WU Inter Connect June 2022

WU ConnectInternationalJune, 2022

Content

3. Highlight

Walailak University achieving 500+, the highest
number of UKPSF-Certified Faculties in Thailand

4. Teaching

Students across nation confirm
admission to Walailak University in

TCAS65, the highest in 20 years



5. Research

Walailak University forges research network with
the French National Research Institute for
Sustainable Development (IRD) in the seminar on
Molecular technique for virus identification

10. International Outlook &
Collaborations

Walailak University wins three
national cooperative study
awards 2022

HIGHLIGHT

HighLight June 2022| P.4

Walailak University

achieving 500+,

the highest number of UKPSF-
Certified Faculties in Thailand

Walailak University is celebrating a recently updated number of the UKPSF-certified
faculties, 500+ record. This new record confirms the university’s dedication to enhancing
students’ learning, teaching and learning culture on the part of the lecturers. This
achievement is in line with the global standard of quality.

On June 23, 2022, Advance Higher Education (Advance HE) having collaborated with
Walailak University over the course of five years, starting in 2018 has updated the figures
of HEA Fellows (HEA is the name of fellowship while AHE is the organization awarding the
HEA Fellowship). Walailak University’s number of HEA fellows has reached a total of over
500, within one year, making it the university with the most UKPSF-certified faculties in
Thailand and second globally. The record is attributed to an increase of 10 Fellows, from
433 to 443 Fellows, while there are 57 Senior Fellows and 1 Principal Fellow.

Center for International Affairs facebook.com/ciawalailak

TeACHING

JUNE 2022| P.6

TEACHING

Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University,
reveals the highest record of admission confirmations made by incoming
students in TCAS65. The record showed the students’ average GPX upon
enrollment at 3.30, resulting from the university’s continuous effort put
into educational reform to become a world-class university.

Despite the university’s original admission scheme to offer 2,736
places, more than 30,000 students, far exceeding the set goal have
applied to programs across disciplines. Among those, 3,880 have been
offered a place and confirmed along with payment on June 7, 2022. As for
the overall performance, the record suggested an average GPAX of 3.30,
thereby the highest record ever in terms of both quantity and quality.

More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21431/

JUNE 2022| P.7

Bai Si Sukwan
Ceremony

Official welcome of the 2022 freshmen
to Walailak in Bai Si Sukwan Ceremony,
the President ensures full measures and supports against the
COVID-19

Walailak University organizes a welcome ceremony or Bai Sri Sukwan - tying a
wrist to officially welcome a person as a member of the community. Chairman of
the university council, the President accompanied by WU executive team partook
in the ceremony symbolizing blessing for achievement in life and happiness - to
welcome 1st year students as WU new members.
Mr. Teerachai Chemnasiri, Chair of Walailak University Council, Prof. Dr. Sombat
Thamrongthanyawong, Acting President of Walailak University along with the
executive team, staff and senior students joined the ceremony at Walailak Square
in front of the Thai Buri Building. Mr. Teerachai gave a remark on behalf of the
university council to welcome all students. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21442/

June 2022| P. 8

Nurse Cap Granting
Ceremony

Walailak University organizes the Nurse Cap Granting Ceremony
for the 20th and 21st batch of WU Nursing Graduates

Walailak University recently organized a Nurse Cap
Granting Ceremony to grant cap stripes, nursing caps,
and university pins to the 20th and 21st batch of nursing
students studying in a Bachelor of Nursing Science
program. These 3rd and 4th-year students are to attend
the nursing training program at the assigned hospital.
Joining the ceremony to be awarded the certificate were graduates of the
Specialized Nursing Program, and Nursing Assistant Certificate Program, as well as
the graduates of the Master of Nursing Program and outstanding alumni together
with the current students with excellent academic performance.
The School of Nursing received an honor from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charan Boonkan,
Acting Vice President, presiding over the ceremony also attended by Assoc. Prof.
Dr. Urai Jaraeprapal, Dean of the School of Nursing along with the faculties in the
main auditorium, Thai Buri Building, Walailak University. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21479/.

June 2022| P.9

HOLISTIC CARES

Walailak University providing holistic cares for
ultimate student development

SMILE AND SMART

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Voravuth Somsak, Acting Vice President for
promotion and development of students implemented the
scheme aimed to orient students to be a graduate with
aptitudes and soft skills under the concept “Gratitude,
Discipline, Volunteering, and leadership.” The scheme set
equally addresses diverse areas of support including
academic performance, social skills, financial aid, and
physical and mental wellbeing.
In line with Walailak University’s educational philosophy to
produce “Good and able graduates”, Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Voravuth revealed that the mission was to provide holistic
support and cares relevant to both the students’ needs and
what the university stands for. As for academic
performance, besides collaborating with the school and
colleges under the “Talented, Good and Happy Student”
project, the tutorial centers provide tutorial sessions
through assistance among peers, junior and senior
students have been operating to ensure the students’
academic achievement. For social skills, activities designed
to instill the value of gratitude, disciplines, volunteering,
leadership, and other important interpersonal and
intrapersonal skills are arranged all year round. Each of the
activities is co-organized with Walailak University student
associations, clubs as well as schools and colleges. More
details: https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21455/

