Speeches

         Your Excellency Prof. Dr.Wissanu Krea-Ngam, Deputy Prime Minister of the Royal Thai Government.

On behalf of Assumption University, I express my grateful thanks to you for giving your precious time to preside over the Opening Ceremony of our City Campus.

Assumption University is a higher education institution administered by the Brothers of St. Gabriel which exists to provide education, knowledge and training to develop human resources of the country. It started modestly in 1972 as an institution called Assumption Business Administration College or ABAC with English as the medium of instruction. The University has grown continuously until it is now recognized as the first International University of Thailand. We currently offer 41 Bachelor, 31 Master and 8 Doctorate Degree Programs with a total enrollment of approximately 20,000 including a component of some 2147 international students from 57 countries of the world. Accordingly we contribute more than 500 million baths annually to the revenues of Thailand and at the same time we save expenditure of several billion baths a year by preventing or restraining students from pursuing education at foreign institutions abroard.

Assumption University is now operating 2 campuses, one each at Hua Mak and Bang Na and performing 4 main missions of the higher education institutions: 1.providing training and instruction, 2.producing research, 3.offering knowledge service to the society and 4.supporting national art and culture.

In launching this new City Campus at the Emporium Tower, our purpose is to expand knowledge services to society and to enlarge educational opportunities according to the Educational Expansion Policies of Thailand. The City Campus has the following facilities: 50-sear seminar room, 56-seat classroom and_an 18 seal common room with modern teaching materials and equipments.

The first program that the new city campus provides is entitled Vietnam Studies, which is administered by the Institute of Asian and African Studies (IAAS), Assumption University. The objective of the course it to propagate knowledge and education about Vietnam including promotion of its language, traditions, culture, economics and society. 

Now it is the auspicious time to invite H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister to preside over the Opening Ceremony of Assumption University City Campus and the Vietnam Studies Centre respectively.

It is with great honour that I preside at the opening of Assumption University City Campus today. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the University for its strong determination to improve the quality of the human resources of the country, which is vital for the increasingly competitive world in this era of globalization.

Life-long learning is the key aspect of education reform with the main purpose of transforming Thai society into a society of intelligent and prosperous citizens. In order to achieve the goal, the collaboration among the education institutions is very essential. Specifically for higher education institutions, the emphasis should not only be on providing education and instruction to young people, but also on adapting themselves to be ‘Knowledge Centers for Open Learning’ which is beneficial to people of all ages. Therefore, higher education institutions must emphasize on the importance of building into continuing education centers, focusing on the training of business people, entrepreneurs, as well as laborers by setting up the mechanisms to explore the needs of all sectors. Overall, higher education institutions must function as the rallying point for pursuit of knowledge that everyone, regardless of gender, age or profession, can seek and search for so that Thai people can live their life most productively.

The establishment of the City Campus in the heart of downtown Bangkok truly reflects the wisdom of the administrators in seeking investment opportunities an the strong determination of the University to improve the quality of the country’s human resources. ‘Vietnam Studies’ at this campus will not only provide entrepreneurs or interested people with ideas and guidelines on investing in or having business with Vietnam but it will also help improve the economy of our country. In this regard I do hope that the University will consistently offer other useful courses so that Thai people will gain the ideas and concepts to operate business with other countries, which will boost the exports and bring in foreign currency for the economic stability of our country.

Now I would like to take this opportunity to inaugurate Assumption University City Campus and to mark the opening of the ‘Vietnam Studies Centre’. May all endeavours of Assumption University City Campus be successful and prosperous and may you achieve the objectives of the Vietnam Studies Centre. 

แหล่งที่มา : ABAC TODAY (Vol. 19 No. 1 January-February 2004) หน้า 15-16

ข้าพระพุทธเจ้า ภราดาบัญชา แสงหิรัญ อธิการบดีมหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ ในนามของสภามหาวิทยาลัยคณาจารย์ เจ้าหน้าที่ นักศึกษา บรรดานักบวช ผู้ปกครองของนักศึกษา และผู้มีเกียรติที่ได้เฝ้าทูลละอองพระบาทอยู่ ณ สถานที่แห่งนี้ มีความซาบซึ้งและสำนึกในพระมหากรุณาธิคุณเป็นล้นพ้นที่ใต้ฝ่าละอองพระบาทเสด็จพระราชดำเนินมาทรงประกอบพิธีเปิดอาคารศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ และพระราชทานเข็มที่ระลึกแก่ผู้มีอุปการะคุณต่อมหาวิทยาลัย ข้าพระพุทธเจ้า ขอพระราชทานพระวโรกาศ กราบบังคมทูลประวัติและความเป็นมาเกี่ยวกับ อาคารศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ โดยสังเขปดังนี้

มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ เป็นสถาบันการศึกษาระดับอุดมศึกษาของมูลนิธิเซนต์คาเบรียลแห่งประเทศไทย ที่ได้ดำเนินการจัดการศึกษา เพื่อสนองความต้องการส่วนบุคคลและความต้องการของชาติในสาขาวิชาต่างๆอย่างหลากหลาย โดยเฉพาะได้บุกเบิกการพัฒนาบุคลากรทางด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศด้วยการเริ่มโครงการการจัดหลักสูตรทางด้านบริหารคอมพิวเตอร์ธุรกิจขึ้นในปี พ.ศ.2522 และต่อมาได้จัดสอนในหลักสูตรทางด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศเพิ่มขึ้นในระดับปริญญาตรี ปริญญาโท และปริญญาเอก จนอาจกล่าวได้ว่ามีหลักสูตรทางด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศมากที่สุดในประเทศไทย

สังคมโลกปัจจุบัน การผนวกข้อมูลข่าวสารโดยใช้เทคโนโลยีที่ทันสมัยในยุคโลกาภิวัฒน์ ทำให้เกิดการแข่งขันที่รุนแรงและถ้าหากประเทศไทยไม่สามารถจะก้าวให้ทันตามโลกที่เปลี่ยนไป เราก็จะไม่สามารถแข่งขันกับ ชาวโลกได้ โดยนัยนี้มหาวิทยาลัยเห็นว่าการพัฒนาทรัพยากรมนุษย์ให้เหมาะสมกับยุคแห่งการเรียนรู้จึงเป็นสิ่งที่จำเป็นและการอ่านออกเขียนได้ของคนในยุคนี้ก็คือการเรียนรู้ที่จะนำคอมพิวเตอร์มาใช้ในเรื่องต่างๆ ได้อย่างมี ประสิทธิภาพ

มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ โดยชื่อและสถานภาพของ “อัสสัมชัญ” มีความหมายเป็นที่ประจักษ์แก่คนทั่วไปว่าเป็น “ศูนย์รวมที่สถิตขององค์ความรู้” และเนื่องจากมหาวิทยาลัยได้เป็นผู้ร่วมก่อตั้งสมาคมอินเตอร์เน็ตแห่งภาคพื้นเอเชียด้วย จึงมีความเหมาะสมที่มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญจะได้จัดสร้างศูนย์แห่งการเรียนรู้และเปิดโอกาสให้ คนทั่วไปทุกระดับชั้น ไม่ว่าจะเป็นเด็กอนุบาล คนหูหนวก คนตาบอด แม้กระทั่งคนชราที่ยังมีขีดความสามารถในการพิมพ์ ได้มีโอกาสมาฝึกการใช้คอมพิวเตอร์ในงานต่างๆ อันเป็นการสร้างสมรรถนะของคนในชาติทางด้านความรู้การใช้คอมพิวเตอร์ ที่อาคารศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ

อาคารศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ เริ่มก่อสร้างเมื่อวันที่ 29 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2545 เป็นอาคาร 10 ชั้น เนื้อที่ทั้งหมด 12,000 ตารางเมตร ค่าใช้จ่ายในการก่อสร้าง 185 ล้านบาท มหาวิทยาลัยได้ ตั้งชื่ออาคารนี้ว่า “ศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ” เพื่อเป็นเกียรติแก่ศาสตราจารย์ ดร. ศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน ที่เป็นผู้ริเริ่มวางรากฐานและพัฒนาหลักสูตรทางด้านคอมพิวเตอร์และเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศในระดับปริญญาตรี ปริญญาโทและปริญญาเอก ที่มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญตั้งแต่ปีพ.ศ.2522 โดยได้เปิดสอนในหลักสูตรบริหารธุรกิจบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาคอมพิวเตอร์ธุรกิจอันเป็นหลักสูตรแรกของประเทศไทยและได้พัฒนาขยายเพิ่มขึ้น อีกหลายหลักสูตรและหลายสาขาวิชาจนถึงระดับปริญญาเอก

