailak University. He has also served as the chairman of the boards of many universities. He entered politics with serving as Minister of Education, Senator, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
Throughout his career, Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an has made significant contributions to the country. He has created nine innovations in education and development that have had a positive impact on human resource development in the country. The areas of innovation are volunteer camps, institutional research, open and distance learning, brain stimulation demonstration, prison university, autonomous university, cooperative education, framework for professional standards in teaching and educational support for higher education, and leadership framework.
Due to his great achievements in the development of education in Thailand, Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an received 16 honorary doctorates from universities in Thailand and abroad, and 32 awards from various organizations both national and international. In 2009, he was honored as the “Father of Cooperative Education in Thailand” and in 2021, he was awarded the Dusit Mala Medal, the Arts and Letters Medal (Education), by His Majesty the King.
Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the age of 88 years, 9 months, and 8 days. His cause of death is presumed to be heart disease.
On 16 January 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, representing Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, made several donations following the sustainability awareness-raising campaigns.
Old desk calendars were flooded in because of the new year. They were donated to the Educational Technology Center for the Blind, Foundation for the Blind in Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen. The donation was accepted by Ms. Chanidapa Petchrak, the Director of the Center. The old desk calendars will be used to produce Braille-printed instructional materials for the visually impaired.
Used towels and other animal care necessities were donated to the Home for Handicapped Animals Foundation in Pakkret, Nonthaburi. There are over 200 handicapped cats and dogs under the care of the Foundation. There is also another animal shelter run by the foundation called “Dog & Cat Café” in Bang Len, Nakhon Pathom, housing over 800 animals.
There is currently a campaign for non-recyclable waste which will be later donated to N15 Technology, which runs a ‘waste to worth’ campaign. The non-recyclable waste will be handled properly for use in the making of refused-derived fuel. Those interested can contact STOU’s Department of International Affairs at 0 2504 7173 for more information.
Congratulations to STOU Librarians who received awards at the 14th PULINET Conference, which was held on 10-12 January 2024 at Mae Fah Luang University, on the theme “Better Libraries: Honour Yesterday, Celebrate Today, Embrace Tomorrow.”
Miss Chollada Hong-ngam and Mrs. Kanlayanee Supradit received an Excellent Award for their poster presentation on “Local Multiple Intelligences: Creative and Sustainable Knowledge for the Community.”
Miss Jiranat Anantachai received a Good award for her oral presentation on “The Development of ‘Nong Sabai LINE Bot’ Chatbot.”
Miss Ratchakon Kongcharoen and Miss Duangrat Deekua received an Honorary award for their oral presentation on “STOU Identity Podcast Production to Promote Lifelong Learning”
9 January 2024 – The virtual MOU signing ceremony between Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and Guangdong Open University (GDOU) was held via Zoom meeting, where Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, STOU Acting President, and Prof. Dr. Liu Wenqing, President of GDOU, signed the MOU. The ceremony was witnessed by executives from both universities.
STOU and GDOU were established in the same year which is 1978. Both universities prioritize distance education, flexible educational service mechanisms, and the development of innovation and digital systems. The MOU signed emphasizes not only academic but also cultural exchanges.
