CONTENT STOU NEWSLETTER |No. 05 Dec 2013

STOU TODAY 1

COMM ARTS FOR ASEAN 5

IN THE SPOTL IGHT: 6

STOU WILL BE HAPPY!

CALL FOR PAPERS 8

STOU T IPS 8

STOU Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

05/13 -NEWSLETTER e

an online newsletter to feature stories, events

and interesting information from Sukhothai

Thammathirat Open University in hope to open

another window for all readers to understand

more about the university and open and

distance education society.

STOU students utilize social network as a mean for educational support

It has been graduating season for the students of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. If we scroll through STOU Facebook group, we’ll find a set of pleasant pictures of graduates in

their graduation gown.

STOU Facebook group was created by STOU group of students who would like to provide support for fellow university mates. The group

is supervised by a group of ‘admins’ who was appointed by the group creator and allowed by the system to look after this online community. Admins were carrying down from generation to

generation.

Apart from the university web board, Facebook group allows students to ask any questions regarding their educational problems, whether it’s about registration, examination or study techniques. Members usually also post news from the university on group wall. Liangann Pak-piankit, one of the group admins said ‘We help

each other out like we’re a family.’

Every picture of graduates were appreciated by the group members and they were sincerely

congratulated.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open

University students and the public

can now enjoy STOU’s ‘Media on

Demand’ and Thai literature via

mobile apps.

STOU launches ‘STOU Mobile’

application featuring broadcasted

radio and television programs to

facilitate students who demand

a more convenient access to

m-learning materials. It can be

downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.

The university also introduces an

e-book app called ‘STOU eBooks’

which offers textbooks from the 12

STOU launches mobile apps for

students and the public

schools of STOU and valuable Thai

literatures. With the aims to promote

Thai art and culture and to provide

academic services to the people,

community and educational organiza-

tion, the university has been financially

supporting this project from 2012.

All books are free for download

through the application which is

available at Google Play Store and

App Store.

STOU remains its goal to expand

educational opportunity, foster

a culture of lifelong learning and

create knowledge-based society.

2 STOU NEWSLETTER |No. 05 Dec 2013

STOU strengthens cooperation in China From 15-19 October 2013, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chailerd Pichitpornchai, President of STOU, headed a

delegation to China in the effort to strengthen academic cooperation with various institutions in China

and more.

On 15 October, Dr. Chailerd, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Kamolrat Intaratat, and Assoc. Prof. Chantana Thongprayoon,

faculty members of the STOU School of Communication Arts,

and Ms. Rattip Phukkeson, Acting Head of STOU International

Affairs, visited the Beijing Open University and Chinese

Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). During the visit to

CAAS, the two parties discussed possible collaborations and

signed a memorandum of understanding between STOU and

Graduate School of CAAS.

On 16 October, STOU delegation met with senior

administrators of the Open University of China to exchange

knowledge and experience regarding open education.

On 17 October, the team attended the 25th ICDE World

Conference on Open and Distance Education under the theme

“New Strategies for Global Open, Flexible and Distance

Learning”, hosted by

Tianjin Open University, China.

The world conference of the International Council for Open and

Distance Education this year emphasized the importance of

opening up quality education and access to knowledge for the

population of the world. 700 conference participants from 40

countries heard analyses of the new and growing phenomenon

of Massive Open and Online Courses (MOOCs) and other

methods open education practioners had to offer in order to

cope with challenges of distance education.

On 19 October, Ms. Rattip paid a visit to and strengthen

relationship with Peking University. She met Dr. Jianjun Hou,

Dean of the School of Distance Learning and Director of the

Office of Continuing Education, and discussed distance

education system of the two universities.

During China visit, STOU delegation was joined by Assoc. Prof.

Dr. Richard Ng, Director of Open University Malaysia’s Perak Learning Center. The trip allowed the

two universities representatives to strengthen their connections through exchange of ideas and

experiences.

Signing of MOU between STOU and CAAS

STOU and OUC delegations

STOU team with participants of ICDE World Conference 2013

Rattip visiting Peking University

STOU Today 3

STOU Jointly Discusses collaboration with DSD

On 26 November 2013, STOU administrators led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chailerd

Pichitpornchai, President of STOU, visited the Department of Skill Development (DSD)

in Bangkok in order to discuss academic collaboration, and signed the Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) with Mr. Nakorn Silpa-archa, Director-General of DSD. This

collaboration will focus on online courses in foreign languages, especially English and

the ASEAN languages, and hospitality and tourism, in order to develop labour skills in

preparation for the ASEAN economic community.