อาคารศรีศักดิ์ จามรมาน สถานเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ จะสามารถรองรับการพัฒนาการเรียนการสอนทางด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศ ของมหาวิทยาลัยได้อย่างกว้างขวางทั้งในปัจจุบัน และในอนาคตจะเป็นศูนย์แห่งความเป็นเลิศด้านการศึกษาไอซีทีเป็นที่ตั้งของวิทยาลัยการศึกษาทางไกลอินเทอร์เน็ต และศูนย์คอมพิวเตอร์ของมหาวิทยาลัย

ด้วยสำนึกในพระมหากรุณาธิคุณของใต้ฝ่าละอองพระบาท ข้าพระพุทธเจ้าในนามของผู้บริหาร คณาจารย์และเจ้าหน้าที่ ขอตั้งสัตย์ปฏิญานต่อใต้ฝ่าละอองพระบาทในวันนี้ว่ามหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญจะพยายามทำหน้าที่ของสถาบันอุดมศึกษา เพื่อผลิตบุคลากรที่มีคุณภาพออกไปรับใช้ชาติเป็นแหล่งขององค์ความรู้ที่เปิดโอกาสให้บุคคลทั่วไปได้มีโอกาสพัฒนาตนเองทางด้านเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศเพื่อเป็นรากฐานและกำลังสำคัญในการพัฒนาชาติต่อไป

         ด้วยเกล้าด้วยกระหม่อม

        Honored guests, aistinguished participants, faculty and students: 

        First and foremost, let me welcome all of you to Assumption University and to this seminar in particular. 

In the long history, mankind has always been trying to find peace. Yet, peace seems to be elusiye, defying all our efforts to achieve it. According to historical records, wars usually take the form of a series of military campaigns between two opposing sides involving a dispute over sovereignty, territory, resources, religion, or ideology, amongst other issues. Wars seem as old as human society, and they certainly featured prominently in our recorded history. Many tribal societies engage in internecine strife. and warfare and it is typical for such groups to maintain warrior castes or militias.

Technology has played a role in the evolution of warfare. Inventions contribute to advances in different fields, but modern technology has greatly increased the potential cost and destructiveness of war.

Though at present there is no open or declared war, yet you can see eruptions and outbreaks or hostilities, such as bombings, shootings and other forms of violence in many parts of the world. The instances of belligerence, terrorism, of killings and shootings are too many and too widespread to be cited here. But the uprising in the southern part of Thailand , in provinces such as Pattani, Yala. Narathiwat is much closer to horne and the need to restore peace and harmony to the wartorn areas is an urgent necessily.

 Causes of War

If we include conflicts in the delinition of war then disruptions of peace can be observed in many parts of the world. Causes vary depending on location, parties involved and other circumstances. The parties either perceive immediate threat to sovereignty or they may have differences or grievances, an immediate need for essential provisions for survival (such as food, water, and other resources) or a long standing hatred between nations that has built up over a number of years. Religious disputes and ideological differences can also cause wars. We have also seen wars caused by some nations pursuing policies of global domination.

In the modern items we have seen wars launched in pursuit of new markets, of natural resources, and of wealth. In many cases wars serve the interests of the wealthy, the feudal lords or the nobility. Some social activists argue that materialism is the supreme cause of war. According to Malthusian theory, wars are caused by expanding populations and limited resources.

Whatever should be the causes of war, the effects of war are unprecedented casualties and destruction across the theatres of conflict. When asked what kind of weapons would be used to fight World War III, the physicist Albert Einstein replied:

         "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Peace is commonly understood to mean the "absence of hostilities". Other definitions include freedom from disputes, harmonious relation and the absence of mental stress or anxiety, as the meaning of the word changes with context. However, there are others who would say that the absence of hostilities would refer to only those hostilities which are evident and that true peace only derives from the mind of each individual. A person's conception of "peace" is often the product of culture and upbringing. Based on realization that independence, freedom and justice is inherent to all nations, peace can be achieved when a nation fulfills its duty to choose, live and respect others.Many believe that peace is more than the absence of certain social maladies. From this perspective, peace requires not only the absence of violence but also the presence of justice, as articulated by world lenders like Mahatma Gandhi and others. Much more broad visions of peace than a mere "absence of war" or even a "presence of justice" require to be framed. Peace does not necessarily have to be something the humans might achieve "some day". Peace must be made an essential condition for humanity- - so that we can create and expand it in small ways in our everyday lives.

