Tag: Thailand

Thammasat University and SCG partnered to create the “Possibilities Space” internship program, a new model addressing graduate employment. This program offers students experiential learning from real work, integrating academic knowledge with business challenges through inter-faculty teamwork, diverging from traditional internships.

Professor Dr. Supasawad Chardchawarn, the Rector of Thammasat University, stated that educational institutions are currently able to provide knowledge to students. However, what is crucial is the ability and skills of students to graduate and be ready for immediate employment. Thammasat University places great importance on this aspect and is beginning to adapt and develop the teaching and learning processes within the university.

“Internships may not be a new concept, but what sets us apart is the internship that allows students to learn from real challenges specific to the organization. This enables students to think critically and take action to find solutions to problems, providing them with genuine experiential learning. I hope that this will be one of the projects that equips students with skills that will make them job-ready and accepted in the labor market,” said Professor Dr. Supasawad.

SCG CEO, Mr. Thammasak Sethaudom, highlighted the “Possibilities Space” project as a platform for students to gain real-world experience, develop essential skills, and present innovative ideas for societal and environmental progress. He thanked Thammasat University for their collaboration in creating a curriculum that prepares a “Future Workforce.”

“Possibilities Space: Shaping Future Workforce” is a 2024 summer internship where students tackle SCG’s Smart Living and ESG business challenges. Through hands-on learning, they research, develop concepts, design prototypes, and present at a Final Pitching event on July 24, 2025. Outstanding projects may become pilot projects and lead to job offers from SCG.

Nicha Pruksa-aporn, part of the winning Gasshield team (an automatic gas valve closure system), gained practical experience, observing diverse skills within her interdisciplinary group. As a software engineering student, she designed the application, while others handled hardware and marketing. Thanach Mel Phonsukcharoen (SIIT) learned beyond his field, addressing real-world problems and developing critical thinking, aspiring to contribute to societal change.

The Possibilities Space: Shaping Future Workforce project serves as the starting point for creating a model of experiential learning aimed at producing graduates equipped with both knowledge and skills for the workforce. Thammasat University is advancing collaboration with all sectors to drive human development that meets the demands of the labor market, fostering quality individuals who are fully equipped while also considering societal needs.

 On July 30, 2025, Professor Dr. Supasawad Chardchawarn, Rector of Thammasat University, along with the university’s executive team, officially participated in the opening of the GCNT Expo 2025. This event brought together the power of the business sector, the younger generation, and cross-sectoral collaboration, uniting “real sustainability champions” at the forefront to drive the concept of Forward SDGs Faster through the framework of 7 Ts in a discussion forum and inspirational workshop activities, encompassing all dimensions of social, economic, and environmental aspects.

During the event, Professor Dr. Supasawad signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Global Compact Network Association of Thailand, represented by Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd., in his capacity as the President of the Global Compact Network Association of Thailand (GCNT). This partnership will establish a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management program next academic year, fostering knowledge exchange and supporting research in sustainable innovations, technologies, products, and services.

Professor Dr. Supasawad stated that the Bachelor of Science program in Sustainable Management is an innovative curriculum developed in collaboration with five faculties within Thammasat University: the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, the Faculty of Social Administration, the Puey Ungphakorn School of Development Studies, the Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Faculty of Engineering. This initiative is in partnership with the Global Compact Network Thailand (GCNT) to create a curriculum that integrates knowledge from science, economics, management, and policy to cultivate professionals in the field of sustainability that meets the demands of employers and current employment trends.

The event concluded with a panel discussion introducing the Bachelor of Science program in Sustainable Management, featuring Associate Professor Dr. Dumrong Adunyarittigun, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Saifon Suindaramathi, Dean of the Interdisciplinary College, and Dr. Kuanruthai Siripatthanakosol, Deputy Secretary-General of the Global Compact Network Thailand. They engaged in a dialogue to exchange perspectives on the labor market, the evolving trends in employment within the business sector, and the skills that are in demand in the labor market.

Thammasat University collaborates with 39 local administrative organizations and partners from Japan to develop a model for elderly care services, targeting the years 2025 to 2028, focusing on four key areas: dementia, nutrition, oral health, and disaster risk monitoring.

