Category: Happenings

On 6-7 June 2024, representatives from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) attended the 2^nd and 3^rd day of ICDE Leadership Summit 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit, titled “Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI: Rethinking Futures of Education.”

Organized by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) and Globethics, the summit brought together higher education leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI technology into education.

STOU representatives included Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President, 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.

The summit featured a variety of engaging sessions, including: Keynote addresses, Panel discussions, and Parallel workshops. One of the central themes of the summit was the development of ethical frameworks to guide the responsible use of AI in education. This included discussions on:

• Identifying and addressing potential ethical issues arising from the use of AI, such as bias, discrimination, and data privacy concerns.
• Establishing principles and guidelines for the implementation of AI in education that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability.
• Ensuring that AI applications align with educational values and prioritize student well-being and learning outcomes.

In addition to participating in the ICDE Leadership Summit, STOU also took the opportunity to meet with the Secretary-General of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) to discuss the organization of a panel session and invite ICDE GAC ASIA member universities to a Working Group Meeting at the upcoming 2^nd International Conference of Digital Business, Society & Economy (ICDBSE 2024).

STOU is the proud host of ICDBSE 2024 in partnership with Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) in Malaysia. The conference has received the esteemed support of The Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), and the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). These leading organizations in open and distance education will contribute to the conference’s discussions and enrich the overall experience for participants.

After the conclusion of the summit, the administrators of STOU had the opportunity to informally visit the University of Geneva, one of the most prestigious universities in Switzerland. They gained a valuable insight into the university’s vibrant academic community and its rich history.

STOU’s participation in these international events reflects our commitment topromoting ethical leadership in the digital age, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among higher education institutions worldwide, and advancing innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the era of AI.

On 5 June 2024, the administrators of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, participated in the ICDE Leadership Summit 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Other members included 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.

The ICDE Leadership Summit is a leadership-focused international conference that explores contemporary challenges and opportunities facing today’s educational leaders and innovators in the globally connected digital era. The Summit offers a vibrant, inclusive space for unique networking and development opportunities. The 2024 Summit focused on the theme “Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI: Rethinking Futures of Education”. During the workshop sessions, Dr. Phanompatt exchanged views and experiences on the use of AI in STOU’s teaching and learning. The discussion focused on several key areas such as copyright infringement detection, research ethics, generative AI for text-to-speech, and English closed captions for video lectures.

The first-day event also included the Plenary Session featuring a themed opening panel. The key points from the session are as follows:

• Higher education requires leaders who are ethical, responsible, and honest, and who consider the impact of AI on knowledge and understanding, education systems, and human existence.
• AI can lead to division, so there is a need to raise awareness and promote ethics rather than focusing on technology.
• Digital innovation must go hand in hand with lifelong learning, with an emphasis on critical media literacy to address bias and injustice, and adapting AI to develop relationships, critical thinking, emotions, and education.
• Education is a fundamental foundation for building cross-cultural cooperation, exchanging ideas, and fostering good relations between humanity.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University took this opportunity to promote the upcoming 2^nd International Conference of Digital Business, Society & Economy (ICDBSE 2024) at the event. The conference will be held on November 13-14, 2024, at STOU under the theme “Innovation and Technology Towards Sustainability and Lifelong Learning.” STOU is co-hosting
the conference with Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Malaysia. The conference is supported by a network of partners, including UNESCO, SEAMEO, ICDE, and AAOU. For more information, please visit the conference website.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and Chia Tai Co., Ltd. signed an MOU on “Industrial Waste Transformation Towards Sustainable Development Goals,” on Thursday, 21 March 2024 at the Headquarters of Chia Tai Co., Ltd.

At Auditorium 1-2 of the Chia Tai Co., Ltd. headquarters, Mr. Manas Chiaravanond, Chairman of the Executive Board, welcomed and spoke about the academic cooperation on “Industrial Waste Transformation Towards Sustainable Development Goals”. Mr. Manas mentioned that Chia Tai Co., Ltd. itself has a large amount of agricultural industrial waste, so proper waste or residue management is needed to generate benefits. The knowledgeable faculty members of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University are able to turn the garbage into value-added products, resulting in the development of sustainable communities, and driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, STOU Acting President, expressed gratitude and spoke about this academic cooperation project between STOU and Chia Tai Co., Ltd. Dr. Phanompatt stated that STOU has a strategy to respond to community, social and national development towards sustainability. The university can provide knowledge in various fields, whether it be sciences, history, social sciences or culture, with programs developed to align with current situations, we are happy to provide academic knowledge to utilize industrial waste for sustainable communities.

