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Walailak University (WU) has taken another significant step toward global educational excellence by applying for external quality assessment under the ASEAN University Network–Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Framework.

For years, the university has implemented WU-QA, its own internal quality assurance system developed in alignment with AUN-QA principles, to ensure institutional management quality and continuous improvement. 

This year, eight academic programs have been nominated for external assessment under the official AUN-QA Framework, to be evaluated by international assessors from ASEAN member institutions. 

The framework is a globally recognized standard currently adopted by nearly 200 universities across ASEAN, with additional WU programs being prepared for future assessment.

Associate Professor Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President of WU, described this development as a significant step forward in the university’s internationalization journey.

“The adoption of the AUN-QA Framework is part of our internationalization efforts. So far, we have applied our internal system inspired by AUN-QA, but now we are beginning to fully embrace the official framework - an internationally recognized standard used by nearly 200 universities across ASEAN,” said Dr. Surin.

“This enables Walailak University to benchmark the quality of its teaching and learning with international standards and harmonize higher education practices with other ASEAN countries. It also supports greater recognition of degrees and academic achievements across the region,” he added.

To support the implementation of the framework, WU, through its Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, has recently organized seminars titled “Concepts and Strategies for Driving Educational Quality at Programme and Institutional Levels towards Global Excellence.” The event, held on 24 and 30 October 2025, at WU, brought together university executives, deans, program chairs, and academic staff to learn from leading AUN-QA experts.

The first session, on 24 October, featured Dr. Nguyễn Quốc Chính, AUN-QA Lead Assessor and Director of the Center for Educational Testing and Quality Assessment (CETQA), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. He delivered a lecture on “Driving Quality Assurance in Higher Education through the AUN-QA Framework: From Programme to Institutional Level, the Case of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City,” sharing valuable insights and best practices.

The second session, on 30 October, was led by Associate Professor Dr. Tan Kay Chuan, AUN-QA Chief Assessor, Master Trainer, and Chief Quality Officer at the National University of Singapore (NUS). His lecture, “Enhancing Learning Outcomes through AUN-QA,” highlighted approaches for aligning learning outcomes with international standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

This initiative reflects WU’s strong commitment to internationalization - not only through adopting the AUN-QA Framework but also through other key strategies, including promoting high-quality research publications in Scopus-indexed Q1 and Q2 journals, adopting the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) in teaching and learning, expanding international collaboration and exchange programs, and enhancing English-medium communication. Together, these efforts demonstrate the university’s determination to advance as a globally recognized and quality-driven institution of higher education.



Photos courtesy of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence
Written by Settaboot Onphakdee, Division of Corporate Communication