His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana graciously presided over the Graduation Ceremony of Sukhothai Thammathriat Open University for the Academic Year 2018-2019 on 4-6 June 2022. The graduates celebrated the joyous occasion at STOU Conference Hall (Aneknitat Building).
Eighteen thousand nine hundred and eleven students graduated in these two academic years, including 17,241 from Bachelor’s Degree level, 1,621 from Master’s Degree level, and 49 from Doctoral Degree level. Among them was Parliament president and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, who was awarded an honorary doctorate in Communication Arts: Communication Innovation for Political and Local Administration.
“…Creating a happy and stable Thai society is the duty of everyone who is part of the society. Graduates, in particular, must have the awareness towards this duty because they are knowledgeable and skilled to create benefits for the society. If everyone joins hands and cooperates with all parties to earnestly watch over, protect and develop the society, our society and the nation will maintain the safety and security, making it a safe place for everyone to live at peace…”
The Royal Guidance of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua in the graduation ceremony of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University on 4 June 2022
On 30 May 2022 at 8.00 hrs., Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), presided over the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajamangalaphisek Education Park to commemorate the passing of His Majesty King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII).
The event featured a memorial reading by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, and the placement of wreaths by representatives from each department.
On 14 February 2022, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University donated old desk calendars to the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supawadee Theerathammakorn, Acting Director of International Affairs, led the team to make a donation of over 2,500 old desk calendars 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. The donation was accepted by Ms. Chanidapa Petchrak, the Director of Educational Technology for the Blind Center, on behalf of the Center.
Under the advice of the Steering Committee for Green University Development of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, a campaign for old desk calendars donation was carried out in January 2022. The STOU administrators, faculty, staff and students from both main and regional campuses have collected the old calendars for donation instead of throwing them away. The activity was aimed to raise awareness regarding the needs of the virtually impaired and the blind, as well as sustainability and green university development among the university’s employees and students countrywide.
On 13 January 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University joined a virtual MOU signing ceremony to launch the cross-registration program with other 24 partner universities across the country in the meeting of the Council of the Graduate Studies Administrators of Public and Autonomous Universities (CGAU). Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D., Ph.D., Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) presided over the virtual ceremony, while Prof. Patcharee Lertrit, M.D., Ph.D., Chairperson of the CGAU and Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University, joined as a witness and co-signed the MOU.
Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D., Ph.D. Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI)
Prof. Dr. Sirirurg stated: “MHESI has 3 main missions: to build people, to create a body of knowledge, and to achieve innovation. Within two years after the establishment of MHESI, we have developed new mechanisms that help to solve as many problems as possible for universities, such as grouping universities for the excellence of each, unlocking the maximum period of study to promote lifelong learning, and developing the teacher’s career path by adding five channels for achieving academic positions, etc.
Prof. Dr. Sirirurg added: “The MOU signing today marked an important step in the Thai higher education system. With approval from 25 institutions, we have accomplished one difficult task. This is considered as a concrete implementation of the TRF’s policy on the credit bank system and the sharing of resources. This will be of great benefit to students who deserve the best, offering them the opportunity to explore subjects of their interest and gain a wide range of experiences from universities with different merits and excellence. The university also benefits from integrating information and knowledge links between universities. It is a synergistic force for efficient use of resources together and contributes to the country’s development.”
Prof. Patcharee said: “The MOU signing between the 25 institutions is intended to enhance educational collaboration on a graduate level, allowing students to cross-register in graduate programs offered by the partner universities. The acquired credits will be recognized at the student’s home university and can be collected in the credit bank system under the rules and regulations of each university. This is believed to take the academic and social experience of the students to a new level.”
The 25 partner universities include Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, Thaksin University, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Thammasat University, Naresuan University, Burapha University, The University of Phayao, Mahidol University, Mahasarakham University, Maejo University, Mae Fah Luang University, Ramkhamhaeng University, Silpakorn University, Srinakharinwirot University, Prince of Songkla University, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Suranaree University of Technology, National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Ubon Ratchathani University and Walailak University.
Students and those interested can visit CGAU Website for more information.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) launched the application “STOU SISA” on 3 August 2021, to provide convenient and quick student services, available for IOS and Android.
SISA stands for Student Info Service Application. STOU SISA app provides student services including viewing school records, academic results, and enrollment with mobile payment. It also caters information about teaching and learning, examination venues and examination results.
