Category: International Partnerships

22 August 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President, together with 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 paid a visit to SEAMEO Secretariat to extend their congratulations to the newly appointed Director and engage in discussions aimed at encouraging collaborative efforts between the two institutions.

The delegation from STOU was warmly received by Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, who recently assumed the position of Director at the SEAMEO Secretariat, together with Mr. John Arnold Sasi Siena, Deputy Director, Mr. Emiljohn Columna Sentillas, Policy and Planning Specialist, and Dr. Kamaleswaran Jayarajah, Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Specialist. During the cordial meeting, both parties expressed their enthusiasm for the potential collaborations.

The discussions revolved around the exploration of various collaboration avenues, including the organization of an upcoming international conference, the co-development of short courses, and the cooperative activities under the ICDE Global Advocacy Campaign. As the meeting concluded, both parties expressed their commitment to further discussions in the near future.

9 June 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, 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, visited the Open University of Japan (OUJ) and discussed collaborations with Prof. Dr. Masaya Iwanaga, President of OUJ. The delegation also made study visits to several departments and the Study Center in Chiba.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University welcomed H.E. Ambassador Abderrahim RAHHALY of The Kingdom of Morocco to Thailand on 7 June 2023 at its headquarters in Nonthaburi.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President, led the meeting which discussed the potential collaborations between Moroccan universities and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Attending the meeting also were Mr. El Mostafa Trifaia, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission and representatives from STOU Schools and Offices.

Later, the guests enjoyed the campus tour at the King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni Documentation Center and the Rajamangalaphisek Educational Park and a cultural visit at Koh Kret, Nonthaburi.

1 June 2023, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs welcomed Dr. Raziff Jamaluddin, Head of Corporate Communication and Event Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.

Dr. Raziff Jamaluddin made a study visit to the STOU Seminar and Training Center and met with faculty members of the School of Management Science to discuss possible academic cooperation.

12 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), 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 visited the MARA Technological University (UiTM) and met Prof. Ts Dr. Haryani Haron, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Hij Zainab Mohd Noor, Director for Department of International Affairs, and administrators from the Colleg of Computing, Informatics and Media, at UiTM headquarter in Shah Alam and UiTM Puncak Alam Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.

The delegates discussed the signing of MOU and future collaborative activities between STOU and UiTM. They also took the opportunity to explore the two campuses and witnessed the advantageous academic facilities of UiTM.

The executives from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) participated in the OU5 Meetings hosted by the Open University Malaysia during 10-11 May 2023 at Perdana Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan, Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs, Mrs. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Director of the Department of International Affairs, and researchers from STOU attended the meetings between OU5 member universities to follow up with the on-going research projects and other collaborative works to enhance open and distance education in the region.

STOU researchers who joined the meeting for 2023 research projects in the two categories – International Research and ASEAN Studies include the following.

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamolrat Intaratat, School of Communication Arts, on “The Role of Open Universities in ASEAN in Sustainability Development or The Role of Open Universities in ASEAN in Sustainability Development”
2. Asst. Prof. Pol. Maj. Dr. Napaphen Jantacumma, School of Nursing, on “Disaster Risk and Reduction Management in ASEAN”
3. Asst. Prof. Dr. Lugsamee Kimura, School of Liberal Arts, on “Innovative Pedagogy in the 4IR Era”
4. Asst. Prof. Dr. Songluk Sakulwichitsintu, School of Liberal Arts, on “A Development of Metaverse based on Gamification Concept for Practical Learning Management of Students at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University” and
5. Asst. Prof. Dr. Padcharee Phasuk, School of Economics, on “Educational Inequality from Gender Inequality Among the Indigenous Peoples of Northern Thailand: A Case of Karen Hmong and Lahu”

There was also the discussion to elaborate on the work under the project “University of the Future.”

9 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), 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 made a visit to Open University Malaysia (OUM) to discuss future collaborations. The delegates were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Ahmad Iznee Bin Awang, Vice-Chancellor and executive members of OUM.

STOU and OUM took this opportunity to share experiences regarding corporate communication, marketing and media production, and distance education that employed digital technology in all aspects. After the collaboration discussion, the team took the campus tour and witnessed the advantageous academic facilities of OUM.

8 May 2023 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manit Jumpa, Distinguished Member of the University Council, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), and Prof. Ho Chin Kuan, Vice-Chancellor of Asia Pacific University of Technology (APU), Malaysia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at APU headquarter in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Ts. Dr. Murali Raman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Development and Strategy of APU, 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 of STOU. The team took this opportunity to visit the Digital Learning Hub and other student facilities at APU.

The signing of MOU between STOU and APU, which is a leading university of technology in Malaysia, stressed the aspiration of the university to enhance the quality of education, staff, and research in response to the university’s vision to be a world-leading open university utilizing technology and educational innovation to provide lifelong education for all.

The executives of the two universities discussed also the joint activities to be held, including the research initiative under the UNESCO Chair program themed “Harnessing Innovations in Technology to Support Teachers & Quality Learning” and other research collaborations.

Additionally, STOU and APU will co-host a hybrid international conference – Digital Business, Society and Economy (ICDBASE2023) themed “Explore the possibilities in a Connected World” on 24-25 October 2023, which will be physically held at APU headquarters in Malaysia.

ICDBASE is planned to become a recurring annual event that APU, STOU, and other partner institutions will alternately hold physically. The next ICDBASE is scheduled to be held at STOU headquarters by the end of 2024.

13 March 2023 – Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan Acting Vice-President for Academic Services, Cultural Preservation, and International Affairs welcomed Prof. Ho Chin Kuan, Vice-Chancellor, and Prof. Ts. Dr. Murali Raman, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Development and Strategy from Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Malaysia.

STOU by representatives from the School of Economics, School of Science and Technology, Office of Computer Services, and Institute for Research and Development took this opportunity to discuss possible academic collaboration with APU’s administrators.