Thammasat University has been investing at least 200-300 million baht per year in promoting technological advancement and the latest project is an “AI Center”.
Assoc. Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University, said that the university is working on establishing the biggest AI center of the region. Initially, the project is funded by the Digital Economy fund with a total amount of 28 million baht, and the university is working on pitching to the interested private sector and related business in founding the AI center.
Thammasat is aiming to use the AI center as an online learning hub, catering to the AI curriculum and workshop for Thammasat Students, the general public, and interested private organizations. Assoc. Prof. Gasinee said that the goal of the AI center is to create a space that the students and the general public can use. There will be an exhibition zone, AI prototype display, activity area, basic – advance workshop space, and the space for personal practices and researches.
She also added that the AI center will be able to accommodate around 10,000 people per year and there will be a basic AI training available for at least 1,000 people per year, and advanced training for around 300 people. Besides, the AI center will constantly stimulate the development of AI technology especially by training the students in the university to know more about AI and potentially become an entrepreneur of a technology start-up in the future.
“Some people might say Thammasat is behind the times, but not anymore. From now on we will “upgrade” our university and the AI center will be the driving force. There are experts from many organizations such as Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, a leading school of engineering. More importantly, the AI center will be the center for workshops and all of the courses related to AI, as well as the space for product development using AI to enhance the quality. There will soon be a more concrete plan of the center with help and funding from private sectors, partner and Thammasat’s alumni,” said Assoc.Prof.Gasinee.
“The constant investment in technology is a very important mission for the university since the leading university is expected to develop and adapted to the fast-changing world. By adapting, we have to listen to our students and assist them. Students come first. Students in the online era value experienced-based learning more than the conventional classroom. That’s why Thammasat has developed the “Thammasat Frontier School” project, which allows students to study without a fixed-curriculum and to flexibly work with different job requirements.” added Assoc.Prof.Gasinee.
“Students in Thammasat Frontier School don’t have to decide what do they wanted to do in the future when they apply to the university. In the first two years, they will be taking basic courses, and in the third year, they will start learning the skills needed for their future career. This way the students have more time to figure out what they are passionate about and what are they good at. The university shouldn’t only be about training students for the degree,” said Assoc.Prof.Gasinee.
“Graduate students should be able to think critically, work, and develop a project. Additionally, Thammasat is also planning on connecting with more private sectors to form the connection that will help train the students in researching, starting a business. Plus, they can take those experiences and turn them into credit in the university.”
In the 2020 academic year, the courses from Faculty of Law, Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy in the Bachelor of Accounting Program, Bachelor of Business Administration Program, Human Resource Management department, and Real Estate Business, Faculty of Political Science, Faculty of Social Administration, Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education, College of Interdisciplinary Studies and Faculty of Public Health are available under the Frontier school projects.
The rector also mentioned that the university is trusted by many young students. There are around new 9,000 students in the 2020 academic year, bring the total number of students to 40,000.
Thammasat also proves to be the university of the society, taking part in solving and preventing the spreading of COVID-19, which is a good reflection on the quality of education, the university, and the students. Our graduates have been accepted into many workplaces thanks to the curriculum and the way of teaching at Thammasat. The university’s curriculum offers the training that corresponds to not only what the students want but also what the society and the business sectors need.