STOU SIA dfferent menusStudy RecordsOn-screen notificationsIn-App news announcement
Associate Professor Dr. Pranee Sungkatavat, Distinguished Member of the University Council, STOU Acting President said: “STOU has been continuously implementing the university reform plan. We focus on the development of distance education technology, the modern teaching and learning management, to be ready to provide quality services in this fast-changing society.”
“Now that the STOU SISA app is launched, all the students will get access to a faster and more convenient services. The Application connects all students’ information regarding their studies and examinations. The system will facilitate all our 88,000 students both in the country and abroad, providing access to important student services 24/7.”
Associate Professor Dr. Theppasak Boonyarataphan, Acting Vice-President for Strategy, Planning, Digital Technology and Innovation, added: “The main challenge of developing the STOU SISA app is that students must receive the correct information. The app should cut down the process and time in contacting the university. They should be able to check the information conveniently and quickly by themselves through the application.”
“STOU SISA contains the student’s personal information, event calendar, enrollment information, educational record, examination schedule, examination result, materials delivery status, course assignment, tutorial, training and professional experience programs schedule, and general university news. Most importantly, students can pay for the registration fee via the STOU SISA app, which is a new dimension for the student services of STOU. STOU SISA is now available for download both for iOS and Android.”
Associate Professor Dr. Pranee Sungkatavat added: “The application will continue to develop to increase its efficiency. More information in various fields will be utilized to provide a wider range of student services. Hopefully, we’ll bring in AI technology soon.”
“STOU has delivered quality education for over 40 years. Our next goal is to become a full-fledged digital university while maintaining the quality as a leader in distance education.”
The School of Nursing, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, organized a workshop titled “Transforming Practice (from Clinical Setting to the Community): The Future of Nursing” on 26 June 2021. The training featured a special lecture by Asst. Prof. Dr. Rita Cui-Ramos, Senior Lecturer from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU).
The workshop was joined by both students and graduates of the Master’s degree program in Nursing. The participants enjoyed the exchange of ideas and experiences on the transformation of the practice from the clinical facility to the community. They also discussed the information communication and digital technology used in nursing practice. The School of Nursing has also benefited from the workshop. The workshop helped gathering informative ideas and concepts for the improvement of the Nursing courses, to keep up with the social changes, and to answer to the vision of the Ministry of Public Health.
On 28 May 2021, the STOU Institute of Research and Development (IRD) signed the Memorandum of Agreement on Academic Collaboration with the Department of Corrections. The MOA aims to promote research studies in corrections in order to enhance the academic cooperation between the two institutions, as well as to promote the research and development of standardized correctional work in the treatment of inmates. Associate Professor Dr. Pranee Sungkatavat, distinguished member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, together with Associate Professor Dr. Sungworn Ngadgratoke, Director of the STOU IRD has signed the memorandum of agreement on behalf of the university.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University organized a training program “SMART Principles” 1st batch during 16-18 March 2021 to improve the quality of teaching and learning support personnel standards in the university’s distance learning system to meet national and international levels.
The STOU Distance Education Staff Development Academy (DESDA) organized the 1st batch of “STOU Model for Academic Recognition of Teaching: SMART Principles” at the main conference hall of Pittayaphat Building at the STOU main campus in Nonthaburi. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pranee Sungkatavat, STOU Acting President presided over the opening and orientation of the program on 16 March 2021. There were 29 lecturers and supporting staff who participated. Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, the Chairman of the University Council, as the UKPSF Principal Fellow, gave a speech and a lecture on “the Orientation of the Overview of the Programme for the Awareness of the Roles and Responsibilities of STOU lecturers and Support Staff.”
“The SMART Principles” is the standards framework that STOU co-developed with Advance Higher Education (Advance HE), United Kingdom. Advance HE awards four different categories of Fellowship, Associate Fellowship (AFHEA), Fellowship (FHEA), Senior Fellowship (SFHEA) and Principal Fellowship (PFHEA), as recognition of expertise. Participants who passed the SMART Principles will be awarded Associate Fellowship (AFHEA). STOU has been supporting our staff to pursue the award. So far, there are 1 Principal Fellow, 8 Senior Fellows and 6 Senior Fellows. All the fellows from STOU and other universities in Thailand have joined the SMART Principles as Personal Mentors (PMs).
