Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) met with the Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army to strengthen their partnership and expand the university’s network. The collaboration aims to upgrade the educational qualifications of Army personnel through undergraduate programs, while also providing 12,000 bottles of drinking water to support flood victims in Southern Thailand.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Taweewat Watthanakuljaroen, President of STOU, led a delegation of university executives—including Asst. Prof. Dr. Karn Boonsiri, Asst. Prof. Satawat Doungpan, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Pawin Chinachoti—to meet with General Chaiphreuk Duangprapas, Army Chief-of-Staff, at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.
The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss educational development for Army personnel, particularly those stationed on the front lines and in border areas. Key highlights of the discussion included:
Undergraduate Degrees: Providing accessible pathways for personnel to earn bachelor’s degrees while on active duty.
Postgraduate Advancement: Personnel interested in Master’s or Doctoral degrees can benefit from credit transfers to pursue further studies in relevant fields.
Flexible Learning: STOU’s curriculum is specifically designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Personnel can study alongside their official duties with 24-hour access to knowledge resources via the e-Learning system.
This collaboration aligns with the university’s mission and the Ministry of Defence’s policies to enhance the quality of human resources within the military. By providing sustainable access to higher education, the partnership aims to improve the efficiency of Army operations and contribute positively to the development of the nation.
In response to the severe flooding currently affecting Southern Thailand, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thaweewat Wattanakulcharoen, on behalf of the university, donated 12,000 bottles of STOU drinking water to the Royal Thai Army.
The Army will act as the disaster relief center to distribute the water to affected citizens and provide support to the officials and volunteers working on the front lines of the relief efforts.
