Tag: Thammasat University

Thammasat University was chosen as “Tourism for All” from the 5th Thailand Friendly Design Expo of the year 2022 by receiving the Friendly Design Awards 2022 as an outstanding organization in promoting and implementing universal design for everyone to equally access, and is friendly to all.

This is the 4th year in a row that this award has been received.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chumkhet Sawaengcharoen, Vice President for Rangsit Center Adminsitration Division, Thammasat University revealed that as a university for people who focus on sustainable development, Thammasat University has provided opportunities for all groups of people to have access to education. One of them is to provide special quotas to students with disabilities in the form of direct admissions. The share is set at 1% per committee, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) Goal 10 on reducing inequality within and among countries.

In addition to providing equal access to education for all and academic services, Thammasat University continues to improve its buildings as well as implementing universal design to facilitate and unlock the restrictions of students with disabilities which will be more conducive to learning.

Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University said that on the total area of ​​​​the university, nearly 100 buildings are located. Currently, all buildings consist of wheelchair ramps, elevators, toilets, and parking spaces for students with disabilities. While roads within the university are equipped with warning signs for deaf and blind students, from this, we are regarded as the first educational institution in Thailand to install this system.

For student dormitory, Thammasat University has specially designed under international standards, similarly to exercise facilities such as fitness centers, artificial cliffs, and swimming pools that have been designed to be accessible to all students with disabilities, and while traveling on campus, ramps are installed on all electric buses.

There is an age range that affects fertility in women, that is, over the age of 35, having a child is considered too late. For females who consult a doctor, they will be able to check their hormones and ovaries, while for males, the easiest thing to examine is their semen.

For sperm analysis, Thailand is now marking a remarkable progress by a team of researchers from the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University that has invented the “sperm staining with black glutinous rice extract” technique to assess the shape-fertility of sperms along with estimating the proportion of healthful sperms to the total sperm count.

This invention is entitled with the official name, “BR dye”, and the research work of Asst. Prof. Dr. Chollanot and Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirinart Chomean, which recently won the Outstanding Research Award of the Year 2021 from the National Research Council and has been published in three other international academic journals.

“The principle is that we use extract from black glutinous rice together with cationic additives to aid in the staining of the genetic material in the nucleus of the cell,” explained Asst. Prof. Dr. Chollanot.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Chollanot explained that sperm staining to see the healthiness of the sperms is considered an important criterion that leads to the right treatment process, which is in line with the precision medicine policy and the use of reproductive technology to help solve infertility problems.The shape of the sperm is an indicator of whether or not the males are ready to have children, and will it be easy or difficult to have children? Of which, in the past, we had to rely on synthetic dyes that had to be imported from abroad only for them to stain and allow the structures of the sperm around the head, mid piece and tail to be visible. But now Thammasat is able to successfully invent a replacement dye and it also has a very high efficiency.

The main objective of this research is to seek dyes that are as effective as synthetic dyes imported from abroad. The synthetic dyes are made from tree barks, in which the hospital does not only use to stain sperm but has also been used to stain other substances such as body tissues. Therefore, in the future there is a possibility that the dyes will be in short supply.The raw materials that we extract do not require rice grains as most of the colour pigment is in the rice husks, therefore, using only rice husks or bran are sufficient. As for the rice grains, we can cook it. This is considered adding value to rice husks and bran.

For the success of “BR dye”, it will be developed further to stain the sample of vaginal discharge from wet mount (vaginitis test) in the case of women being assaulted. This is due to the fact that this type of dye can be used to stain both women’s cells and sperms.

However, in the past, there has been an experiment using the vaginal discharge tested in the laboratory as a sample, it was found that the dye extracted from black glutinous rice was as effective as those sold in the market. This sample can be used for further litigation.

More than that, after developing the dye from the aqueous form into a high-quality “powder form”. The pigment powder will then be adjusted into distinct formula suitable for different types of cells or samples, upgrading products as well as formula and user manual which will reduce the procedures and workload of hospital personnel as well.

Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, organized a panel discussion on “Can we talk? EP.5: Infectious Waste: Challenges in COVID-19 Pandemic” focusing on issues of infectious waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic through online media.

Dr. Nattakorn Chuchuay, Assistant to the President for Management and Academic Affairs, Lampang Campus, Dr. Pradabduang Kiattisaksiri, Lecturer at Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Lampang Campus and Mr. Supawit Amornyut, Public Health Expert, Health center for Ethnic Group, Marginal People and Migrant Worker participated as lecturers.

Dr. Pradabduang Kiattisaksiri from the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Lampang Campus said that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of infectious waste has increased from sources that operate according to government policies and public assistance, such as field hospitals. Hospitels, Vaccine Pop-Ups, Home Isolation and Community Isolation.

The most common wastes are face masks, Antigen Test Kit (ATK), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and face shields. In addition, in case of home isolation, if the patient has ordered food delivery, the wastes include used food containers and tissue paper. It is likely to be contaminated and become infectious waste. They need to be handled properly to prevent the spread of virus.

Mr. Supawit Amornyut, Public Health Expert, Health center for Ethnic Group, Marginal People and Migrant Worker said that as for the example of infectious waste management at Lampang Hospital, the autoclaving is used in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law. Biological standards must be checked by spore test.

As for the disposal by incineration, the temperature of the incineration chamber must be controlled as prescribed by law and as for the infectious waste management in field hospitals and waiting areas, it is technically not different from the management in hospitals which focuses on hygiene and safety, collection method, infectious waste transportation procedures, operators, materials and disposal method that must comply with the law.

For those who isolate at home, they are suggested to manage infectious waste that can be done at home as instructed as follows: dispose infectious waste inside the infectious garbage bag (red bag), close tightly the bag with disinfectant spray then put it into another garbage bag, gather them in the safe spot and coordinate with relevant responsible units, such as local administrative organizations, private companies, community hospitals or sub-district health promotion hospitals for further disposal. If there is no collection service in the area, pack the infectious waste in a black garbage bag with disinfectant and put it into another bag along with the written label specifying the type of waste inside the bag.

Dr. Nattakorn Chuchuay, Assistant to the President for Management and Academic Affairs, Lampang Campus concluded that the current infectious waste situation is not uncommon. All of us can create infectious waste, which is at least a face mask that is used regularly. It is considered an infectious waste because it might be contaminated by secretions. In terms of policy management, it was found that here are many problems as mentioned by various media or academic reports.

Therefore, it is an important issue for infectious waste management and should be improved urgently, for example, policy advocates should seriously find the root cause of the problem, accelerate the improvement of the policy to be in line with the real practices and create mechanisms to handle problems. In addition, agencies involved in spatial management, personnel, officials and people must be aware of the infectious waste overflow crisis and work together to change behaviors to reduce the amount of infectious waste. Moreover, they should support each other for waste disposal operations to avoid the critical condition.

Five students from Automotive Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus, received scholarships from Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Led by Eiichi Koito, President & CEO, for “MMTh VTECH Scholarship Program 2021” with Assoc.Prof.Dr. Teera Chiasiripongkul, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, faculty members and executives from Mitsubishi Motors Thailand joined in congratulating the New Normal scholarship ceremony.

Students will receive a scholarship for two consecutive years, along with opportunity for internships and employment at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, the world-class automobile manufacturer. The objective is to create “New Generation Graduates” who are specialized in automotive engineering, to drive and develop the Thai automotive industry in the future.

The MMTh VTECH Scholarship Program 2021 is a collaboration between Mitsubishi Motors Thailand and Thammasat School of Engineering (TSE), signed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on September 15, 2020, with an aim to enhance educational opportunities through a full scholarship to cover tuition fees of the selected third-year and fourth-year Thammasat V-TECH students who have outstanding performance.

