Tag: Thailand

Team of students from the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University, consisting of Kirakorn Klomrit, 4th year student majoring in Accounting, Nutruja Wainipitpongse, 4th year student majoring in Accounting, and Boonya-orn Chanthamanee, 4th year student majoring in Accounting, won the first prize among 125 teams from 66 institutions across the country in the 9th national accounting quiz competition of the year 2023, or “Thailand Accounting Challenge 2023”, and received a trophy from the President of the Federation of Accounting Professions, a plaque, and a scholarship of 50,000 Thai baht organized by the Federation of Accounting Professions in the Royal Patronage at Emeritus Professor Kesree Narongdej Seminar Training Center, 6th Floor, Federation of Accounting Professions Building, Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke), Bangkok.

Kirakorn Klomrit revealed that the team knew about this competition from the public relations channel in MS Teams of the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University, and announcement from the lecturers as well. Thailand Accounting Challenge or TAC is a competition organized by the Federation of Accounting Professions. It is about answering questions or quiz related to the accounting profession. The nature of the competition is exam-like with multiple choice questions and time limits for completing each question in which the contents of the competition consisted of 6 topics: financial accounting, cost accounting and managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, accounting information systems, ethics and laws related to the accounting profession which compete as a team of 3 people and help each other think about each question. The competition is divided into 3 rounds, with rounds 1 and 2 being qualifying rounds to select the number of teams to about 30 teams out of more than one hundred teams go to the finals in Round 3.

Natruja Wainipitpongse said that for the preparation, the lecturers would arrange sessions to review knowledge, or that is, provide tutoring for all students who participate in the competition. There were many lecturers who come to tutor during the out-of-class time including creating a group for students to ask questions at any time. In addition to the tutoring prepared by the lecturers, each student had to read the textbooks of the subjects they had studied since they were in the first year to review their own knowledge and download documents such as professional standards or manuals explaining various standards from the Federation of Accounting Professions website to read and understand thoroughly as well because the content learned in the classroom alone may not be enough. By taking time off from studying and working in each subject to study and read books. In addition to reading books, there will be practice exercises, both questions that have been done in the classroom and old exams that have been used in previous years’ competitions and when the day of the competition was approaching, the lecturer would arrange a simulated test like the actual competition day to see whether we are ready or not to join the competition, or is there anything that needs to be improved or further reviewed.

Boonya-orn Chanthamanee added that the main obstacle encountered by the team prior to the competition was boredom as when we read books for a long time, we could be bored and did not wish to continue reading. Another hurdle was the time constraint as we only had a few months to prepare while having to study and work for various subjects as well, which also makes it even more difficult to organize the time for reading for the competition.

As for the obstacles the team encountered during the competition, there were time constraints and some problems that were quite long or even took up a whole page, but only given a few minutes to think, causing confusion. Also, there were times we skipped important information.

“The reason behind winning the first prize is thought to be due to the well-taught knowledge from the lecturer which has been accumulated since the first year, making us understand the idea and content of accounting since started studying the subjects. This includes trying to constantly review the content and find more knowledge outside the textbook, such as the website of the Federation of Accounting Professions to the good support from many lecturers and cooperation between the good team members, allowing each other to think, share, and help filling in certain content that some may not know about or neglect as team competition, every member will have to work together to think and that an individual member cannot remember all the contents to oneself for the competition.

After receiving the award, I am very glad that our effort in reading books has made this achievement possible and I am as well proud to be able to build a reputation for team advisors including other professors as well as the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy and Thammasat University as well.”Kirakorn concluded.

In addition, students from the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University consists of Puntila Lertchakorn, Panpanat Sereesuwankit and Adirut Trakanmaneerat received an Honorable Mention award and a scholarship of 10,000 Thai baht.

Thammasat University Council has resolved to expand educational opportunities to the region at the Lampang Campus in the year 1996, with the curriculum at the bachelor’s degree, academic service to society and the preservation of arts and culture, responding to the needs of communities in the northern region of Thailand.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supreeya Kaewla-iad, Vice Rector for Lampang Campus Administration and Law, Thammasat University said that over the past 30 years, Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, has developed in terms of physical, academic, social services, and network cooperation. This is in line with the strategy of Thammasat University and the goal of establishing Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, which is a university with academic excellence that meets the needs of communities and society.

Physical Development

Thammasat University, Lampang Campus places importance on the safety of its students and personnel as the number one priority. The University improves both the electricity and lighting systems as well as the security system, including building a strong fence along the perimeter of the campus, installing additional closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in the area in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Law, and improving buildings, premises, and equipment to be well-maintained.

In addition, in terms of transportation, the university has developed a transportation system that connect on campus students to other living areas by purchasing golf carts and electric trams to provide shuttle service for students and personnel which as well constructed a BUS STOP service point along the service route within the university.

