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        The Advance Higher Education (formerly Higher Education Academic – HEA) commended Walailak University for its exceptional achievement in reaching 509 professional teaching fellowships assessed against the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), exceeding the initial goal set at 500 in 2017. 

           In her congratulatory message, Kathy Wright, Associate Head of Academic and Professional Development, Advance HE, recognized the university’s arduous effort commencing in 2017, and also reflected on her experience as a trainer for teaching staff at Walailak University. Ms. Wright, together with Andy Hudson, Higher Education Academy Consultant, oversaw the design and delivery of the training through four cohorts of the Certificate in Learning and Teaching Program.  

       “ I recognize the commitment of WU staff in achieving this award and hope that, for them, this is just the start of a journey to maintaining and further enhancing excellence in teaching thus supporting student learning and the student experience at Walailak University,” said Kathy Wright. 

      “Who would have known that a suggestion from Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-An (Chair of the University Council) in his conversations with Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong back in 2017 would lead to a group of 500 colleagues at Walailak University being recognized as Fellows of the HEA?” 

Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, said in recent Talk with President program that the adoption of the UKPSF-based training program constituted the most important part of his educational reform at the University during his first 5 years at president of Walailak University. According to Professor Sombat, adopting the UKPSF has been a way to internationalize teaching at the University. “It is important that we benchmark our teaching practices with such an internationally recognized teaching framework in order to give our students the best learning experience”, said Prof Sombat. 

       Walailak lecturers have continuously worked on improving their pedagogic approaches and transforming predominantly lecture-based teaching in large classrooms into technologically-equipped small-class teaching, enabling close cooperation and rapport between the lecturers and students. 

     “The ultimate goal is to encourage student-centered learning. In a big lecture hall with 300 students in which everyone just sits and listens, that is unlikely to happen. Now, in a small class, the lecturers can engage students in open discussions, opinion sharing and applying formative assessment offering an insight into each individual student’s progress and how much they have genuinely learned,” added Professor. Dr. Sombat. 

Professor. Dr. Sombat explained further: “When students are treated as the center of learning, learning becomes more fun, active and engaging. This is a significant transition from rote learning. Now it is more possible to encourage students to think critically, analytically and synthetically since it is no longer solely about memorization.”

  
     “This is why every lecturer of the Walailak University is required to be UKPSF-certified. We want discipline-specific professionals who also know how to deliver the most effective teaching,” emphasized the president. As a testament to students’ satisfaction in UKPSF-integrated teaching and learning management, the recent teaching evaluation result has set an astounding record at 4.7 out of 5, statistically attributed to hard work of everyone involved, from administrators to teaching staff. 

     Asst. Prof.Dr. Suthanya Doung-In, Assistant to the President for Innovative Learning and Teaching, Walailak University, commented both as a user and part of a training team that integrating the UKPSF principles into class teaching is essentially the process of reassessing one’s teaching in order to perfect it in 15 areas such as advance technology in the classroom, accessible learning materials, formative assessment, 21st century skills and personalized learning. More attention is directed to each of the element to ensure and quantify the extent to which each of the principles is applied as well. 

     “For example, regarding the 21st century learning highlighting communication skills, critical thinking, analytical thinking and synthetic thinking and teamwork, we, the instructor, need to elaborate on what and how each of the skills will be applied each week. As a result, the learning outcomes observed also serves as constant feedback so us,” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Suthanya. 

Besides, academic improvement, emerging amid the implementation of the UKPSF is the cultivation of soft skills shown in how the students communicate and collaborate with classmates and lecturers, participate in classroom activities and even the overall process of class management. 

     “The system reshapes attitudes and reorients the students to take responsibility over their learning as an adult learner. Prior to the start of the class, they will have been informed of the course syllabus, including teaching plan, class materials, assessment methods and scoring criteria.” said Asst. Prof.Dr. Suthanya.

As for the UKPSF training, Asst. Prof.Dr. Suthanya mentioned the use of the UKPSF- Self-Study Online Training developed by Walailak University as a supplement to on-site Pre-UKPSF training sessions. This online testing system is a self-accessed platform in which the lecturers have to create and submit lesson plan assignment entailing the components prescribed in the criteria to senior mentors assigned to assess and provide feedback.

      “To complete the assignment, the lecturers have to engage in multi-faceted thinking and evidence - informed approaches in creating a lesson plan in each unit, you need to plan what should students know/ be able to do? how will students learn based on the learning theories and pedagogy, and how will learning be measured?” added Prof.Dr. Suthanya.  

Walailak University will soon be holding the 14th Pre-UKPSF training for WU teaching staff and share hands-on experience in championing the UKPSF framework under the topic Teacher Development under the UK Professional Standards Framework (PSF) in the 8th Research for Teaching Development Seminar 2022 “the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: SoTL8 The Next Normal of Education” at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU). The event is organized between the MFU and Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand on 7th December 2022.  

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew 

Division of Corporate Communication