Since January 2004 the smoldering Malay Muslim insurgency in southern part of Thailand in the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat has surfaced again resulting until now in the deaths of more than 1,300 people. The insurgency which was dormant since 1980's has come back threatening the peaceful development of Thailand as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation.

The emergence of insurgency in southern part of Thailand has become a soul searching situation for the Thai nation requiring us to find ways and means to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis, to rebuild friendly relations between the different ethnic and religious sections of the country and continue on the path of building civil society in Thailand

The Thai state has embarked on finding solution to the crisis in a multi-pronged manner undertaking political, security, cultural and religious initiatives hoping to bring back peace and harmony to the restive South soonest.

This unrest in southern part of Thailand has also attracted international attention from a variety of nations and groups who are anxiously watching the situation with a serious concern to see if it will escalate into a larger conflict.

The main problems facing Thailand today is how to bring about peace through national reconciliation which, recognizes the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character of Thai polity at the national level. The recent report of the National Reconciliation Council led by the former Prime Minister Mr. Anand Panyarachun has made valuable recommendation which, if implemented seriously, will aid in building peace in the southern part of the country.

The main objective of this seminar is to offer a forum for Thai and international academicians and public figures to explain and discuss the historical background and the causes behind the unrest in southern part of Thailand and to offer suggestions about hom to build peace in that region.

The urgent concern for alll of us now is to find ways and means, and solutions to the conflict in the three southern provinces of Thailand.

How best to resolve the conflicts? This is the reason why we are assembled here today. We have to make methodical enquiries, engage in dialogue and discussions and search for solution to the problem. Unless the root cause of the problem can be identified, peace will never be achieved.

 Dear Participants:

Before we go ahead with finding peace for others, each one of us must find an inner peace. .It is a state of mind, body and soul, which is said to take place within ourselves. The feeding is not dependent on time, people, place, or any external object or situation. If each one of us here has an inner peace, then a chain reaction for both inner peace and world peace may be established and the conflicts in the South can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

On this occasion, let me thank the initiatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and their generosity in sponsoring this seminar.

I sincerely hopc that this seminar will contribute significantly toward regaining mutual trust among the people of southern part of Thailand and that peace and harmony will soon return to the region.

         May I welcome you all once again to the seminar. Wish you success in your discussion and deliberations.

         May God Bless you with inner peace!

May 24, 2005

 08:30 - 09:50  “The Challenges and Our Future” By Rev. Bro. Bancha Saenghiran, President

10:10 – 11:30   “Compensation Scheme” By Rev. Bro. Prathip M. Komolmas, President Emeritus

12:50 – 14:50  “Using IC Technologies to Improve Education” By Representative from Pearson Education

15:10 – 16:40  “Management in the Era of FTA” By Rev. Bro. Visith Srivichairatana, Vice President for Academic Affairs 

May 25, 2005

08:30 – 10:00  “University Facilities Supporting Interactive Learning” By Prof.Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman, Vice President for Information Technology

10:30 – 12:00  “Introduction to Moodles: The Key to Interactive Classroom” By A. Sudsung Yutdhana, Naresuan University

13:00 – 14:30  Faculty Meetin I : Creating Interactive Contents 

15:00 – 16:30  Faculty Meeting II: Creating Interactive Contents (Cont.)

 The Challenges and Our Future 

“ICT in teaching & learning at the level of higher education” 

By Dr. Bancha Saenghiran, President

Work environments of the 21st century place people in an information- rich world. New technologies and new information come to people everyday. People need to deal with the changing environment in order to live well in the world. The traditional division of a lifetime is not appropriate for the current and the future education people.

The Challenges and Our Future.

The current education units still are lecture-dominated and curriculum-dominated. They do not facilitate cultivating the students to learn the learning skill in their future lives.

In the information age, the knowledge and competencies are becoming major components of competition between countries, business companies, and individuals.

