Tag: Thammasat University

In the past year, Thammasat University became more aware of sustainable development goals (SDGs) because the Time Higher Education University Impact Ranking which used SDGs as a main work framework caused many universities to coordinate with SDG Move for consultation and workshop meetings. The aforementioned trend is a good opportunity to push for this impact ranking to be more than a ranking game and lead to a true transformation/reinvention of the university.

Assoc. Prof. Chon Bunnak, Director of SDG Move and a professor at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, said that academic institutions can use and apply SDGs and related principles in the following four areas:

1. Research – Issues under SDGs are related to most research questions of professors in the faculty. However, if research is to be transformed to answer SDG questions, the research would have to shift from academic work solely aimed at expanding academic borders to increasing benefits in driving SDGs or solving sustainability problems. For the most transformation, a transdisciplinary approach should be used in research by having academics from multiple fields of science and knowledge user groups co-produce knowledge to push academic borders and create change.
2. Education – The subjects of many faculties are linked to issues under SDGs. Connecting course subjects to SDGs is an easy way to tell us that we’ve achieved SDGs. To really transform, however, subject content should be added to the global or national crisis issues such as inequality, climate change, biodiversity or waste management, etc. And if the university is to full transform, subjects should include competencies in sustainable development that will support students to change the world with sustainability.
3. Internal Management – Many universities have taken action concerning environmental sustainability at universities and campuses. However, transformation toward SDGs requires consideration of social welfare for vulnerable people in the university, rights, freedom and equality of people of every group, gender, religion and political opinion by making clear policies that give importance to human rights.
4. Participation with Social Movements – The university cannot stay only in the university’s world. The university should participate in driving society toward sustainable development. The university is currently involved in local movements or solving problems consistent with government policies and strategies. If the university is to move toward transformation, the university should be more than a “government agency” that follows the government’s policy and strategy. The university has to function as “society’s intelligence”. The university can and does well at following the government’s policies. At the same time, however, the university must be the “intelligence” of those movements while having academic ethics to make criticisms based on academic principles if the university finds the government’s actions to be incorrect.

“If every university, every faculty and every professor studies the end goal of SDGs, including our roles, duties and capacity, to drive and support movements along with taking action by communicating to connect and empower, the university will become a significant driving force in sustainable development goals at every level as the main force of the academic sector”, Assoc. Prof. Chon Bunnak concluded.

The Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, would like to congratulate faculty members for being ranked as researchers with capacity in fields of natural science at the university and national levels by the AD Scientific Index 2021: World Scientist and University Rankings 2021.

1. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wutipon Sintunawarat, Assistant Dean of Research, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, No. 1 of Thammasat University and No. 96 of Thailand.
2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanatip Samat, Department of Chemistry, No. 9 of Thammasat University and No. 308 of Thailand.
3. Assoc. Prof. Sarut Ammatyotin, Department of Material Technology and Textiles, No. 12 of Thammasat University and No. 365 of Thailand.

Thammasat University in collaboration with the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), an educational quality assessment institution of the European Union organized a webinar titled “Thammasat & EFMD Seminars on Partnerships for SDGs” to showcase exemplary practices in building partnerships that foster the development of collaborative learning between the education sector and society by having three models of sustainable development projects (SDGs) that received the Excellence in Practice Award from EFMD.

One of the three prototype projects which is the work of Thammasat University under the Thammasat Model: Sustainable Community Enterprise project has been granted Silver for the Excellence in Practices Awards 2019

Asst. Prof. Dr. Nopporn Ruengwanich, Director of the Integrated Bachelors and Master Degree Program in Business and Accounting (IBMP), the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, Thammasat University presented that the Thammasat Model is a project that allow the students of the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy to work closely with communities and adapt business knowledge gained from the classroom to support and enhance the communities’ products. In addition to helping more than 160 communities, students will also be able to experience real problem resolution and acquire knowledge about local wisdom as well.

Dr. Eric Cornuel, President of EFMD Global, said EFMD is committed to being a leader in promoting global management excellence and a bridge between the education and business sectors. EFMD, as the non-profit organization has members from all over the world including scholars from both business and government sectors, as well as various institutions. Therefore, EFMD members are encouraged to cooperate in all aspects from building a learning network, research network to career opportunities and accreditation assessments of educational institutions.

Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University, as the first and only Thai person in the ASEAN region who is a lifetime honorary member and a member of the Board of Trustees of EFMD, said the innovations that EFMD has generated over the years have played an important role and have had a profound effect on the change in management education. I am very proud and honored to be appointed to the EFMD Board of Trustees which is assigned to support the creation of social innovation to be used to solve emerging global challenges while maintaining ethical values, responsibility and sustainability.