In addition, the program encourages students to cultivate hands-on experience through Work Integrated Learning (WIL). The successful candidates will attend an internship program and ultimately become a full-time employee of Mitsubishi Motors Thailand at Laem Chabang Factory.

This route to success is consistent to the objectives of the program that point to create “Graduates of the New Generation” and competent manpower to complement the needs of the manufacturing sector, according to Thailand’s higher education reform policy. All graduates must be capable of practically working and armed with knowledge, skills, and exceptional competencies.

There are 5 students qualified for the scholarships, namely 1) Ms. Piyatida Boonmaswai 2) Mr. Korrawit Singkaew 3) Mr. Mathanon Wattanapirom 4) Mr. Jirapat watpairun, and 5) Mr. Daranphob Santvinyoo.

Van Lang University (VLU), Vietnam, and SIIT, Thammasat University, arranged the virtual signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). President of Van Lang University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, and SIIT Director, Prof. Dr. Pruettha Nanakorn, signed the MOU where Acting Consul-General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Natthapol Na Songkhla was a witness.

The ceremony was also attended by academic and staff members from both sides and the delegates from the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Both institutions have agreed to have academic activities such as student and faculty exchanges and research partnerships.

The collaborative education between the Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LSCM), Faculty of Commerce at VLU and the Master of Engineering Program in Logistics and Supply Chain Systems Engineering (LSCSE) at SIIT will be the first initiative.

This collaboration is based on a pre-existing relationship where the alumna from Master of Engineering in LSCSE, who is now a faculty member at VLU’s Department of LSCM, Faculty of Commerce.

The Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, is moving forward with sunscreen product labels to enforce the law in a tangible way by increasing consumer choices and adding solutions for problems with the marine environment.

Sunscreen became a social defendant when clear academic evidence emerged that some of the chemicals in sunscreen create coral bleaching. Thailand recently enacted a new law banning the import and use of sunscreen containing chemicals that harm coral in national parks that is called a “full-system make-over for the skincare industry” from the production process to the hands of consumers.

Associate Professor Dr Phanida Saikhwan, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University (TSE) reflected the interesting viewpoint of “chemical engineers” toward the enforcement of this law, because many components require in-depth understanding before taking action.

Dr Phanida said that most research in Thailand rather clearly draws the same conclusions that Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3, BP-3) and Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) have impact on the genetic codes of living things, or the DNA of coral in which they suppress the generation of new cells with impact on growth and cause coral bleaching.

And concerning research on 4-Methylbenzylid Camphor (4MBC) and Butylparaben, although the reasons are not clearly stated, the gist of the latest announcement by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is considered to cover all types of chemicals causing coral bleaching.

Dr Phanida added that, based on retrospective investigation about the law prohibiting the use of sunscreen over the past several years, Thailand is considered to be the first country in the world to enact such a law, after the US State of Hawaii and the Republic of Palau, which is an archipelago.

Thammasat’s Faculty of Engineering views this legal mobilization as a significant phenomenon for humanity and a positive change, because it marks the start of awareness about the value of marine resources, beginning with the search for products. Chemical engineers are considered personnel with key roles in this make-over of the skincare industry with acceptance of the law and assistance starting with more environmentally-friendly production processes.

“Because chemicals are not limited to the laboratory, but appear in the daily lives of everyone, we at the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, are determined to take the opportunity of the annual celebrations for the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University, on 19 August to pass the future on to a new generation of people interested in chemical engineering, so they are ready to confront the new challenges surrounding them and ready to accept constant changes in the same way as changes in the laws affecting the skincare industry. Chemical engineers have to be ready to face this change, too,” stated Dr Phanida in closing.

 

Mr Atirut Deure, a fourth-year student from the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University received a royal award in the Higher Education Level 2020.

He is the only student representative from Thammasat who received the royal award in Higher Education Year 2020 due to his exceptional grades and excellent conduct.

Mr Atirut Deure said that during the application for the royal award, it was important to study and understand the criteria.

