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     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 25th June to 1st July 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. 

     Regarding the academic activities, previously, the school of Liberal Arts, Walailak University, and the Faculty of Teacher Training Education, Tadulako University, coordinated the programs with credit transfer. The program had been restricted to an online version, given the COVID 19 travel restriction being imposed. However, the activities during this trip fully extolled the virtue of on-site classroom by engaging students in various classes namely Thai language classes, English communication, entrepreneurship, and Creative Writing. 
                                                                                                   

      Ms. Cindy Cynthia Anastasya Zees, one of the visiting students, said, “We are impressed with how friendly Thai people are and also the activities. We worked together in a group with Thai students, so we got to interact and cooperate on the product making. It is amazing how the business lessons are included in language teaching.”

   “We designed an automatic toothbrush and did a business pinching to the class. It was an inspiring and fun activity to do. I wish the program were longer.” Ms. Nadiyah explained further. 

   As for the management team, Dr. Mukrim Tamrin, Outbound coordinator, International Affairs Office, Tadulako University, stated that the co-joint program had been a success as a collaborative platform for overseas experience exchange, and learning and international networking. Commencing in 2021, besides the fun derived from cultural learning, the program, featuring pedagogic crux and core, also embodies the elements consistent with the evolvement of language education which is highly important to ensure future employability. 

  “During the program, the students got to learn new things. This is very important because not all students will work in the field after graduation. Some pursue the business path and others also explore entirely different fields. Therefore, being exposed to other subjects to nurture transferable skills in advance will prepare them for the uncertainty,” said Dr. Mukrim. 

   Dr. Mukrim said further that given the promising progress of this project, to continue this project and strengthen it further in a form of mobility, credit transferred or exchange student projects are being optimistically contemplated and subjected to the discussion with the school of Liberal Arts, Walailak University on 28th June 2022. The collaboration also involves an initiative of co-conducted research, academic joint works, and exchange of faculty members, visiting lecturers, and guest lecturers. 

  “I would like to thank you for the hospitality and collaboration from WU. We can expect more collaboration in teaching and research. We have started and so we hope that it is sustainable which leads to the exchange of students next year, ” said Dr. Mukrim.

Further to the academic cooperation discussion, the schedule is also filled with cultural learning activities geared toward promoting the historical knowledge of Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of which is the Tumpung archeological site visit arranged by the Center for Cultural and Sports Promotion, Walailak University. 

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew 

Division of Corporate Communication