June 2022| P.10

YOUNG SCIENTIST
COMPETITION (YSC)

Congratulations to the recipient of Grand Award and Fourth- Place Award
Young Scientist Competition (YSC)

On June 16, 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sarawoot Palipoch, Acting Vice President of
Walailak University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amornsak Sawasdee, Director of Center for
Academic Services and Head of the Southern Regional Coordination Center
of Young Scientist Competition (YSC) Project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mullica
Jaroensutasinee, Dean of the School of Science and Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee, student advisor participated in the plaque and
certificate presentation ceremony held at Benchamaratchuthit School to
honor Mr. Wichayut Nakasoon, a recipient of Grand Award and Fourth- Place
Award in Physics and Astronomy

Mr. Wichayut submitted the science
project entitled “Swing of a pendulum
with a disturbed wind” in the field of
Physics and Astronomy to the Regeneron
International Science and Engineering
(Regeneron ISEF 2022) Contest in USA.
The project had been supervised by Mrs.
Salwanee Chemamad, a teacher from
Benchamaratchuthit School and Assoc.
Prof. Dr. Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee from
Walailak University. More details:
https://cas.wu.ac.th/archives/17517.

ReSEARCH

June 2022| P.12

Molecular technique
for virus

identification

Walailak University forges research network
with the French National Research Institute for
Sustainable Development (IRD) in the seminar
on Molecular technique for virus identification

Excellent Center for Dengue and
Community Public Health, Walailak
University, arranged academic
seminar on “Molecular technique for
virus identification in mosquito
excreta” under collaboration with the
French National Research Institute for
Sustainable Development (IRD),
France, led by Dr. Olivier Evrard,
representative of the institute and

Dr. Rodolphe Hamel, molecular biologist
of the institute. This event was held
between June 8-9, 2022 to forge and
strengthen academic collaboration and
networking between Walailak University
and the IRD.

More detail:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21435/

June 2022| P.13

GETTING PROFESSIONALIZED FOR THE
POWER TO BECOME WHO YOU ARE AS
AN EARLY-CAREER EFL TEACHER WITH
ASSIST. PROF. MARK BEDOYA ULLA

Asst. Prof. Mark Bedoya Ulla, Walailak University lecturer from School of Languages and
General Education, specializing in language education, use of technologies in classrooms
and myriads topics related to the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Asst.
Prof. Mark recently had his article co-authored with Lecturer William Perales, also from
School of Language and General Education published in a number of high-percentile
journals. His two recent publications highlighted the correlation between the COVID-19
pandemic and education under the topic “Facebook as an Integrated Online Learning
Support Application during the COVID 19 Pandemic: Thai University Students’ Experiences
and Perspectives” published in Heliyon, a Q1 journal. The other has been published under
the title “Exploring Early-Career EFL Teachers’ Engagement in Professional Learning:
Teaching Beliefs and Professional values.” accepted for publication in RECL journal, Scopus
Q1 journal of 90 percentiles. More details: https://www.wu.ac.th/en/knowledge/detail/1093

June 2022| P.14

WALAILAK UNIVERSITY’S BLUE
CRAB PROJECT

Not only about Restoration: Walailak University’s Blue Crab Project Striving for BCG


Economic Model-based Development



Walailak University Lecturer and
Director of Walailak University Blue
Crab Bank project presents the
project’s success scheme, as a model
research project, under the title
“Creating the Blue Crab Bank Network
for BCG Economic Model-based
development” in a national research
congress, the NRCT Open House 2022
on June 15, 2022.

The project has expanded its impact scope
from biological resource restoration to
tourism and other aspects capitalizing on
the cultural uniqueness of Nakhon Si
Thammarat and all is to empower
economic progress using innovations and
technologies as proposed by the BCG
Economic Model. it was spearheaded by
Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Director
of Blue Crab Bank Project with the mission
to restore blue crab resources in coastal
fishery communities of Nakhon Si
Thammarat and Surat Thani. Testifying its
success, the project had earlier earned
several national recognitions – Excellence
Award for Learning Center of the Blue Crab
Bank project, Excellence Award in Thailand
Research Expo 2021, and recently
Excellence Award in Economic Agritech
2022 – from Agritech and Innovation Center
Nakhon Si Thammarat, and later nationally
across the Agritech category. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21467/