• Before we start discussing about information and communication technology in education, I want to lay some groundwork concerning the challenges we are facing at three levels, namely, global, national, and at the level of higher education.

     At the global level, .…

     At the national level, .… and ….

     At the level of higher education, ….

     In 1995, the European Commission catalogues three “factors of upheaval” that are destabilizing society:

• the impact of information society, 

• the impact of industrialization, and 

• the impact of the scientific and technical world.

In reality…………

What are the forces that drive change in our society and our world?

1. the globalization of commerce and culture,

2. the lifelong educational needs of citizens in a knowledge-driven, and global economy …

3. increasing diversity of our population and the growing needs of under-served communities,

4. the exponential growth of new knowledge and new disciplines,

5. the compressed timescales and nonlinear nature of the transfer of knowledge from campus laboratories into commercial products.

6. And the rapid evolution of information and communication technologies which obliterate conventional constraints of space, time, and monopoly and drive rapid, profound, and unpredictable change in our world.

 Changes

The good times before 1997 made everyone rest as if the peaceful world and a prosperous economy would remain forever.

Out over the horizon, these could well be a tsunami of economic, social, technological, and market forces building to heights that could sweeps over higher education before we had a chance to respond. 

Like every other social institution, education has undergone many changes over the past few years: “globalization, the emergence of the knowledge economy and lifelong learning have been among them.”

Understanding these changes and some of the forces that have generated them is important to everyone involved in education and human resource development.

 The focus on change

It is commonplace nowadays to say we live in changing times. This is most obvious in science and technology – information technology in particular. But we cannot really separate technical from social change and the political, economic and cultural changes that accompany it. New technology brings changes in the nature of work, communication, family, community, and especially lifestyles.

 Characteristics of modern societies 

• “modern” period usually refers to the period beginning with the “Enlightenment” in 18th century Europe, through Industrial Revolution and the beginnings of the nation-state until nearly the end of the 20th century.

• Societies were characterized by order, stability, a belief in sciences and progress, shared values and cultural styles, and so on.

• Modern education systems originated in societies based on the application of science and technology.

• What kinds of developments are replacing the old social order of stability, confidence and progress with a world of risk, illusion and ambiguity and bringing a post modern society into existence.

 The new conditions call for replacing education with new and different concepts of learning.

• Although the structure of education remains, the social conditions we have described as modern are changing beyond recognition. Among the most important changes are:

 แหล่งที่มา : ABAC TODAY (Vol. 20 No. 2 April - May, 2005) หน้า 1-2

When the clamor from friends, faculty, staff and students for a fitting ceremony gradually grew loud and insistent the President relented and authorized the celebration of the Holy Mass at Chapel of St. Louis Marie De Montfort and a dinner reception at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok on July 7, 2005. As Bro. Bancha continues to be in excellent health, enjoying finely tuned mental faculties and robust spirituality the next decade will bear witncss not only to his brilliant performance as rector and administrator but also to manifestations of sublime thinking and profound cogitation resulting in enhancement of educational goals and paradigms. May the hopes and expectations of his compeers and confreres be fulfilled.

แหล่งที่มา : ABAC TODAY (Vol. 20 No. 3 June-July, 2005) หน้า 6

The International Conference on “Quality Educational Leadership: A Partnership of East and West” was organized by the Faculty of Education, Assumption University in collaboration with the University of Wollongong, Australia during 25-26 November 2005 at Bang Na Campus. This conference was a remarkable academic event in the history of Faculty of Education as the theme and the focus areas of the conference were relevant in the era of Globalization. The participants and the keynote speakers from Australia, United States of America, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and United Kingdom have really made the conference intellectually stimulating and academically enriching.

On the opening session of the two-day conference, Rev. Br.Bancha Saenghiran, President of the Assumption University welcomed all the delegates and called for team-work to make a real difference in Education by preparing our students to maximize their creative power to compete and lead in the global society. He quoted the Irish poet W.B Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” and requested the academic fraternity to spend more time on inspiring and igniting the minds of students by making learning a life long process. He also stressed the importance of inculcating moral values in students to make them responsible members of the society. Br. Bancha highlighted the quality leadership in educational institutions as the need of the hour.

An important seminar on planning and development was organized under the aegis of the Office of Vice President for Academic Affairs, and it was attended by heads of undergraduate and graduate schools and directors and senior executives of various departments and offices of Assumption University.  

