Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) has been ranked 638^th in the world on a sustainable universities list.

Started in 2021, the UI GreenMetric is an initiative of Universitas Indonesia that ranks universities throughout the world based on their commitment and actions towards sustainability.

In 2021, UI GreenMetric themed “Universities, UI GreenMetric and SDGs in the Time of Pandemic,” focusing on universities’ efforts to continue their sustainability programs and policies based on UI GreenMetric and SDGs while coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, 956 universities from 80 countries participated in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Participants completed an online questionnaire with six categories: setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation and education. With a total of 4,800 out of 10,000 points, STOU has been ranked 638^th in the world, and 32nd in Thailand.

STOU has put sustainability in among one of the five missions in the STOU Plan for Excellence.

The Top 10 Universities in 2021 UI Green Metric World University Rankings
1 Wageningen University and Research, Netherland
2 University of Nottingham, UK
3 University of Groningen, Netherland
4 Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
5 University of California, Davis, USA
6 Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld (Trier University of Applied Sciences), Germany
7 Leiden University, Netherlands
8 University College Cork, Ireland
9 University of Connecticut, USA
10 Universidade de Sao Paulo USP, Brazil

The Top 10 Thai Universities in 2021 UI Green Metric World University Rankings
1 Kasetsart University (World rank 45)
2 Mahidol University (World rank 59)
3 Suranaree University of Technology (World rank 75)
4 King Mongkut ‘s University of Technology Thonburi (World rank 83)
5 Dhurakij Pundit University (World rank 101)
6 Siam University (World rank 103)
7 Mae Fah Luang University (World rank 103)
8 Walailak University (World rank 116)
9 Maejo University (World rank 121)
10 Mahasarakham University (World rank 145)

The overall ranking can be found here.

Congratulations to Mr. Arcade Kewsawang and Mrs. Kanlayanee Supadit, STOU librarians, for receiving an honorable mention for academic presentation at the PULINET 2022 virtual conference, organized by Maejo University during 5-7 January 2022. Mr. Arcade and Mrs. Kanlayanee presented the poster titled “Lesson Learned from The Actual Experience – Local Stories” in the Organizational Management category.

The PULINET 2022 was held under the theme “New Generation Libraries: Toward House of Access” and academic presentations were divided into 3 categories including 1) Information Management, 2) Organizational Management, and 3) Information Services.

The STOU Library submitted 3 works as follow.

Poster presentation

Organizational Management Category

“Lesson Learned from The Actual Experience – Local Stories” by Mr. Arcade Kaewsawang and Mrs. Kalyanee Supadit

Information Services

Library Roadshow by Ms. Nisasilp Traichiraaporn

Oral presentation

Information Services Category

“Customer Journey Analysis in ‘Ask a Librarian’ on STOU Library Website” by Ms. Penpan Jarusan

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty the Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana presided over the Dushdi Mala Medal Awards for civil servants having great contributions to academic fields at Dusit Palace on 15 February 2021.

Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, the Chairman of the University Council was honored with the Dushdi Mala Medal — Pin of Arts and Science (Sinlapa Witthaya) in the field of Education, along with other seven honored professors in various academic fields, following the Announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister on 25 January 2021.

The Dushdi Mala Medal is a civil decoration, established by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1882 to celebrate the centennial of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. It is the highest-ranked medal among those granted for services to the state.

Professor Wichit is regarded as a matriarch in the history of education in Thailand and abroad, awarded and honored with honorary doctorate degrees from various educational institutions. He created numerous beneficial academic works in the field of educational studies. Moreover, he has served as administrators of higher education institutions and has held important positions in education-related departments, namely:

• Permanent Secretary, Ministry of University Affairs, Thailand
• Minister of Education, the Royal Government of Thailand
• Member of the Senate, The National Parliament, Thailand
• Member of the House of Representatives
• Chairman, House Committee on Education, The National Parliament, Thailand
• President of the University Council
  • Chairman, Suranaree University of Technology Council
  • Chairman, Walailak University Counci
  • Chairman, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Council
  • Adviser, Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (Public Organization)
• Founding Rector
  • Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
  • Suranaree University of Technology
  • Walailak University
• Founding President
  • Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU)
  • Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP)
  • Institutional Research and Higher Education Development Association
  • Thai Association for Cooperative Education (TACE)

He is also the pioneer in and the creator of numerous educational innovations in Thailand e.g. Open and Long Distance Education, Public Autonomous University, Institutional Research and Higher Education Development, and Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education.