Thammasat University, in collaboration with the Bueng Yitho Municipality in Pathum Thani Province, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and academic network partners from Japan, organized the TU Care & Ageing Society ‘Thammasat’ event for senior social companions, the 2nd edition, on July 3, 2025. The focus of the event was to transmit knowledge and exchange results from the implementation of the project aimed at developing services for the elderly in the community through the establishment of a network of local administrative organizations (LAOs) in Thailand (SMART AND STRONG PROJECT). Thammasat University has provided academic support to enhance health service delivery in 39 local administrative organizations across the country.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Attasit Pankaew, Assistant to the Rector for Special Affairs at Thammasat University, revealed that Thailand is currently facing two significant challenges:

1. The official transition into a Complete Aged Society, which began two years ago, and

2. The wave of major healthcare system reforms in Thailand over the past 2-3 years, involving the transfer of responsibilities of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals (SHPHs) and the Chaloem Phrakiat Health Stations to local administrative organizations (LAOs). This transition has positioned LAOs as a crucial ‘Change Maker’ in enhancing the quality of life for citizens through the provision of primary healthcare services and health promotion initiatives.

Thammasat University partnered with 39 local administrative organizations (LAOs) to train elderly care managers and health officials. This collaboration, through workshops and health service innovation design, improved elderly health services. Today’s event shares these successful outcomes, facilitating knowledge exchange and national expansion. For example, innovations arising from collaborative efforts include the Happy Oldie and Family Innovation from Khao Phra Ngam Subdistrict Municipality in Lopburi Province, which is an integrated network innovation aimed at caring for elderly individuals who are socially isolated, at risk, homebound, bedridden, and suffering from dementia. Another example is the establishment of a daytime care and rehabilitation center for the elderly, operating from morning to evening, based on the concept of Intermediate Care by Nasan Subdistrict Municipality in Surat Thani Province. Additionally, there is the innovation of supporting families of dementia patients through a Dementia Café, which provides Social Support, implemented by Hua Hin Municipality in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, among others.

“Local administrative organizations (LAOs) deeply understand their communities’ needs, but the aging society presents new challenges. TU Care & Ageing, through collaboration between educational institutions and LAOs, provides crucial knowledge support to address these issues effectively at both policy and local levels,” stated Assoc. Prof. Dr. Attasit.

He also stated that from 2025 to 2028, Thammasat University, through the Faculty of Social Administration, will host an expansion of cooperation with 50 local administrative organizations across the country to address four key issues: 1. Care for the elderly with dementia 2. Provision of nutritional care services 3. Oral and dental health care 4. Management of risk monitoring and disaster response.

Mr. Rangsan Nanthakawong, Mayor of Bueng Yitho Municipality, stated that the population of elderly individuals in the Bueng Yitho area has experienced significant growth. At the beginning of 2025, there were fewer than 6,000 elderly residents, but within just 4-5 months, the number has increased to 6,400. It is anticipated that by the end of this year, the proportion of elderly individuals in the area will rise to 20% of the total population. Therefore, the municipality must seek solutions by emphasizing the design and organization of services to support an aging society, a focus that has been in place since 2007 and continues to the present. The emphasis has shifted from infrastructure development to prioritizing welfare services for the elderly community. Lack of knowledge and theoretical support can cause fragmented health services from local administrative organizations (LAOs), especially in complex urban societies like Bueng Yitho. Thammasat University’s faculty and scholars conduct field data collection to understand realities, analyze, synthesize, and design innovations aligned with the elderly’s needs.

“Although we have the budget, personnel, and facilities, our knowledge is limited, which may prevent us from addressing every dimension comprehensively. Thammasat University’s involvement in collaborative thinking, particularly regarding ageing society and elderly care, serves as our primary partner in this endeavor. This collaboration has resulted in maximum benefits for the public,” Mr. Rangsan stated.

The SMART AND STRONG PROJECT in Bueng Yitho Municipality is a model for other local administrative organizations (LAOs) to learn from, adapting insights to their own contexts. Thammasat University facilitates knowledge sharing among network partners. From 2025-2028, Thammasat University, Bueng Yitho Municipality, and JICA will focus on supporting the vulnerable elderly with dementia.

The TU Care & Ageing Society project aims to establish Thammasat University as a platform for elderly care, offering academic and social services, skills training, and social communication. It will leverage a cross-functional approach and ONE TU values.

In 2025, the initial phase will focus on Pathum Thani Province. Thammasat University will provide macro-level academic services to the local community, specifically identifying elderly care needs and pain points in Pathum Thani. These insights will inform policy proposals for the Pathum Thani PAO and guide resource deployment for problem-solving. At the local level, university knowledge and resources will develop and enhance the capabilities of elderly care personnel.

Future expansion will include other university center provinces: Bangkok (Tha Pra Chan), Chonburi (Pattaya Center), and Lampang (Lampang Center), creating a model for improving citizens’ quality of life.

