Research News

          On June 29 and 30, 2022, Walailak University, led by Dr. Pongpan Compan, Lecturer of the School of Accountancy and Finance, accompanied by the working group of the Center for Academic Services and Mr. Kriangsak Padungkan, Chief Executive of the SAO, together with his entourage, organized a study trip to Saman Khun Wittayatan School for the educational approach of the HighScope preschool curriculum.

          The school is located in Hat Yai subdistrict, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province as it was considered to be a country-level model school. This official visit is to acquire knowledge on the development of the HighScope curriculum, which will effectively take the HighScope curriculum’s development of the Child Development Centers in Thai Buri subdistrict to the next level.   

          The visit is part of the “Improving Educational Equity for Preschool Children” project that has been continuously organized for two years under the Center for Academic Service’s commitments, stating that: “Providing academic services to sustainably develop the communities surrounding Walailak University and help in solving problems within the framework of holistic area-based community development in the fiscal year of 2022.” However, besides enhancing the effectiveness of the curriculum in the subdistrict, the Center for Academic Service serves as an institution promoting excellence in research, which will be an important driving force for the HighScope curriculum development of communities and the nation at large. Moreover, the project operates in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of SDG 4: Quality Education, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for preschool children in local communities; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, establishing cooperation with child care and development centers and other educational institutions through effective educational resource development.

          On this occasion, Mr. Pipat Senapitakkul, Director of Saman Khun Wittayatan School, gave a warm welcome to Dr. Pongpan Compan and the working group, followed by a presentation about the HighScope’s active learning approach in the school and classroom observation. The WU staff also learned and exchanged experiences to consistently adjust the development and extend the capability of extensive operations.

          This study visit will be a preparation to successfully apply the HighScope curriculum into practice for the child care and development centers in Thai Buri subdistrict, which is one of the key variables in implementing education for sustainability in early childhood education and achieving learning outcomes, especially in cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills. Walailak University is currently conducting a pilot project in applying the curriculum into practice for the schools which will then be further developed.