News

On Thursday, December 23rd, 2021 at the conference room, on the 4th floor of Walailak University Hospital, the Center for International Affairs (CIA) organized the 1st international staff meeting with the president and the 2022 New Year Celebration for international staff members and students. The hybrid online and onsite gathering was organized to provide a special occasion for our international members to meet with President Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, who was sharing with the international colleagues the passing years’ successes and encouraged all participating members to think ahead of future greater achievements. 

There were 56 people, including 32 onsite and 24 online participants, attended this event.  The attending executive members, besides the president, were Vice President Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Acting Director of the Center for International Affrairs Patnarin Supakorn.  Associate Professor Dr. Surin Maisrikrod started the official meeting with his introductory remark, emphasizing the significance of this first short gathering for international members to learn about some of key achievements done at this university during President Sombat Thamrongthanyawong’s leadership, officially started on July 1st, 2016. Dr. Surin asserted that President Sombat Thamrongthanyawong is relentlessly determined to carry out what he has set out to achieve; Walailak University will become one of the most recognized universities internationally. Dr. Surin thanked and congratulated to all the international staff members who have tremendously contributed to Walailak University’s successes. Dr. Surin was certain that twenty years from now when Walailak University reaches the age of 50, it will change completely and will be one of the top universities in the world.

Following Vice President’s introductory speech, President Sombat Thamrongthanyawong thanked all the international colleagues for their presence at the meeting. He highlighted some keys achievements in world university rankings, research publication, academic profiles, advancing environment renovations, and the record high 2021 student admission during the past five years. Some of these achievements are 1) the pleasant world university ranking news on QS Asia Rankings, THE Impact Rankings, THE World University Rankings, and IU Green Metric World Rankings, 2) the inclusion of Walailak University as 1 of the 16 universities in the Global and Frontier Research Group by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Innovation, 3) an increasing number of publications (from 124 in 2016 to 533 in 2021) with 80% in Q1 and Q2 journals, 4) top-two percent world scientist awards conferred to three WU researchers, 5) the achievement in the 2021 Walailak University Quality Assurance Assessment, with the highest score of 4.93 of the past 5 years, 6) the achievement of over 90% of United Kingdom Professional Standard Framework (UKPSF) certificates issued by Advance HE in  the United Kingdom, 7) approximately 144 fully-equipped smart classrooms, 8) 90% of smart laboratories, 9) standard sport facilities for the public, and 10) a record-breaking number of 2021 freshmen of over 3,000. Most importantly, the president has clearly emphasized that Walailak University is the institution of equal opportunities, green environment, and quality education. All international staff members are equally qualified for the same academic promotion standards as those Thai staff members.  He also assured all the international colleagues that he would keep working on the university’s environment to nourish the southern region with a healthy lung for quality air, green space for public recreation, and smart university for quality education.  For a full version of the president’s speech, please click here.

After the official meeting, President Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, Vice President Surin Maisrikrod, Acting Driector Patnarin Supakorn, the onsite international staff members and students were posting for a photo session in the grand reception hall before merrily enjoying a fun moment together to win new year prizes, join fun games, and have new year lunch together.