1.  “Instructor and Student Competency Index and One-Year Plan 2006” by graduate and undergraduate schools.

2.  One-Year Plan 2006 including “Super Ideal Students, Service Learning, Student Development Cordinators” by Resource Institute of Assumption University and Student Affairs Department, “Super Ideal Resource Providers” by representatives from various centres. 

AU Phases of Development 

Phase I: Stabilization (2003-2006)

Every aspect of the university life will be put in proper perspective.

Phase II: Raise the bar of quality (2007-2011) 

Phase III: Attain Excellence (2012-2020) 

Our Achievements (2003-2005)

a) The Quality Assurance System stabilized

• The University (as a whole)

• Different units (both academic and supporting units)

 b) The establishment of 6 sets of the University index:

1. SAR Performance Index (SPI) …2002.

2. Stakeholders Satisfaction Index (SSI)…2004.

3. Service Quality Satisfaction Index (SQSI) …2005.

4. Instructors’ Competency and Effectiveness Index (ICEI)…2006.

5. Students’ Competency and Effectiveness Index (SCEI)…2006

6. Resource Providers’ Competency and Effectiveness Index (RPCEI)…2007. 

AU Institutional Mission

• Services of Humanity

• Education Excellence The strategic direction for AU towards a balanced approach to “Education Excellence” in the Phase I is defined as:     “Laying and strengthening AU foundation leading to Education Excellence”. 

A Balanced Approach

a) Revenue Mix …

• a composite of innovative  

AU CONSOLIDATION 

Educational products and services offered,

b) Educational Excellence …

• a composite of quality students, faculty, curricula, facilities and infrastructure, and

c) Operational Excellence …

• a composite of the administrative excellence, processes conducive to growth & development and learning of a person…

 Strategic Themes 

     To achieve its Phase I, strategic direction, AU has defined these strategic themes that serve to guide the University towards its vision as follows:

Theme 1: Teaching & Learning

     Creating and strengthening quality in learning and teaching

Theme 2: Academic & Research Achievement

     Furthering quality in academic and research achievement

Theme 3: Services

     Developing stakeholders-University engagement

Theme 4: Resources

     Developing and managing resources 

Theme 5: Core and Support Services

     Improving core and support processes

Theme 6: People 

     Valuing people and creating a high-performing organization

  Theme 1: Teaching & Learning Strategic Goals: 

1. Create a positive learning environment.

2. Create curricula meeting highest standards

3. Programs should develop students’ competency and effectiveness 

4. Continually improve the quality of our program offerings and their delivery

5. Develop a system for academic advising that meets the needs of the students and leads to academic success.

 Theme 2: Academic & Research Achievement 

Strategic Goals:

1. Create a culture of assessment and evidence-based decision making

2. Develop mechanism to insure that teaching and learning are consistent at an acceptable level

3. Emphasize on research as means to teaching and services excellence

4. Initiate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research

5. Graduates and alumni should be recognized leaders in their respective careers. 

 Theme 3: Services 

1. Develop relationships with various sectors 

2. Develop closer and effective partnerships with other universities 

 Theme 4: Resources

1.  Operate according to planning and review processes that drive achievement as set in strategic objectives

2.  Maintain the University commitment to financial sustainability 

3.  Provide facilities and infrastructure that supports teaching, learning, and research of the highest quality 

4.  Identify areas of wasted resources and get rid of them.

 Theme 5: Improve Core and Support Services

1. Maintain and improve on an annual growth rate of full-time equivalent students.

2. Create a distinctive international and educational experience for AU students.

3. Nurture personal and intellectual growth of students by building up community in different areas.

4. Provide technologies to meet the needs and requirements

5. Develop or update strategic plan of each unit.

6. Identify AU traditions & culture, values etc… to create an identity of its own. 

7. Create a community of service culture.

Theme 6: Valuing People

1. Promote higher faculty and student interaction through a clear and open line of communication.     

2. Focus on Faculty and staff development and performance expectations to maximize the effectiveness of human resources. 

3. Create environment conducive to teaching, learning and research that support personnel to reach their full potential.

Implementation

1. Understand the University Strategic Plan 2003-2007

2. Develop unit’s five year Strategic Plan and one-year Action plan.

3. Align your five-year and one year Plan on the following inputs:

• AU Strategic Plan 2003-2007.

