Category: International Partnerships

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, accompanied by Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of Department of International Affairs and 5 Researchers consisted of Asst. Prof. Dr. Poom Juasiripukdee, Dean of School of Science and Technology, Assoc. Prof Dr. Sungworn Ngudgratoke, Director of Institute for Research and Development and Faculty Member of School of Education Studies, Asst. Prof. Dr. Adirek Vajrapatkul, Faculty Member of School of Economics, Dr. Worrawit Nakpan, Faculty Member of School of Health Science and Dr. Choneratt Suriyarangsun, Faculty Member of School of Liberal Arts, traveled to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to join the OU5 meeting which was organized from 24 – 26 April 2024 by Universitas Terbuka (UT). The Open Universities 5 (OU5) Meeting opens an opportunity of bringing together representatives from 5 leading open and distance learning institutions in Southeast Asia:

• Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia
• Open University Malaysia (OUM), Malaysia
• Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Thailand
• University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Philippines
• Hanoi Open University (HOU), Vietnam

Shared Commitment to Excellence

The OU5 network strengthens the collaboration and knowledge sharing among its members, promoting institutional development and research in ASEAN studies. This year’s meeting focused on strategic discussions and initiatives aimed at advancing open and distance higher education in the region.

Key Discussion Points

• Progress on 2024 Research Projects: Participants reviewed the progress of ongoing research projects and identified areas for further collaboration.
• Nominations for project leaders for 2025 research projects were discussed and the schedule for the first online meeting was finalized.
• Establishment of a Shared Repository for OU5 Outputs and Documents: A shared repository to store OU5 outputs and documents was established to facilitate access and collaboration.
• The development of an AAOU Quality Assurance Framework was discussed to promote shared standards and best practices.
• The status of testing for the benchmarking instrument was reviewed to ensure its effectiveness in measuring performance.
• The ICDE Global Advocacy Campaign Asia was discussed to explore ways to promote open and distance education in the region.
• The potential of micro-credentials in open and distance education was explored to recognize and certify skills and competencies.
• Invitation to join the ICDBSE 2024 Conference and ICDE Global Advocacy Campaign Asia Working Groups Meeting at STOU, Thailand scheduled from 13-14 November 2024.

Research Agenda 2024

OU5 researchers identified several key research themes for 2024:

• Inclusive Education: Providing Quality Education for All
• Artificial intelligence (AI) in digital education
• Promoting Sustainable Industrialisation (SDG 9) in ASEAN Region (smart manufacturing, employability & decent work, green grown (SDG9) as the selected agenda)
• Counseling Services at OU5 to Promote Good Mental Health in ASEAN
• Preserving ASEAN Culture in Digital Age

International Community Service and Collaboration

The OU5 meeting reaffirmed the commitment of participating institutions to engage in international community service initiatives, aiming to make a positive impact on global communities and promote cross-cultural understanding. The OU5 meeting also served as a valuable opportunity for sharing knowledge, fostering innovation, and strengthening collaboration among open and distance learning institutions in Southeast Asia including sharing the commitment to excellence and the focus on strategic initiatives that will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of open and distance higher education in the region.

The next OU5 Meeting was scheduled to be held in the Philippines but the date would be finalized later.

On Friday, 8 March 2024 from 11.00-12.00 at STOU Headquarters, the university executives, faculty members, and staff attended a meeting with Mr. Ian Hall, Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), Head of Membership (International) regarding the application for accreditation status under the new 2023 version. They exchanged experiences, built mutual understanding, and inquired about guidelines for developing the teaching system and supporting distance learning based on the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) 2023 of STOU, which will take place in early fiscal year 2025.

On 22 February 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), together with Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, welcomed Prof. Iwanaga Masaya, President of the Open University of Japan (OUJ), and other delegates from OUJ, accompanied by Mr. Uchida Takeshi, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Thailand.

The delegates discussed possible academic collaborations and shared ideas on distance education with STOU administrators and staff. The delegates then visited the King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni Documentation Center and the Educational Broadcasting Production Center (EBPC).

On 14 February 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, STOU Acting President together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narathip Sriram, Acting Vice-President for Education, Learning Support, and Research, 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, joined the virtual signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and Anadolu University (ANAU), Turkiye.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, STOU Acting President, and Professor Dr. Fuat Erdal, ANAU President signed the MOU, which was witnessed by executives from both universities.

Anadolu University is a leading university in digital technology and educational innovation in Turkiye. It is one of the largest universities providing both conventional and distance education. There are nearly two million students from 128 countries enrolled at ANAU this academic year. There are over 550 exchange students and faculty members.

The MOU Signing Ceremony between STOU and ANAU created a cooperative network for the exchange of academics, research, innovation, and culture. The cooperation will help enhance the quality of personnel and research, answering to university’s vision of becoming ‘the world-leading open university utilizing technology and educational innovation to provide lifelong education for all.’

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.

On 24-25 November 2024, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, welcomed a delegation from Shanghai Open University (SOU), China. Led by Prof. Junjiang Lou, Vice Chairman of the University Council, Shanghai Open University executives attended the MOU Signing Ceremony between the two universities and visited STOU headquarters and our regional center in Phet Buri.

The MOU Signing Ceremony was held at the Executive Meeting Room of the Administration Building in STOU Headquarters in Nonthaburi. The event was honored by the presence of Vice-Presidents, Deans, and Directors of both universities. Signed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa and Prof. Junjiang Lou, the MOU focuses on cooperation in digital technology and educational innovation to enhance STOU’s strategy and meet the university’s Vision: “STOU strives to be a world-leading open university utilizing technology and educational innovation to provide lifelong education for all.

After the ceremony, the delegates attended a knowledge-sharing session where STOU lecturers gave concise presentations about current technology and innovations employed at STOU. Assoc. Prof. Warisa Romsaiyud from the School of Science and Technology spoke on “STOU-ASFER: Automatic Student Facial Expression Recognition Model.” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanathnuth Chatpakkarattana gave a presentation on “Development of Digital Learning Environment.” Asst. Prof. Dt. Pantipa Amorinrit and Dr. Wachira Prammawong presented their work on “AI and Digital Education Innovations for Teacher Development.” Dr. Patthanan Bootchuy talked about the “Design of Online Courses.”

The guests enjoyed a campus tour at the King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni Documentation Center and the Educational Broadcasting Production Center (EBPC). They also visited STOU Phet Buri to observe regional operations on the following day.