Thammasat University moves forward to international level as it has a strong vision of becoming a world-class university.
Facilitated by renowned faculty and comprehensive partners, the university aims at gearing towards a widely-recognised international campus. In doing so successfully, the university realises the significance of collaboration and digital transformation, as they can help pave the way to becoming more resilient in today’s highly globalised world of education.
Assoc.Prof.Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University, said that with its up-to-date teaching practices and innovative research culture, the university has kept bolstering academic standards and helped support change toward a more sustainable society and healthier environment in line with the United Nations’ SDGs.
Flexibility is key
According to Assoc.Prof. Gasinee, the university’s curriculum is made flexible to offer a wide variety of choices for learning. The university focuses on being flexible even in admissions and enrolment processes to attract more applicants.
Meanwhile, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat Teerakapibal, Vice Rector for Administration (Tha Prachan) and International Affairs, said that while Thammasat personnel have tried to make curriculums and learning style more flexible, boosting the number of full time international students is key to sustaining the campus’s internationalisation efforts.
“We assist international applicants throughout their academic journeys at our university,” said Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat. “Providing free online language tuition, for instance, is our support for their applications, which applies to both English test takers aiming at English programs here and those intending to study Thai-conducted courses. We believe that apart from promoting English-taught courses, making Thai programs internationally known is also important to becoming more internationalised.”
To help smooth the application procedures for international students, the university also accepts application documents according to the systems of each respective university, such as credit and grading systems and entrance exam scores.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat referred to the Gaokao, a standardised college entrance exam held annually in China, that can be used for applications as an example. On top of the application process, the university supports strengthening bonds between students and the community through various cultural activities and local events.
University for citizens
In adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the education sector, Thammasat strategizes its strength as an open and diverse university community to bolster engagement with other sectors.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat said it is high time for the university to re-position toward becoming a platform that not only provides education for anyone but also mobilises collaboration among stakeholders across sectors.
“Turning into a platform will fit the multidisciplinary nature of learning in the 21st century,” said Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat. “We join forces with partners such as the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), DEPA, and Bangkok Bank, to jointly create a new body of knowledge, curriculum design, and upskilling programs to become better adapted to the employment market of the future.”
Thammasat University also works with international partners to advocate diversity and combat the biases women face in workplaces. For example, it has recently collaborated with an energy company to ensure female applicants get jobs they deserve in the company.
“Thammasat’s attempt to engage partners outside the academic community and promote diversity and inclusiveness is actually a big part of our DNA,” concluded Assoc.Prof.Dr. Surat
Move to EEC to help build Thailand’s first medical hub
The recent move to mobilise cooperation with private sectors can be witnessed in the newly-established healthcare complex in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), namely EECmd, which will accommodate private companies’ investments in the health sector as well as quality healthcare facilities and base hospitals.
Assoc. Prof. Kammal Kumar Pawa, M.D., Vice Rector for Administration at Thammasat University at Pattaya campus, said the project was initiated by Thammasat University to build a comprehensive healthcare centre and businesses. Thammasat Pattaya Campus will play a central role in driving investment and research activities.
” Medical Valley will offer complete healthcare and medical services, elevating Thailand’s health services and equipping the country for the expansion of its aging population,” said Assoc.Prof. Kammal
Driven largely by private sector investors, he expects EECmd to become Thailand’s first medical hub and learning resources centre. As the healthcare industry is on the rise, he reaffirmed, EECmd will be a prototype for future development of technology and innovation for Thailand which will help promote social inclusion where no one is left behind.
