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On May 30, 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), presided over a wreath-laying ceremony and delivered a eulogy in honor of His Majesty King Prajadhipok on the occasion of the anniversary of his passing. The ceremony was held at the statue of King Prajadhipok within the Rajamangalaphisek Education Park of STOU.

Representatives from various agencies and organizations in Nonthaburi Province and the vicinity of the university attended the wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of King Prajadhipok. These included:

• Nonthaburi Province, led by Ms. Raweepan Kaewpiangpen, Deputy Governor of Nonthaburi Province
• Nonthaburi Provincial Court
• Provincial Public Prosecution of Nonthaburi
• Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization
• Pak Kret Municipality
• Pak Kret District
• Pak Kret Police Station
• Department of Land
• Ministry of Digital Economy and Society
• Royal Thai Army Headquarters
• Veterans Organization of Thailand
• King Prajadhipok Institute
• National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)
• National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT)
• Rajpruek Club

University administrators, faculty members, staff, the STOU Alumni Association, students, and other university units also participated in the ceremony.

On 29 May 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), led a delegation of university administrators and faculty members from the School of Political Science to pay a courtesy call to His Eminence the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, Sheikh Arun Boonchom. They were welcomed by Mr. Prasit Mahamad, Secretary to the Sheikhul Islam, at the Reception Hall on the 3^rd floor of The Sheikhul Islam office of Thailand, National Islamic Affairs Administrative Center, in Nong Chok, Bangkok.

The STOU delegation congratulated the Sheikhul Islam on his appointment to the position on 24 January 2024. They also discussed opportunities for collaboration in developing education, transferring knowledge and experience, and promoting and developing national education, particularly STOU’s distance learning system, which provides equal educational opportunities to all.

The Sheikhul Islam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from STOU’s School of Political Science.

On 27 May 2024, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Regional Academic Resources and Community Engagement Center – Nonthaburi (STOU Nonthaburi), in collaboration with Bang Kwang Central Prison, organized a project to promote learning for STOU students for the academic year 2024. The event was held at the Special Education Service Center, Bang Kwang Central Prison, in Suan Yai, Muang, Nonthaburi.

The event was graced by the presence of Mr. Dusit Chuchai, Director of the Inmate Control Division, who presided over the opening ceremony. Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, delivered an opening address and gave a speech of advice to the students.

Other distinguished guests included:

Asst. Prof. Dr. Khajornsak Sitthi, Director of the Office of Educational Services, who welcomed the students participating in the project and provided information about the university’s educational services.

Asst. Prof. Witoon Wong-A-Mart, Director of the Department of Corporate Communications, who provided information about contacting the university.

Mr. Tamphong Wongchan, Acting Director of STOU Nonthaburi, who gave a presentation on the educational services provided by the university for inmates.

On 6-7 June 2024, representatives from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) attended the 2^nd and 3^rd day of ICDE Leadership Summit 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit, titled “Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI: Rethinking Futures of Education.”

Organized by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) and Globethics, the summit brought together higher education leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI technology into education.

STOU representatives included Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, 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.

The summit featured a variety of engaging sessions, including: Keynote addresses, Panel discussions, and Parallel workshops. One of the central themes of the summit was the development of ethical frameworks to guide the responsible use of AI in education. This included discussions on:

• Identifying and addressing potential ethical issues arising from the use of AI, such as bias, discrimination, and data privacy concerns.
• Establishing principles and guidelines for the implementation of AI in education that promote fairness, transparency, and accountability.
• Ensuring that AI applications align with educational values and prioritize student well-being and learning outcomes.

In addition to participating in the ICDE Leadership Summit, STOU also took the opportunity to meet with the Secretary-General of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) to discuss the organization of a panel session and invite ICDE GAC ASIA member universities to a Working Group Meeting at the upcoming 2^nd International Conference of Digital Business, Society & Economy (ICDBSE 2024).

STOU is the proud host of ICDBSE 2024 in partnership with Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) in Malaysia. The conference has received the esteemed support of The Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE), and the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). These leading organizations in open and distance education will contribute to the conference’s discussions and enrich the overall experience for participants.

After the conclusion of the summit, the administrators of STOU had the opportunity to informally visit the University of Geneva, one of the most prestigious universities in Switzerland. They gained a valuable insight into the university’s vibrant academic community and its rich history.

STOU’s participation in these international events reflects our commitment topromoting ethical leadership in the digital age, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among higher education institutions worldwide, and advancing innovative approaches to teaching and learning in the era of AI.

On 5 June 2024, the administrators of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, participated in the ICDE Leadership Summit 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. Other members included 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.

The ICDE Leadership Summit is a leadership-focused international conference that explores contemporary challenges and opportunities facing today’s educational leaders and innovators in the globally connected digital era. The Summit offers a vibrant, inclusive space for unique networking and development opportunities. The 2024 Summit focused on the theme “Ethical Leadership in the Age of AI: Rethinking Futures of Education”. During the workshop sessions, Dr. Phanompatt exchanged views and experiences on the use of AI in STOU’s teaching and learning. The discussion focused on several key areas such as copyright infringement detection, research ethics, generative AI for text-to-speech, and English closed captions for video lectures.

The first-day event also included the Plenary Session featuring a themed opening panel. The key points from the session are as follows:

• Higher education requires leaders who are ethical, responsible, and honest, and who consider the impact of AI on knowledge and understanding, education systems, and human existence.
• AI can lead to division, so there is a need to raise awareness and promote ethics rather than focusing on technology.
• Digital innovation must go hand in hand with lifelong learning, with an emphasis on critical media literacy to address bias and injustice, and adapting AI to develop relationships, critical thinking, emotions, and education.
• Education is a fundamental foundation for building cross-cultural cooperation, exchanging ideas, and fostering good relations between humanity.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University took this opportunity to promote the upcoming 2^nd International Conference of Digital Business, Society & Economy (ICDBSE 2024) at the event. The conference will be held on November 13-14, 2024, at STOU under the theme “Innovation and Technology Towards Sustainability and Lifelong Learning.” STOU is co-hosting
the conference with Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Malaysia. The conference is supported by a network of partners, including UNESCO, SEAMEO, ICDE, and AAOU. For more information, please visit the conference website.