In addition, the project that have received the Excellence in Practices Awards on sustainable development and another two projects were exhibited as prototypes: 1. The year 2020 Award, Developing Entrepreneurship in Russia project by Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO has been granted Gold for the Excellence in Practices Awards; 2. The year 2021 Award, “Entrepreneurship for good” project: unleashing the potential youth to impact and change the world by The European Center for Executive Development or CEDP, which received Gold Level for the Excellence in Practices Awards.

A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Chulabhorn International College of Medicine (CICM), Thammasat University, and Thai Herbs and Biologies Co., Ltd. (THB) in research and development projects for cannabis, hemp, kratom, and medicinal plants for medicinal uses with the following objectives:

1. Research on medicinal plants in animals and humans.
2. Development, innovation, processing related to natural products for medical purposes; and products from economic crops.
3. Audit to raise the standard of agricultural products and herbs (NON-LAB and LAB) and naturally processed products.
4. Develop publishing and joint patents in research and development in analytical and Assessment in agriculture of cash crops and herbs, as well as their processing into medical products health and products.
5. Treatment and research in humans with integrated medicine.

In this regard, Thai Herbs and Biologies Co., Ltd. have a plans to cooperate and support the organization of training programs for personnel and students for research and educational development in the field of natural products. Moreover, innovations to extend cannabis plants, hemp, kratom, and herbs as a product that can generate income for farmers, resulting in sustainability in the Thai economy and society.

The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University conducted research on “Innovation of Monoclonal Antibodies Production to the Dia blood type by Phage Display Technology” where the research team was led by Prof.Maj. Gen. Dr. Oytip Nathalang, Director of Graduate Programs and Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong Thanongsaksakul, Assistant Dean for Administration and Head of the Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory, Health Care Service Center, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, TU.

This technology is the production of “Antibody to specific blood type” that allows the test of an important blood type in Thailand and Asian populations, which is Dia (Diego a), to be more accurate and to prepare safe blood and blood products for patients who require regular blood transfusions.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Jeeraphong explained that the technology is initiated to simulate the mouse antibody library in vitro by Phage Display Technology which antibody genes are deposited into bacterial viral particles called “phages”. Each phage particle acts as a white blood cell to hold an antibody molecule on the particle surface with a variety of antibodies, which is called “antibody-phage library”.

“If antibodies to Dia blood type is required, we just simply match red blood cell molecules containing this blood type with a phage that have the antibody molecule on the particle surface of the specific Dia blood type. Consequently, specific antibodies will be selected to increase the amount of antibodies attached to phage particles in bacterial cells to be sufficient for testing for specificity of Dia blood type by a biotechnological process,”said Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong.

In addition, the method used by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University has a procedure to remove antibodies specific to other important and common blood types in Thai population in order to increase the specificity of the production of antibodies against Dia blood type.

Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong explained that currently the reagents used to test the Dia blood group must be imported. It is produced from the separation of lymph from the blood of people who produce antibodies to the Dia blood group.

“Each batch of the imported reagent is probably obtained from the same donor but at different times of collection or from different donors. This resulted in lot-to-lot variation because the antibodies produced in the human body vary according to the environmental response. However, the production of antibodies against Dia blood group that the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University uses is a technique that produces antibodies in vitro with Phage Display Technology. Thus, the quality of antibodies in each batch is more stable,” Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong said

In addition, the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University has signed an agreement and transferred technology knowledge with a biotechnology company in Germany in order to develop antibodies against Dia blood group that the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University has produced to be suitable for use in daily diagnostic tests or in automated analyzers for further commercial reason.

“When TU passes on the prototype to them, they must develop it into an acceptable form as a medical device. If the development process is successful, the agreement we have signed will reach the commercial objective and if the formula works well, it can be sold which will allow patients to get an access to reagents and more accurate test that patients will be able to receive the matching blood group. This will reduce the side effects caused by the mismatch of blood,” Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong said.