Thammasat University is launching an “AI Ethics” curriculum in August 2025 to prepare Thai youth for the digital age. This program, part of the Thammasat Next Century strategy, focuses on responsible technology use, emphasizing ethical values alongside technical skills. It addresses risks like data bias and AI application in sensitive fields such as medicine, psychology, and law, asserting that AI is a tool to be adapted to human contexts, not a separate discipline.

Prof. Dr. Supasawad Chardchawarn, the Rector of Thammasat University, revealed that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a central pillar of the current technological and economic transformation. With its potential to enhance efficiency, reduce workload, and solve complex problems, AI is experiencing exponential growth in investment, particularly in the financial services sector, where spending on AI is projected to reach $97 billion by 2027. This strong forecast reflects the confidence of organizational leaders, as 70% of CEOs and 68% of CFOs believe that organizations that do not invest in AI technology, infrastructure, and related skills at this time will not survive in the next five years.

There remains a significant challenge in utilizing AI to gain a competitive advantage, which may lead to the neglect of ethical considerations in the careful development and deployment of AI. Focusing solely on efficiency and business returns without regard for ethical principles can create severe risks and negative impacts in the long term, such as breaches of personal data, the creation of biases in systems, or a lack of transparency, all of which can undermine consumer trust and the long-term reputation of organizations.

“Thai education must lead in AI ethics to prepare youth. Thammasat University is launching the “AI Ethics” course, including TU280 “Artificial Intelligence Ethics for Leaders of the Future” under General Education. This course will instill foundational ethical principles, teach effective AI use while raising awareness of its impacts on human rights, equality, and transparency.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Rachada Kongkachandra, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and a faculty member in the Data Science and Innovation program at the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University, points out that bias in AI is a significant concern when applied to various tasks. This is because AI learns by processing vast amounts of data, and if the data used for training is biased or not representative of diverse populations, the algorithms will reflect and amplify that bias, leading to unfair outcomes or discrimination. However, the presence of bias in AI due to the training data does not imply that AI generates bias on its own; rather, it is a result of existing social biases from the past and present being embedded in the datasets that AI learns from. For instance, if historical employment data demonstrates discrimination against a particular group, AI will learn and replicate that pattern. Therefore, addressing bias in AI must begin at the source of the process, which includes reviewing and improving data quality, as well as creating datasets that are diverse and truly representative of the population.

AI in various professions presents both opportunities and ethical challenges. In medicine, AI improves efficiency, aids in diagnostics, and screens patients, but raises concerns about privacy, data security, and algorithmic biases leading to inaccurate recommendations. In psychology, AI chatbots offer 24/7 counseling, addressing accessibility and privacy, but risk confidentiality and erroneous diagnoses. The legal profession faces sensitive challenges, with AI’s historical data bias potentially reinforcing injustices and instances of lawyers citing non-existent cases, undermining judicial credibility.

“AI application in professions requires ‘trust’ and ‘ethics’ alongside technological advancement. Clear ethical guidelines and governance are crucial for AI to be a positive societal force, not a harmful one. The focus should shift from “What is AI?” to “How will we coexist with AI?”, viewing AI as a ‘complementary skill’ for all careers. Students need both digital skills and ethical understanding; for example, medical students using AI for diagnosis must be aware of model limitations and risks from biased data.”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Rachada concluded that, on the other hand, both the public and private sectors play a crucial role in comprehensively supporting the AI learning ecosystem, particularly for workers at risk of being replaced by automation. The government should invest in training programs or incorporate AI content starting from secondary education to lay a foundation for continuous learning. At the same time, the private sector must not only focus on using tools but also cultivate a culture of ethical decision-making within organizations, whether in recruitment, customer service, or various evaluations. The AI Ethics curriculum is considered part of the strategic plan “Thammasat Next Century,” aimed at enhancing Thammasat University to become a perfect institution for the society of the future. It is believed that national development in the digital age must not neglect ethical principles and social responsibility, with the goal of enabling learners to grow into “capable and good” digital citizens in a balanced manner, possessing analytical thinking skills, using AI to innovate responsibly, and not forgetting the moral principles of living harmoniously with others in a rapidly changing world.

However, the new General Education course, “TU280 Artificial Intelligence Ethics for Leaders of the Future,” will be offered starting in the first semester of the 2025 academic year. Open to all students, the course will feature diverse faculty, experts, and distinguished speakers. It aims to provide a holistic perspective on AI ethics, focusing on case studies and debates to prepare Thai youth to responsibly engage with AI as users, decision-makers, and designers.

“Thammasat does not aim solely to produce ‘capable individuals,’ but seeks to cultivate ‘capable individuals with a sense of responsibility’ so that Thai youth can thrive in the digital era with stability, understanding both the power and limitations of technology, and becoming conscious and ethical users of AI, guiding them towards a sustainable future.”