Once you have assessed yourself as having met the criteria, then collect the works, photos of activities and various certificates, with emphasis on selecting activities that are practical and useful to society, as well as selecting outstanding awards from the university, regional, and national levels to be prepared as a document for assessment, he said.

Mr Atirut added that after knowing the results of the first round of assessment, he adopted recommendations from the assessment committee to improve and make it more outstanding by focusing on presenting the commitment, diligence, self-development as well as volunteering which is more beneficial to the society as a whole.

On the day of the interview, the questions the committee asked were rather tactful and to be answered within a limited time. There were also question directly related to work and his field of study.

“Studying and documenting all the works by myself helps to answer questions better therefore, I think this is the reason I was selected to receive the royal award,” he said.

Mr Atirut revealed that there are two advantages of being assessed for this year royal award.

“The first is to foster inspiration and pass it on to fellow students, exactly as what I received from seniors or friends who have persevered in accumulating experience until they have been recognized and honored as a student who has previously received a royal award. The second is to encourage pride for educational institutions, society and nation. This is because it reflects that there are youths who are still committed to self-improvement and creating useful things in our society.

“I am greatly pleased to have received the royal award as this award is considered as a valuable stamp of the result of perseverance in the field of study, creativity and volunteering throughout my student life. However, this is not the end of success, yet a starting point of my strength that will encourage me to continue to develop myself and to develop my country by which I adhere to the principle of life that ‘To live a good life you must constantly improve yourself and that self-improvement will require perseverance and patience,’” concluded Mr. Atirut.

Professors from the Faculty of Commerce and Accounting, Thammasat University, have been listed in the AD Scientific Index Rankings 2021: World Scientist and University Rankings 2021 for researchers with competence at the university, national and global levels.

According to the database, AD Scientific Index 2021: World Scientist and University Rankings 2021 are as follows:

-Prof. Dr. Ruth Banomyong Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy

1st in in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

9th at Thammasat University

325th in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Sakun Boon Itt, Department of Operations Management

4th in in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

14th at Thammasat University

404th in Thailand

-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Ractham, Associate Dean, Research and International Affairs

5th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

28th at Thammasat University

767th in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Pavida Pananond, Department of International Business, Logistics and Transport

8th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

39th at Thammasat University

1181st in Thailand

-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mathupayas Thongmak, Head, Department of Administration

10th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

45th at Thammasat University

1352nd in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Nopadol Rompho, Department of Operations Management

11th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

46th at Thammasat University

1367th in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Anya Khanthavit, Department of Finance

13th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

49th at Thammasat University

1516th in Thailand

-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laddawan Kaewkitipong, Director, Master of Science Program in Management Information Systems (MSMIS)

14th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

51st at Thammasat University

1531st in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Siriluck Rotchankitumnuai, Department of Management Information Systems

19th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

63rd at Thammasat University

1772nd in Thailand

-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kritsadarat Wattanasuwan, Department of Marketing

20th in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

66th at Thammasat University

1860th in Thailand

-Prof. Dr. Pornchai Chunhachinda, Department of Finance

21st in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

67th at Thammasat University

1878th in Thailand

-Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aurathai Lertwannawit, Head, Department of Marketing

22nd in Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University

71st at Thammasat University

1941st in Thailand

Lecturer Ray Wang from the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication of Thammasat University recently presented his research on educating media management professionals working in communication for sustainable development.

Through in-depth interviews with both university educators at Thammasat University and working professionals from UN organizations and NGOs around Thailand, the research explored the current competencies of young professionals working in communication for sustainable development, and how universities and NGOs can collaborate together to help better prepare young professionals for this vital communication work.

The research highlights the need to better understand what skills young professionals need to excel in this type of communication work, and for more research to investigate different learning activities for developing skills and competencies for communication for development.

“The complexity of sustainability and rise of social media has certainly led to many challenges for communication professionals, and further research should focus not only on the communication aspect, but also on the education aspect.”

Ray Wang is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Thammasat University, and a PhD Candidate in Sustainable Leadership at the College of Management, Mahidol University.