Asst.Prof.Dr. Jeeraphong explained further that the production of antibodies benefited patients requiring surgery and blood to support the symptoms – life while losing blood during surgery. But for the group that will receive benefit the most is those who regularly require blood transfusions, such as, thalassemia patients because these patients are at high risk of getting a foreign blood type from each blood transfusion. If the blood group mismatch occurs, it may stimulate the immune system to reject. However, having accurate and easily accessible blood grouping reagents will help reduce the risk for such patients.

aculty of Public Health on behalf of Thammasat University signed a cooperation agreement on the promotion and development of comprehensive Digital Resilience for Thai youth under the “Vaccination Program for Digital Resilience and Cyberbullying Prevention for high school students in 5 regions in Thailand” on September 10, 2021 in order to raise awareness of online threats among youth, teachers and parents. This project encouraged Digital Resilience presented through Creative Media in which Digital Resilience assessment tools for youth have been developed, youth has been encouraged to participate in the development of creative media to promote Digital Resilience as well as network and integrated collaborative guidelines to promote Digital Resilience and complaint channels for young people who face online dangers.

The objective of cooperation between media funds and network partners will drive operation on cyberbullying solution as well as digital resilience to promote a safe and creative media ecosystem.

Assoc.Prof. Dr. Sasitorn Taptagaporn, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University said that Thammasat University has its own outstanding identity as a model of democracy, anti-violence and anti-sexual harassment. Thammasat University and the Faculty of Public Health focus on issues of harassment or violence which teenagers face online, especially those that affect teenager’s health issues. Therefore, Thammasat University and the Faculty of Public Health are committed to preventing, improving and enhancing the health of teenagers who spend more time online. This is the work we have already worked on and will keep doing it.

This cooperation agreement is considered an important law that brings the cyber ​​resilience as a drive and encourage the Faculty of Public Health’s teachers and researchers to integrate the concept of cyber ​​resilience with teaching and learning approach and in-depth research on innovative health promotion. In addition, the Faculty of Public Health will act as a key player to communicate, promote and persuade Thammasat community including other faculties so that they can participate in this project.

This signing ceremony involves 8 organizations: the Ministry of Culture, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Education, Thammasat University, Chiang Mai University, the Council of Children and Youth of Thailand, and the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand and the Thai Media Fund together with the launch of comprehensive online platform developed in the project, the lectures on roles and responsibilities and the next steps of operation on Cyberbullying and Digital Resilience by representatives from 9 organizations and a special lecture on “How to build cyber resilience for Thai children”.

Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus (EECmd) led by Assoc. Prof. Kammal Kumar Pawa, M.D., Vice-Rector for Administration (Pattaya Campus), and Asst. Prof. Nattadon Pannucharoenwong, Ph.D., Assistant Rector for Administration (Pattaya Campus) discusses with Ms. Tassanee Kiat Phatraporn, Deputy Secretary-General for Area and Community Eastern Region, Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Office in the development of the Smart Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital System to help with disease screening for patients who come to the hospital under the concept of comprehensive medicine in order for the people to gain access to public health services. Initially, the system will be piloted at 3 smart sub-district health-promoting hospitals in 3 provinces in the Eastern Special Development Zone, namely Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong, with Thammasat Hospital, Pattaya Campus as the Command Center. In this regard, the intelligent sub-district health promotion hospital system is a project that responds to the policy of Thammasat Innopolis, an innovative city for health and wellness, elevating Thammasat to be more than a teaching and learning space to the space for ​​living. Initiate innovations that meet the needs of healthcare services and improve the quality of life of patients and medical professionals in Thailand and the world.

“Istituto Marangoni”, a leading design institute with a world-class reputation founded in 1935 in Milan. It is currently ranked in the TOP 5 of the world, offering teaching in all fields of fashion, whether it is Design, Styling, Photography, Communication, Promotion, Marketing or Business, becoming the ambition of the new generation around the world who wish to apply and study.

Primrose, Ms. Chulalak Chaikarn, a student from the Textile and Fashion Design Program, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Thammasat University is one of the very few people who have been selected by the institute to receive the Istituto Marangoni Scholarship: February 2022 to study the Master’s Degree in Fashion Luxury Brand Management program at Istituto Marangoni Institute, London Campus, having tuition fee reduced by around 2,500 pounds or about 115,000 Thai Baht.

Primrose said that normally, Istituto Marangoni has joint ventures with leading brands and there is also a scholarship of the university itself. It will accept no more than 3 scholarship students per class. This round is the university’s scholarship in which the institute will assign problems in accordance with the requirement of each major as part of the application process.

Fashion management is the program that “Primrose” applied. Therefore, there is no need to do a clothing design project like the fashion design major. However, the consideration criteria will be focused on outstanding work experience expressed through Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Curriculum Vitae (CV) along with academic results.

Although during her bachelor’s degree studying, “Primrose” was majoring in fashion, however, chose to study marketing as a minor subject, therefore has a portfolio and work experience in both fashion and marketing and having also various contest projects with guaranteed prizes.