STOU Participates in Royal Kathin Ceremony

On 9 November 2013, Assoc. Prof. Voravuth Thepthong, Vice-President for

Administration and University Council Affairs, representing the president of STOU,

presided over a ceremony for the customary donation of monks' robes for the Thot

Kathin festival at Wat Jong Kham, a royal temple in the Muang district of Mae Hong

Son Province. As this was a royal Kathin ceremony, STOU was donating the robes in

the name of the King. In preparation for the ceremony, STOU collected donations from

staff, students, alumni and the general public and offered these donations, over

1,400,000 baht, to the temple.

STOU Welcomes Visitors from ‘Educators

under the Capital Market Education Forum’

On 21 November 2013, Asst. Prof. Dr. Suree Khemthong, Dean of the School of

Management Sciences, and a group of Management Sciences faculty members

welcomed a delegation of educators from the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)

countries under the Capital Market Education Forum. In addition to a special lecture

entitled “Developing Material for Self-Study Learning” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chow

Rojanasang and Assoc. Prof. Achara Cheewatragoongit, faculty members of the School

of Management Sciences, the visiting delegation also observed STOU printing

operations and toured the Office of the University Press.

Stock Exchange of Thailand representatives presenting

a token of appreciation to Asst. Prof. Dr. Suree Khemthong

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chow Rojanasang and Assoc. Prof.

Achara Cheewatragoongit giving special lecture

Paticipants observing STOU printing operations

STOU to offer a short-term visiting fellowship

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University is offering a short-term visiting fellowship

within the framework of the AAOU Inter-University Staff Exchange Fellowship to staff

from member institutions in the year 2014.

This year fellowship is seeking for applicants to propose issues about and research on

digital and information literacy for distant learners. The awardee will operate in the

School of Liberal Arts for 15-30 days, starting in April, as mutually agreed upon.

STOU will provide accommodation, per diem, and office facilities, while the home

institution of the awardee shall bear the cost of air travel between Thailand and his/

her country and incidental expenses.

Applicants should submit curriculum vitae and project proposals on the relating topic.

The application must be endorsed by the CEO of the parent institution in regard to the

funding of travel and other expenses. All documents must be written in English and

submitted before 1 March 2014.

For more details, please contact STOU International Affairs at if.proffice@stou.ac.th

4 STOU NEWSLETTER |No. 05 Dec 2013

6 STOU NEWSLETTER |No. 05 Dec 2013

‘I would like to establish a happy

workplace for STOU’s staff’ was one

of the most promising statements from

President Chailerd when asked about

challenges for Sukhothai Thammathirat

Open University.

To comply to that statement and the

motto ‘Human resources are the heart,

ICT and language are weapons,’ Asst.

Prof. Chernchok Soankwan, Vice-

President for Human Resources and

Systems Development and STOU HR team

HAPPY PEOPLE

IN HAPPY

WORKPLACE

set up a development

roadmap to promote

healthy work life for

the most important

resource of the

university.

The 5-year plan for

human resources

development includes

the following policies:

1 Reinforcing STOU Core

Values and STOU Core

Competency

The profound understanding about STOU

Core Values will lead to develop the

desired characteristics and perfor-

mance according to the STOU Core

Competency, which is not limited to

those of planned. The university

encourages schools, offices, and

units to not only follow the plan,

but also create their own additional

competency that is corresponding with

their work in specific and with the

necessity for staff development.

2 Job knowledge and functional

area knowledge development

The university provides guide-

lines for faculty members and

administrative staff to expand

knowledge and skills that helps them

to perform more effectively and

successfully.

Other than seminar and training on

key tasks, the university looks

forward to provide doctoral degree

scholarship.

There are also some

methods HR team will

introduce to adminis-

trative staff in order

to enhance knowledge

on new techniques,

approaches and tech-

nologies for their

jobs i.e. coaching,

mentoring, attachment

working, job rotation, knowledge

management, in-house training and

public training.

3 People skill and self

development

In order to develop personal

and teamwork skills, schools

and offices should arrange channels

for their staff to develop in the

following fields: technological

skill, English skill, attitude, ethics

and morality development, teamwork,

personality, communication and

coordination skills, service mind and

innovative invention skill.

STOU WILL BE HAPPY! STOU WILL BE HAPPY! STOU WILL BE HAPPY!

STOU HR 4 General management skill development

For members who are stepping to higher level of management, strategic

planning problem solving, tool & technical management and leadership

are some skills and potentials they need to possess.