International Outlook
& Collaborations

June 2022| P.16

WALAILAK UNIVERSITY
WINS THREE NATIONAL
COOPERATIVE STUDY
AWARDS 2022

Walailak University wins three national cooperative education awards in three
categories including Excellence Award for Cooperative Education Innovation,
Excellence Award for Cooperative Education Innovation project and Excellence
Award for Large-scale Organization for Cooperative Education following the
extension of cooperative study period, an 8-month period, maximizing chances
for graduates’ employability. Dr. Atanan Techopisanwong, Director of The Center
for Cooperative Education and Career Development, Walailak University (WU)
revealed that after Walailak university’s previous success in winning eight
cooperative education awards in the upper southern network round, the center
has proceeded to compete to gain a national-level recognition in a contest held
by the Office of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.
More details: https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21369/

June 2022| P.17

Back to Mobility: Walailak University’s Team from School of Allied
Health Sciences visits the USA for academic collaboration and
hands-on professional trainings

Walailak University Taking Cooperative Education to
Another level Wins 3 National Awards

Walailak University proved its success in managing the
12th Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education contest
(CWIE) 2022.This achievement testifies to the university’s
adjustment to an 8-month internship program having
proved to increase graduates’ employment

Back to Mobility: Walailak University’s Team from School of
Allied Health Sciences visits the USA for academic
collaboration and hands-on professional trainings

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Jitbanjong Tangpong, Dean of the School of Allied
Health Sciences, Walailak University, revealed the recent visit
together with Dr. Kantapit Kongpol and Ajarn Dr. Sirirat
Surinkaew, lecturers of the School of Allied Health Sciences and
4th year students in Bilingual Medical Technology program, to
leading universities in the United States, including University of
Florida, University of Kentucky and North Dakota State University.
The visit is aimed to forge collaboration in research and
development of academic staff and students as guided by the
school’s vision for internationalization. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21432/

June 2022| P.18

CONGRATULATION

Walailak University OPAS Informatics center's representatives
awarded Gold Medal, the South’s Top Scorer Award and Bronze
Medal in the 18th Thailand Olympiad in Informatics 2022

Walailak University (WU) congratulates representative
students from the WU Informatics center of Promotion of
Academic Olympiad and Development of Science Education
Foundation (OPAS) under the patronage of Her Royal Highness
Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas
Rajanagarindra on winning a gold medal, a bronze medal and,
the South Top Scorer Award in the 18th Thailand Olympiad in
Informatics 2022, hosted by The Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai
University between 1st and 4th June 2022.
On June 20, 2022, Prof. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong
presented congratulatory presents to two Olympiad winners
representing The OPAS Informatics team of Walailak
University, namely Mr. Tee Hemjinda, a student from
Benjamarachutit School, Gold medalist and winner of the
South’s top score award and Mr. Chayapat Krutnim, a student
from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Nakhon Si
Thammarat. Joining the meeting were Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Krisandej Jaroensutasinee, Director of the OPAS Informatics
center, Walailak University, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mullica
Jaroensutasinee, Dean of School of Sciences. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21484/

Congratulations to the students of Walailak University for
being granted Startup Thailand League Awards 2022

Three startup teams from Walailak University
won the following three awards from the Startup
Thailand League 2022 project in the southern
region round;
1. Winner Award: Tricho-Orga-Soil Team from
School of Agricultural Technology and Food
Industry
2. 1st Runner-up Award: Dermacia Team from
School of Medicine
3. 2nd Runner Up Award: IVYBIKE Team from
School of Management
All 3 teams will represent the southern region
for the next national competition round. More
details: https://www.wu.ac.th/th/news/21418.

June 2022| P.19

WALAILAK UNIVERSITY WELCOMES THE VISITING
TEAM FROM TADULAKO UNIVERSITY

PARTNER UNIVERSITY FROM INDONESIA

Walailak University welcomes a visit from the management team and students of the
Tadulako University, Indonesia, to discuss collaboration in the continuity of the
transferred credit program, short-term mobility programs, and cultural exchange
program, and learn Thai culture and language. This visit is organized in continuation
with the online credit-transferred program on Teaching of English provided by the
School of Liberal Arts, Walailak University.
From June 25 to July 1, 2022, Center for International Affairs, Walailak University,
represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Acting Vice president and Acting Dean
of School of Liberal Arts, welcomed the management team led by Dr. Amiruddin Kade,
Dean of Teacher Training and Education Faculty, Dr. Abdul Kamaruddin (Vice Dean of
General and Finance Affair) accompanied by the staff from International Affairs Office
and English Education Department. Joining the visiting team were five students from the
Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Tadulako University, Indonesia. Over the
period of one week, the program was arranged to answer to the purpose of cultural
exchange, the development of multi-faceted skills for 21st-century learners, and
sustainable academic cooperation between the two universities. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21493/.