Starting from her 1st year of study, she was the winner of the Sakura Collection 2018 Asia Student Award in Thailand competition and was representing Thailand in bringing the works to show on the runway collection of the Japanese fashion in Japan, and went on to study a short-term fashion course at the Bunka Fashion School in Japan. During that time, she had the opportunity to work part-time in a Japanese company for almost a year and later decided to quit to attend additional special classes in the field of pattern-making.

During her study, she has never been spared from submitting projects for any contests and accepting freelance jobs both on logo design, graphic work, and clothing design for various brands via Instagram to keep up with all the skills. Until the third year, she started to initiate her own clothing brand, Le moral, as a joint venture with her friend.

Primrose said that for Fashion Luxury Brand Management, most of the people who study and receive scholarships are graduates in marketing or management in particular. But even though she studied fashion however want to acquire knowledge to build on, so she decided to study in this major.

Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand (AIAT) in collaboration with the National Electronics and Computer Center, Academic Institutes of Artificial Intelligence Network, University Network and over 60 private sector organizations presented “Gold Medal Award” to outstanding talent participating in the Super AI Engineer program to Mr. Isada Sukprapha, a Master’s degree student from the Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (AI&IoT-TAIST Tokyo Tech) Program, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University and “Silver Medal Award” to Ms. Romrawin Chumpoo, a Master’s degree student from the Engineering and Technology Program, SIIT, TU as well.

For the award winners, it is required that they pass the program assessment and join to work with leading private companies in Thailand in which the company’s evaluation after the program participants have applied their knowledge of AI to help develop or solve the obstacles of the company’s business is regarded as the main scoring.

Mr. Isada revealed that the Super AI Engineer program is open to those who are interested in developing AI skills. There will be classes and assessments and is divided into three levels. This means that if the participants meet the required score, they will be evaluated in order to progress to the next level. By passing to the second level, the participanting companies in Thailand will be providing participants with different real world business problems faced by them. Participants will be divided into groups to use AI to help solve problems of each week. When passing to the third level, those who participate in the program will be able to sign up to join the real work with companies they are interested in and comply to their keen abilities, such as data analysis, image processing, etc.

Ms. Romrawin said that she had just discovered the passion of coding during her study in chemical engineering. There was one coding subject within the course in which she found enjoyable and admired. This provided her the opportunity to participate in this program and as well had a chance to study all subjects in relevant to artificial intelligence that would normally be taught by subject.

For the first season of Super AI Engineer program in 2020, there were more than 2,059 applicants, having those who passed the post-training proficiency assessment as; 8 gold medalists, 19 silver medalists and 45 bronze medalists.

This research is the discovery of thw world new orchid species in the Corybas Salisb. genus having Prof. Dr. Janejaree Inuthai from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University as a member of the research team together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sahat Chantanaorapin, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University; Dr. Somran Suddee, Forest Botany Group Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Dr. Naiyana Tessana, Forest Botany Work Group, Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; Mr. Manop Phophat, Forest Botany Work Group, Forest and Plant Conservation Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and; Mr. Wittawat Khiaobang, Forest Economics Division, Royal Forest Department, which has been published in the PhytoKeys journals.

This new species of orchid is called “The Gemstone of Nakhon Si Thammarat” or Corybas papillatus Inuthai, Chantanaorr. & Suddee in the Corybas genus or a small soil orchid. At present, there are approximately 120 species propagated in India, southern China, southern Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Western Pacific Islands Region.

The title ‘Corybas papillatus’ is named after the papillae that appear on the posterior half of the dorsal sepal. This orchid is similar to Corybas villosus J. Dransf. & Gord. Sm. and Corybas ridleyanus Schltr. However, C. papillatus differs from the two aforementioned orchids in that the base of the lateral calyx connects to the lateral lobe, and that C. villosus has ridged upper calyx back. C. ridleyanus has a truncated upper calyx which is clearly different from the new species.

Prof. Dr. Janejaree Inuthai from the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University revealed that the new orchid species is a species at critical risk of extinction (Critically Endangered) according to IUCN guidelines. However, since this new species of orchid is very small, this allow them to escape from the sight of the explorer. Currently, only 4 plants of this orchid species have been found and is from only one area that is Khao Luang, Khao Luang National Park, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. It was discovered only once in the 2018 survey and sample collection.

In the past, there have been continuous reports of the discovery of the world and Thailand new orchid species from the Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain range. This shows that the southern region of the country is an important region in terms of Thailand orchid diversity.