STOU has participated in the UI GreenMetric after having committed to sustainable development. Waste management and environmental education are linked to enhancing the quality of life and happy workplaces, significant for driving the SDGs.

Additionally, STOU has continuous annual research projects and academic services for society in line with the SDGs, to develop and transfer knowledge across disciplines for community, social and national benefit. For example, a research project on “Business Elevation of High-Quality Compost Fertilizer from Agricultural Wastes of Baansabuyjai Community Enterprise and Baansaraphi Community Enterprise in Samut Songkram Province” developed local resource waste into certified quality products, generating income for communities and promoting these as model BCG economy communities selected by the Office of Commercial Affairs Strategy, Ministry of Commerce. This research was extended into an academic outreach project with the Samut Songkhram Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office referred to as “Systematic Upstream Waste Management and Converting Waste into Economic Value in Samut Songkhram Province” in 2024, drawing interest and participation from community enterprise members, farmers and the general public in three districts of Samut Songkhram: Muang, Bang Khonthi and Amphawa. The research and academic outreach projects were accomplished through the efforts of Asst. Prof. Dr. Parichat Dittakit, who serves as the Director of the Rejamangalaphisek Educational Park Division. Additionally, Dr. Parichat is responsible for fostering collaboration between STOU and Chia Tai.

STOU greatly is certain that the collaboration with Chia Tai Co., Ltd. will help push further institutional sustainable development projects forward and be able to give back even more to society.

On 11 March 2024, a delegation from the Office of Personnel Development and Administration, the Royal Thai Army Force (RTAF) led by Lt. Gen. Suchin Trongdee, Director of the RTAF the Office of Personnel Development and Administration, met with Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President, along with other university executives in Meeting Room 1514 at STOU’s Administration Building. The purpose of the visit was to discuss academic cooperation in promoting online learning and jointly developing courses to disseminate knowledge through the online learning system.

On this occasion, the delegation visited STOU’s Educational Radio and Television Production Building (EBPC Building), guided by Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Director of the Office of Educational Technology, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Smaksmorn Phakdeeteva, Curator of STOU MOOC.

On 21 February 2024, at Meeting Room 1608, Administration Building, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President, presided over the opening of the meeting to clarify the framework for the implementation of the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU)
for the fiscal year 2024.

The Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) of government agencies, according to
the guidelines of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), has been implemented by STOU since the fiscal year 2019. For the fiscal year 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) has issued the No Gift Policy and Dos & Don’ts guidelines.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanasak Saijampa, Vice-President for Strategy, Planning, Digital Technology, and Human Resources, chaired the meeting to clarify the framework for STOU’s ITA implementation for the fiscal year 2024 to liaison officers in all university offices. The university has assigned the Quality Assurance Coordination Center and the Legal Affairs Division as the main responsible offices to carry out the assessment criteria set by the NACC. The assessment covers 10 indicators, such as information disclosure, corruption prevention, exercise of power, use of state assets, etc. There are perception surveys and opinion collection from various stakeholders, including Internal Integrity and Transparency Assessment (IIT), External Integrity and Transparency Assessment (EIT), and Open Data Integrity and Transparency Assessment (OIT).

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University’s School of Nursing celebrates The Capping, Pinning and Candle Lighting Ceremony for Academic Year 2022 on 17 February 2023 at the conference hall of Phitayapat Building at STOU Nonthaburi. Asst. Prof. Dr. Premruetai Noimuenwai, Dean of the School of Nursing presided over as the chair of the ceremony. There were 71 out of 203 students joined the ceremony.

The capping and pinning ceremony marks an important milestone for nursing students who finished their basic courses and are ready for clinical practice. The ceremony promotes the value of professional pride, and a positive attitude toward the nursing profession and their home institution, where the nursing students’ working morality, ethics, and culture are cultivated.

The event was attended by proud family members. Those unable to attend can watch the live streaming of the ceremony via various channels.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University has offered nursing programs since 1984. There are currently 3 programs including Bachelor of Nursing Science, Master of Nursing Science in Nursing Administration, and Master of Nursing Science in Community Nurse Practitioner.

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.