• Unit’s SAR and Internal Audit Reports of 2002-2005.

• Unit’s existing annual reports.

        แหล่งที่มา : ABAC TODAY (Vol. 21 No. 2 March - May, 2006) หน้า 15-16

 A.U. is proud of the success of research conducted by Dr. Churdchai Cheotrakul, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology which resulted in the issue of a patent for production of Rice Milk which can be used in the food programme for school children. In the past the programme has cost the Thai government something like 7,000 million Bath annually and this patent is expected to effect substantial savings and also bring about hefty profits to concerned parties. 

Arrangements exist for faculty and student exchange under the Greater Mekong Subregion Project and Assumption University has accepted 2 instructors and 1 student from Vietnam for training and study here. Dr. Jakarin Srimoon has been invited to teach at two Vietnamese universities on a reciprocal basis.

A new Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise Centre (ICE) has been established and its main purpose is to provide focus on research and consultancy services in educational and business fields especially to meet the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and micro business sectors. The Centre is located on our City Campus at Emporium Tower and its management entrusted to a special committee to oversee its operations.

The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurial Enterprise (NGCE) from England has sponsored a study through Assumption University with Dr. Vindhai Cocrakul as director of this program. The NGCE believes that higher education institutions play a significant role in the development of entrepreneurial attitudes, aspirations and capabilities in students and that such qualities are essential for graduates in preparing for their careers and employment including self-employment. Dr. Vindhai is making a study of good practices in entrepreneurship development in higher education institutions in the South East Asia region, under a joint programme with NGCE.

The Summit of the Presidents of the Universities of the World is to be held in Bangkok at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre during July 19-22, 2006.

The 22^nd General Assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities is scheduled for July 31-August 4, 2006 and the venue of this conference is the Bang Na campus of Assumption University. 

The Summer and Winter Olympic Games (Universiade) is to be staged in Thailand between August 8-18, 2007 and two events viz “Water Polo” and “Volley Ball” will be organised at Bang Na campus. We are therefore trying to complete the upgrading of our international standard swimming pools to be ready for these competitions.

The “World Debate for University Students” will be hosted by Assumption University in 2008 and all preparations are being made to meet the dateline.

There will be the 60th anniversary celebrations of our King’s accession to the throne beginning on June 9 at the Gymnasium of Bang Na under the auspices of the Catholic Education Council with subsequent activities culminating in the birthday festivities on December 5, 2007. The St. Gabriel’s Foundation has set the target of a 10 million Baht contribution to the Royal Development Projects including one million Baht donation from A.U. for which the fund-raising compaign from faculty, staff, students, alumni and families will be launched soon.

In conclusion Bro. Bancha affirmed that he had arranged presentations by lecturers from various faculties and department so that we are aware of what the University is doing and he outlined the following points and issues.

1. In terms of infrastructure, there are 3 phases, first the basic requirements of teaching and learning, second, the supporting facilities and third, to enhance the life and work of the people employed on campus. In academic area, we are not only trying to modernize and update curriculum but to make innovations and changes so that they are more attractive and acceptable and submit to the Commission on Higher Education through the University Council. In doing this we must be mindful of priorities and datelines.

2. We have new facilities and programs such as college of Internet Distance Education (CIDE) to provide opportunities to all people to learn and educate themselves-even our drivers and janitors now possess degrees in law or administration.

3. We must expand research to cover all disciplines and meet the needs and demanads of business and industrial sectors. For this purpose the services of ABAC Poll and RIAU should be utilized as they have necessary facilities and experience.

4. In view of the globalization process we must have more exchange of students and enable them to visit foreign universities to widen their views and perspectives.

5. There is need for greater use of technology-teachers and students must operate computers and the internet more often. If hardware, software remain unused large investments are wasted and the machines turn obsolete in a few years.

6. Regarding entrepreneurship, all our programs are management based to support the spirit of initiative and enterprise. Government wants all higher education institutions to be self-sustaining so we must find ways and means to operate on our own resources without depending on outside support.

7. Quality assurance principles must be part and parcel of our daily activities and ourlife. There must be improvement in our routines and in our systems based on SAR and the result of our work, our programs shoud show success and progress quantitatively as well as quatitatively. Moving forward and achieving goals are good and desireable but we must also stabilize and consolidate our gains and our position.

