12 June 2025 – Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), and Mr. Pisanu Dechdai, Director of Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn Pathumthani School (TUPPT), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish academic cooperation. This partnership aims to develop skills in online media production and technology-driven teaching and learning, as well as to provide educational guidance.
The signing ceremony was hosted by STOU’s Office of Educational Technology at Studio 1 of the Educational Broadcasting Production Center (EBPC). Executives from both institutions were present to witness the event.
This collaboration seeks to develop and enhance digital skills for teachers, staff, students of TUPPT, and interested individuals. Joint activities will span various dimensions, including:
Organizing training sessions to develop online media production skills.
Jointly creating learning plans that align with new technologies.
Allocating technological resources to support teaching and learning.
Providing consultation and guidance on pathways to higher education.
Furthermore, TUPPT will serve as an STOU Educational Service Center, facilitating easier and more continuous access for students and the community to the university’s distance learning system.
Both institutions’ executives expressed confidence that this collaboration marks a significant beginning in developing educational knowledge. They believe it will serve as a model for bridging secondary and higher education, preparing Thai youth for a secure and quality future.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and the Learning Institute for Everyone (LIFE) have announced a significant academic collaboration aimed at establishing dual bachelor’s degree programs in STOU’s School of Agriculture and Cooperatives and LIFE’s Faculty of Liberal Arts. This partnership will enable students to earn two degrees simultaneously, meeting the demands of modern learners and the evolving job market.
This impactful partnership began with a visit on 18 February 2025, by a delegation from STOU, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Member of the University Council and Acting President, along with faculty members from the School of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The purpose of their visit to LIFE in Samut Songkhram Province was to discuss promoting academic programs and exploring collaborative opportunities.
The meeting was hosted by Dr. Sakphong Homhual, Acting President of LIFE, and attended by key executives, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supakarn Siripaisan, Dean of the Graduate School, and Dean Phumjai Raidee of the Faculty of Liberal Arts. This initial discussion laid the crucial groundwork for the subsequent academic cooperation.
Following these preliminary talks, STOU organized a working group meeting on 8 April 2025, to draft the initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). During this visit, LIFE representatives also toured STOU’s Educational Broadcasting Production Center (EBPC), highlighting a shared interest in media-based learning and innovation.
The official signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) took place on June 10, 2025, in Meeting Room 1514 at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, hosted by the School of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Associate Professor Dr. Phanomphat Samitanon and Dr. Sakphong Homhual formally signed the agreement, witnessed by executives from both institutions.
Associate Professor Dr. Phanomphat Samitanon described the collaboration as “opening a new dimension of boundless educational management.” He emphasized that STOU, with its strengths in distance education and highly demanded fields like agriculture and cooperatives, will join forces with LIFE, which specializes in community outreach and flexible education. This partnership aims to produce graduates with diverse skills, meeting labor market demands and fostering sustainable self-development.
Dr. Sakphong Homhual added, “This is a significant opportunity for students and communities to access knowledge from a leading higher education institution like STOU. Integrating knowledge from our Faculty of Liberal Arts with STOU’s agricultural expertise will cultivate graduates who possess both professional knowledge and social skills, enabling them to genuinely apply their learning for local development.”
Under this MOU, students will be able to enroll in a dual degree program, initially focusing on STOU’s School of Agriculture and Cooperatives and LIFE’s Faculty of Liberal Arts as pilot programs. Plans are in place to expand to other fields of study in the future. Beyond the degree programs, the collaboration also encompasses:
The development of short-term learning modules.
Certificate programs.
Joint personnel development through collaborative research and academic services.
Both institutions will meticulously plan the practical aspects of educational management, from student admission and credit transfer to professional experience training, assessment, and evaluation. This comprehensive planning ensures a smooth and highly effective collaborative educational process.
This partnership marks a crucial step in reforming Thai higher education, with the ultimate benefit of the learner at its core. It is expected to enhance educational opportunities and broaden access to quality education for diverse communities.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for academic cooperation. This partnership aims to create professional pathways for personnel and students in the hotel and tourism industry, offering opportunities for theoretical learning combined with practical experience. It also allows for credit accumulation that can be transferred towards an STOU bachelor’s degree.
The signing ceremony took place on 5 June 2025, at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel in Chonburi province. The MOU was signed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, University Council Member and Acting President of STOU, and Ms. Chavanate Thangsumphant, Managing Director of Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel. Executives from both organizations were present to co-sign and witness the event.
This collaboration is designed to sustainably address the ongoing shortage of personnel in the hotel industry. Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel, which established the Amtel Institute of Hotel and Tourism to develop the professional skills of high school, Vocational Certificate, and Higher Vocational Certificate graduates, has now elevated its cooperation with STOU to bolster academic strength.
Under this agreement, hotel staff and Amtel Institute students will have the opportunity to enroll in STOU’s Certificate of Achievement Program. This flexible learning model allows individuals to study at their own pace, balancing their education with work. Credits earned can be transferred for admission into any of STOU’s 12 bachelor’s degree programs, following the university’s curriculum structure. Students will gain theoretical knowledge from STOU’s qualified faculty while simultaneously engaging in practical training and skill-building directly with the hotel.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of STOU, stated, “STOU is delighted to leverage its expertise in distance education to expand opportunities for professionals in the service industry. This collaboration is a model for modern education, integrating academic knowledge with real-world experience at a leading establishment.”
Ms. Chavanate Thangsumphant, Managing Director of Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel, added, “The hotel has always prioritized human resource development. This partnership with STOU will significantly enhance the potential of our staff and Amtel Institute students, ensuring they are highly prepared. It also creates a clear career progression path and supplies quality personnel to Thailand’s tourism industry.”
Both parties also plan to develop short-term (non-degree) courses in the future to promote lifelong learning and develop specialized skills essential for the industry. On the occasion of this signing, STOU also provided the hotel with a “Samritibat Corner” to serve as a resource for information and education for the hotel’s staff and students.
