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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President for Global Engagement and Faculty Development of Walailak University, explains Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, the WU president, launched a university-wide teaching and learning reform at the end of 2016. Among the changes was the adoption of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), initially set up by AdvanceHE, formerly Higher Education Academy (HEA). The teaching and learning reform aims to provide an opportunity for staff to gain recognition as Fellows of AdvanceHE or to further the professional development of staff who teach or support student learning. The most important of objectives, in fact, is to enhance student learning. At present, 279 WU teaching staff have gained recognition as Fellows of AdvanceHE, the highest number in Thailand. It is already higher than the average AdvanceHE number of fellowships in the UK and the 6th highest country in terms of the number of fellowships in the world, excluding the United Kingdom.

By mid-2020, UKPSF-based training by AdvanceHE had been organized for 4 cohorts and for a total of 240 teaching staff. Currently, the number of WU staff who have gained UKPSF fellowship recognition include 1 Principle Fellowship, 46 Senior Fellows and 232 Fellows (as of February 2, 2021.).  The reason that WU has exceeded the 240 fellowship threshold is the Pre-UKPSF training which WU has put in place. Combined, the Pre-UKPSF and UKPSF-based training programs have enabled 100% of involved WU teaching staff to pass the training program. 

Additionally, one of the most important UKPSF mechanisms that WU uses to ensure teaching and learning enhancement is the formative assessment method. The point of formative assessment is to pay close attention to student learning and to allow teachers to assess student comprehension in the process of learning. Formative assessments help teachers know right away when students are having any learning difficulties so that adjustments can be made to lessons to make sure all students are on the same page.

Not only is formative assessment used, but WU also emphasizes the standardized subject outline. Teachers play an important role in achieving a highly comprehensive subject outline by providing essential information through a lesson to enhance student learning. Included are such features as an overview of the subject content, timetable and assessment details for the subject, recommended readings, activities and assignments.

Another very important aspect of teaching and learning reform is to stimulate small class teaching.  Small class teaching brings teachers and students closer together, so that teachers can pay more attention to each student. This is very effective in terms of promoting student learning.

Research is currently underway to evaluate the relationship between formative assessment and student learning. Although previous research done on this indicates a positive relationship between the two, WU will continue to verify that its methods of instruction are achieving the desired ends.

In addition, the UKPSF training has been associated with improved student academic performance. In the academic year 2018, 7% of the students had GPAs of 3.50 and above; that had risen to 13% in academic year 2019.
Also, after adopting UKPSF, statistics show that student dropout rate is very low, with only 0.59% of students dropping out in academic year 2019 and 0.05% in 2020.

Further evidence shows that teaching staff have been gaining higher scores in teaching assessments as well. In the 2019 academic year teaching staff were rated an average of 4.38 out of 5.00, and in the 2020 academic year teaching staff were scored 4.46.

The data show that WU is on the right track in teaching and learning. The mission of enhancing teaching, learning and assessment, however, has not been completed yet as WU aims for 100% of staff to gain AdvanceHE fellowships.  At present, 279 fellowships constitute 72.92% of WU teaching staff.
 

By Uraiwan Angkanawisut