Academic Development

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supreeya said that an important goal is to become a multidisciplinary education center which is the highlight of Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, because in today’s world, solving any problem cannot be solved by one discipline. Therefore, we try our best to promote academics as a combination of various disciplines.

There are projects that demonstrate academic development, for example, a learning exchange program through the Can We Talk? Project. It is an academic promotion project by organizing academic seminars in an online format and a national academic conference project, “Innovation in Education and Research for sustainable development in the future” with academic presentations, academic panel discussions, and eye health check-ups and eye measurements services along with providing eyeglasses to the public by a team of ophthalmologists from Thammasat Hospital, etc.

Social Services Development

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supreeya stated that Thammasat University, Lampang Campus attaches great importance to the development of social services. It can be seen from the organization of various projects that meet the needs of the community. For example, the Integrated Sub-district Economic and Social Enhancement Project, or U2T, currently Thammasat University, Lampang Campus works in 48 sub-districts, creating employment for more than 960 people by working with government, private sector and people in each area in bringing knowledge, technology and innovation and help improve the economy and society in the sub-district.

Apart from that, there is also a project to develop the potential of community product entrepreneurs to the online market. It is a training project to educate both theoretical and practical knowledge in order to develop the potential of community product entrepreneurs to gain knowledge and understanding of online marketing. Thammasat University, Lampang Campus has supported community products by creating the TU to share online shop platform as a distribution channel for community products and souvenirs.

There is also a project to improve the community museum. Thammasat University, Lampang Campus has renovated the Wat Pongsanook Nuea Museum and Wat Phra That Sadet Museum into a learning center for history, ancient sites, antiquities, which are local Lanna cultural heritages, enabling future generations to continue disseminating knowledge of local cultural history.

Cooperation Networks Development

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supreeya said that we have an important cooperation network, which is a network of cooperation with alumnis by sending off e-Newsletters on a regular basis for alumni to get to know the possibilities of the university and get involved through various projects such as fundraising and volunteer programs for community development. It also establishes a network of partnerships with government, private organizations and relevant civil society in which the university has arranged to discuss cooperation projects to gather the strengths of each party and exchange through projects such as trainings, internship programs, etc.

Atthaphon Meephan, a 3rd year student majoring in textiles design, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Thammasat University received the first prize in the silk pattern design contest with the work “Thong Rai, Thong Na (Paddy Fields)” from The 4th Next Big Silk Designer Contest organized by the Association of Thai Silk and Culture Promotion that presents creative aesthetic through practical design, extending into business and as well encourage people to wear more Thai fabrics. It also promotes Thai fabric entrepreneurs to remain and grow sustainably. The submitted works must have a blend of applied design harmoniously and beautifully, and with contemporary Thai identity. This contest is opened to students from both public and private institutions nationwide, and is honoured by a panel of experts and famous designers of Thailand as judges.

Atthaphon Meephan revealed that the process of designing the fabric pattern of the work “Paddy Fields” started from searching for photos that match his main inspiration. After that, he began sketching the shape that he was interested in from all the information gathered, then reduce the shapes into a graphic pattern and bring each part of the shapes to create a pattern template. After obtaining the pattern template, the pattern template was then stitched together by aligning, reversing, alternating, or constantly rotating, etc., then choose to use local varieties of Thai silk from Sisaket Province that is, a thin silk thread. This type of silk is selected because the thread is smooth and glossy, making the fabric weaved out light and shiny.

Atthaphon said that this work was inspired by the agricultural work of the farmers, namely terrace rice planting in the northern region. Therefore, the rectangular shape of the rice fields is stacked in layers, blended with the curving mountain paths which then refined to become a new pattern that is more contemporary. The yellow colour of the paddy grains is used as a reminiscence of abundance. Then bolden up using brown and black colour of minerals in the soil on the mountains which give a sense of strength and durability, therefore becoming a fabric that reflects the power of the strength of agriculture that continues to create fertility at all time.

In the future, this fabric pattern will be used in production by the local communities in order to generate and distribute income to the local people and use the fabrics to various design products such as bags which may matched together with other materials such as leather, canvas, or making costumes, etc.

“The reason behind the judges’ preference and decision for us to be the winning team is probably the use of contrasting shades which make the canvas more dimensional, and that the shape of the pattern has been refined to be more contemporary and not overly complicated. By winning the prize, I feel happy as it is one of the opportunities that allow us to create works and present to everyone. It makes us learn more things such as task planning, time allocation and errors that occur during the progress, and further use it to develop other works to be better in the future.”Atthaphon concluded.

In addition, other students from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Thammasat University namely, Punyawee Chantorn, 3rd year student majoring in fashion design with the work title: “Mother’ Forest” won the second runner-up award for Thai Silk Dress Design Contest, named and Panuwat Chansiri, 3rd year student majoring in fashion design with the work title: ‘Thai Fighting Fish’ won the honorable mention award for Thai Silk Dress Design Contest from the same project as well.