STOU will arrange two courses for the heads of offices and units as follow:

(1) Executive Development Program: STOU-EDP

(2) Supervisor Course: STOU-SUP.

5 Leadership development

STOU will arrange ‘Advanced Management

Program: STOU-AMP’ for personnel who is

being promoted as high-level executive to

foster readiness and characteristics as a good

leader with capability to steer the university

towards the university’s visions, missions and

goals.

The main topics include change

management, visionary strategy,

leadership skill and innovation skill.

Vice-President Chernchok emphasizes that

the university aims not only to improve

working skills, but also working

atmosphere. So, the STOU Personnel

Division arranges various activities

according to STOU staff’s interests to

allow them to enjoy useful functions in

their workplace. That is a part to create

work life balance and allows STOU to be a

happy workplace for happy people.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 7 A

sst. Pro

f. Ch

ernch

ok so

ankw

an .

STOU Core Values Synergy Transparency Originality Ubiquitous Learning

STOU Core Competency

Lifelong Learning Achievement Motivation Service Mind Expertise Integrity Teamwork

8 STOU NEWSLETTER |No. 05 Dec 2013

STOU e-NEWSLETTER

BY INTERNATIO NAL AFFAIRS UNIT , SUKHO THAI THAMMATHIR AT O PEN UNIVER SI TY

9/9 THANON CHAENG WATTANA | BANGPOOD | PAKKRET | NONTHABURI | 11120 | THAILAND

TEL: 662 504 7171 - 7176, 662 982 9710 FAX: 662 503 3556 EMAIL: if.proffice@stou.ac.th

Advisor : Asst. Prof. Orasa Pankhao

Chief Editor : Ms. Rattip Phukkeson

Editorial Staff : Ms. Alisa Meesmat, Ms. Chidchanok Bangsen, Mr. Joel Akins

Photograph : PR STOU, STOU Photography Unit, STOU International Affairs Unit

Traveling Green

Caring for the environment might seem difficult when you’re traveling, but there are several things you

can do to help without making your journey difficult.

One of the simplest is just making sure to unplug your unused appliances. Did you know that your TV still uses electricity while it’s turned off? Unplug it to save electricity and save on your bill! You can also

be environmentally conscious in the transportation that you choose. Per passenger, trains tend to have lower amounts of pollution than other forms of transportation. You can also purchase a carbon offset to compensate for the emissions made by your travel arrangements. This is a donation that goes to environmentally sustainable projects, such as wind and solar energy. Just search the Internet for “carbon offset” to find out more. Next, when you’re at your destination, try to buy local products instead of goods that were made somewhere else and then shipped into the country. Finally, be responsible! Don’t step on coral, destroy plants or wildlife, or throw your garbage on the ground or in

the water.

Let’s not keep ‘Green’ trend — Make it lifestyle!

Going Global 2014

The Conference for Leaders of International Education

The British Council Going Global conference delivers a global forum for

world leaders of international education to debate the role

the international arena plays in global tertiary education policy.

Date 29 April - 1 May 2014

Venue Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, USA

Themes Inclusion, innovation and impact

Going Global 2014 explores how innovation systems are formed,

structured and driven globally and transnationally. Delegates will consider

how talent to drive innovation is developed and how countries meet the

challenge of providing sufficient high quality tertiary education to ensure

the widespread inclusion and participation of their citizens. The confer-

ence will focus on what impact an internationalised higher and tertiary

sector can deliver in these twin areas of innovation and inclusion. We will

investigate how impact is delivered - and explore the outcomes for policy

makers, funders, tertiary education stakeholders and the institutions

themselves.

Homepage http://ihe.britishcouncil.org/going-global/

STOU TIPS

58th ICET World Assembly

Annual Conference of International Council on Education for Teaching

ICET 2014 will focus on systematic approaches to improving excellence

in all aspects of teacher education and development. As a unique

research conference, different communities come together: researchers,

policy makers, and practitioners. While there is the opportunity for

proposals to be refereed, and for people to write research papers, teach-

er education and school leadership-related policy and practice initiatives

are also welcomed and encouraged.

Date 15 - 20 June 2014

Venue University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Themes Moving Forward in Curriculum, Pedagogy and Leadership

Subthemes:

Pedagogy and Practice Inclusion and Justice

Inclusion and Justice Online and Distance Education

Politics and Policy Education for Sustainable Development

Homepage http://www.uoit.ca/icet2014

CALL FOR PAPERS