June 2022| P.20

WALAILAK UNIVERSITY JOINING HANDS WITH FUJIAN
OPEN UNIVERSITY, THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA, IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASEAN-BANGKOK LEARNING
CENTER, COLLEGE OF OVERSEAS CHINESE, WALAILAK
UNIVERSITY CENTER

COLLABORATION

On June 28, 2022, Walailak University under collaboration
with Fujian Open University, the Republic of China officially
marked the inception of the ASEAN-Bangkok Learning Center,
College of Overseas Chinese, Walailak University Center
operating for educational collaboration between Thailand
and China and endorsement of the “One Belt, One Road”
policy among ASEAN fellows. The ceremony started with the
unveiling of the center’s sign and signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) at the Sri Thammarat Meeting
Room, Architecture and Design Building, 3rd Floor, Walailak
University. Attendees could also attend a virtual meeting at
Bohou Building Auditorium, the Fujian Open University the
Guishan Campus People's Republic of China. More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21503/

June 2022| P.21

EXECUTIVE TEAM FROM GIZ CAMBODIA VISITING
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY: ENHANCE LEARNING OF
HEALTH SYSTEM AND HEALTH SCIENCE TEACHING

Walailak University represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surin Maisrikrod
welcomed the executive team of 16 members from German Agency for
International Cooperation (GIZ) Cambodia. The purpose of this official visit
is to acquire knowledge on health system and health science teaching
especially medical technology and medical education, teaching and
learning, professional development of teaching staff, advanced teaching
and learning technologies, laboratories, teaching quality development in
line with the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), cooperative
education, and community health development. In addition, the
management team also learned and exchanged experiences on the
hospital system from Walailak University Hospital and Sichon Hospital,
Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province between June 27– July 1,
2022. More details: https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21509/

VOLUME • JUNE 2022 June 2022| P.22

POST-PANDEMIC MOBILITY FOR INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION: WALAILAK UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE TEAM
JOINING THE VI INTERNATIONAL NEVSKY FORUM 2022 AND
VISITING LEADING UNIVERSITIES IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

International Collaboration

ST.Petersburg, Walailak University executive team participates in “the VI International Nevsky Forum:
Russia Reforms in Russia: from Peter the Great to the Present day” upon an invitation from
North-West Institute of Management NWIM of RANEPA in St. Petersburg, Russia, followed
by official visits to higher education institutions in St. Petersburg listed in the QS World
University Rankings (QS WUR 801-1000) to expand academic cooperation networks
through MOU signings and discussions of co-conducted projects from 23 to 28 June
2022.

Walailak University executive team led by Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong,
President of Walailak University, accompanied by Acting Vice Presidents, namely
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suwit Wuthisuthimethavee and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charan Boonkan,
together with Asst. Dr. Patnarin Supakorn, Director of Center for International Affairs
(CIA), joined the VI International Nevsky Forum “Reforms in Russia: from Peter the
Great to the Present day” upon an invitation from North-West Institute of Management
RAPEPA in St. Petersburg, Russia. With support from, Dr. David Tareladze, Vice Dean
for International Cooperation, Faculty of Economics and Finance, NWIM of RANEPA,
the delegation also had a meeting with executive teams and faculties of St.
Petersburg’s four leading universities - St. Petersburg State University (SPbU), St.
Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics (UMTE), ITMO
University and St. Petersburg Electro Technical University (ETU). More details:
https://www.wu.ac.th/en/news/21511/

June 2022| P.23

AIC Award 2022
Walailak University researchers won 2 AIC
Award 2022 winners and received a plaque
from the Minister of Agriculture

Walailak University researchers received award plague and certificate of Best Innovation
Award 2022 for their researcher projects “Crab Bank and Trichoderma 5+” under the
Agritech and Innovation Center (AIC), Nakhon Si Thammarat. The award was presented by
Mr. Chalermchai Sri-On, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
On 30 June, 2022, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Warin Inthana, Director of the AIC Center, Nakhon Si
Thammarat revealed that after the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives organized the AIC
competition to win AIC Award 2022 from Agritech and Innovation Center to search for innovative
projects solving problems of the nation in terms of country development such as economic,
social and environmental issues. The best research projects have been selected from all projects
submitted by all participated provinces in Thailand. Walailak University under the AIC Center,
Nakhon Si Thammarat, had submitted two research works “Crab Bank and Trichoderma 5+” to
participate in this competition. The competition results showed that the two projects won two
awards 1) the winner of the best innovation award (agricultural innovation for economy and
academic services to restore blue crab resources). The Crab Bank project led by Asst. Prof. Dr.
Amornsak Sawasdee and his research team 2) the winner of excellent innovation award
(agricultural society). The Trichoderma 5+ project led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Warin Intana and his
team. More details: https://www.wu.ac.th/th/news/21512.