Thammasat University won the “Friendly Design Award 2022” from the 6th Thailand Friendly Design Expo on December 15, 2022 in the category of “Institution for All People”. As an educational institution that is outstanding in facilitating and creating friendly designs in order for everyone to equally access and utilize, and are friendly to all people. This is the fifth year in a row for Thammsat to receive the award, in which Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, Vice Rector for Administration of Rangsit Center for Physical Education, Thammasat University also received an award under the “Friendly Design Role Model” category for the sixth time in a row.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, Vice Rector for Administration of Rangsit Center for Physical Education, Thammasat University revealed that in the year 2022, the physical area within the university has been improved by constructing over 100 ramps to facilitate those who use wheelchairs, including upgrading all electric buses (EV Bus) to all be accessible to people with disabilities which is In parallel with the creation of the TU Around application for visually impaired students to check the parking spots according to the signs through the application.

In addition, Thammasat has developed innovations to promote equality for Thai society through designs, inventions, and social innovations created to enhance the quality of life for all groups of people and reduce social inequality, such as Ban Saen Yue Dee for the elderly with disabilities of the Thammasat University Universal Design Research Unit, mobile odor-restricted urinal from the Faculty of Nursing, and electric wheelchairs for people with leg impairments from the Faculty of Engineering.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet further said that especially about monetization and careers for people with disabilities, which is an important factor that will allow such group of people to overcome hardships. The Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University and the Thammasat University Universal Design Research Unit which have foreseen the aspect, therefore, designed a career kiosk for the disabled to be able to sell products right on their wheelchair with the proportion and formats designed to support this particular group of users in order to conduct occupational tasks within a limited area.

“This is considered a correlation between the government policy that wishes to offer employment opportunities and the private sector that wishes to promote the careers for people with disabilities. Hence, our role is the designer who will provide academic services and develop further until we obtain designs that can literally be used in real life,”said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet.

In this regard, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, Vice Rector for Administration of Rangsit Center for Physical Education, Thammasat University also received the ‘Friendly Design Awards 2022’ under the category of “Friendly Design Role Model” from the 6th Thailand Friendly Design Expo

Thammasat University joins hands with SkillLane to adapt to the future with TUXSA, an online master’s degree program that helps Thammasat University return to being “Digital Academic Marketplace” that meets the needs of the modern world, entering its 4th year of success with more than 16,000 learners, including graduates in 2022.

Nowadays, people’s learning styles have changed, nor does it need to be learned only in the classroom and may not be required to study at university. At the same time, the labor market situation has changed. The research indicates that in the next 5 years, 85 million jobs worldwide will disappear and more than 97 million new jobs will be created, resulting in the new labor market, which may cause the phenomenon of many people being jobless and various emerging jobs do not have the right skilled people to do it. These changes raise important questions: “Is the university still necessary?” and “If the university will continue to survive, how should it adapt and play a role?”

Thammasat University, Thailand’s leading university, has answered these questions by adapting to meet the needs of the future, launching TUXSA, an online master’s degree program that delivers future skills to Thai people. This master’s degree program both meets the learning needs of modern learners and the future labor market at the same time.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pipop Udon, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Thammasat University said that Thammasat University is now 88 years old and is very alchemical. However, this alchemy may not catch up with the world. Therefore, we have to go back to being 18 again, as we will meet the needs of the new generation in a technology-driven world. But our working principle is to not investing in anything that you are not proficient in. Instead, find a partner who is good at this. That’s why we’ve teamed up with education technology start-ups to create TUXSA, the online master’s degree with a new way of learning.

The 7 highlights of the TUXSA curriculum are:

– Providing students the opportunity to access the knowledge they need from anywhere at anytime.

– Students are able study only the subjects that interest them.

– If choosing to study the entire course, students will receive a master’s degree with the equivalent honor and privilege as any other general master’s degree.

– Able to plan the cost of studying.

– Saving travel expenses

– Course content developed to meet the needs of learners.

– Able to study while working, maintaining job opportunities

Currently, TUXSA offers 2 courses which are Master of Business Administration Program in Business Innovation (M.B.A. Business Innovation) which has already been acknowledged by the Office of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and Master of Science Program in Digital Business Transformation, majoring in Data Science (M.S. Digital Business Transformation).

“When Thammasat University was established, we were an open university and were accessible to everyone. When we changed to a close university, the number of seats is then limited. People entering Thammasat University have to go through many selection processes. The launch of our TUXSA online master’s degree is considered a “Back to the Future, bringing Thammasat back to its original roots as an academic marketplace, yet technology has pushed us beyond the limitations of seats, time, place and cost. This allows us to respond to new learning needs for people in every generation,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pipop concluded.