        แหล่งที่มา : ABAC TODAY (Vol. 21 No. 2 March - May, 2006) หน้า 2

ขอพระราชทานกราบบังคมทูล ทรงทราบฝ่าละอองพระบาท

เกล้ากระหม่อม ภราดา แสงหิรัญ อธิการบดีมหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ ในนามของสภามหาวิยาลัย คณะผู้บริหาร คณาจารย์ เจ้าหน้าที่ นักศึกษา ศิษย์เก่า และผู้มีเกียรติ ณ ที่นี้ ต่างสำนึกในพระกรุณาธิคุณล้นเกล้าล้น กระหม่อม ที่ฝ่าพระบาททรงพระกรุณาเสด็จมาทรงเปิดนิทรรศการเฉลิมพระเกียรติ เนื่องในโอกาสมหามงคลเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 80 พรรษา 5 ธันวาคม 2550 ในวันนี้

การจัดงานในวันนี้ เพื่อเป็นการเฉลิมพระเกียรติพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวฯ เนื่องในโอกาสมหามงคลเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 80 พรรษา 5 ธันวาคม 2550 พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวทรงงานหนักอย่างต่อเนื่องเพื่อยกระดับคุณภาพชีวิตและสภาพความเป็นอยู่ของพสกนิกรทุกหมู่เหล่าให้ดีขึ้นในทุกด้าน โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งผู้ยากไร้ด้อยโอกาสในชนบทห่างไกล พระมหากรุณาธิคุณอันยิ่งใหญ่นี้เป็นคุณูปการอเนกอนันต์ต่อประเทศชาติเป็นส่วนร่วม ในส่วนของมูลนิธิคณะเซนต์คาเบรียลแห่งประเทศไทย รวมถึงสถาบันการศึกษาต่างๆ ในเครือของมูลนิธิฯ ก็ได้รับพระมหากรุณาธิคุณจากพระมหากษัตริย์ในราชวงศ์จักรีมาทุกยุคทุกสมัย ทรงพระกรุณาโปรดเกล้าโปรดกระหม่อมพระราชทานทุนทรัพย์และรางวัล รวมถึงเสด็จพระราชดำเนินมาทรงเป็นประทานในพิธีสำคัญๆ ของสถาบันการศึกษาในเครือมูลนิธิๆ เป็นลำดับมาจนถึงปัจจุบัน

 การจัดนิทรรศการเฉลิมพระเกียรติในครั้งนี้ ประกอบด้วยภาพพระราชกรณียกิจที่แสดงถึงพระราชจริยวัตรและพระมหากรุณาธิคุณของสมเด็จพระบรมโอรสาธิราชเจ้าฟ้ามหาวชิรุณหิศสยามมงกุฎราชกุมาร พระบาทสมาเด็จพระปกเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัวและสมเด็จพระนางเจ้ารำไพพรรณีพระบรมราชินีนาถ พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวอานันทมหิดล พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวภูมิพลอดุลยเดชและสมเด็จพระบรมราชินีนาถ พร้อมทั้งพระบรมวงศานุวงศ์แห่งราชวงศ์จักรี ที่ทรงมีต่อสถาบันการศึกษาในเครือของมูลนิธิฯ ตลอดมาตั้งแต่พุทธศักราช 2430 นำมาซึ่งความปลาบปลื้มปีติยินดี เป็นมิ่งขวัญสิริมงคลอย่างหาที่สุดมิได้ นอกจากนี้ยังมีนิทรรศการทางวิชาการที่แสดงถึงพระอัจฉริยภาพและพระปรีชาสามารถของพระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวที่ทรงงานหนักตลอดระยะเวลาอันยาวนานเกือบศตวรรษ นับแต่ทรงขึ้นครองสิริราชสมบัติ

ในโอกาสมหามงคลเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 80 พรรษา เกล้ากระหม่อมในนามของสภามหาวิทยาลัย คณะผู้บริหาร คณาจารย์ นักศึกษาและเจ้าหน้าที่ของมหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญทุกคน ขอตั้งสัตย์ปฏิญาณว่าจะคิดและทำแต่ความดีเพื่อถวายเป็นพระราชกุศลแด่พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวและผืนแผ่นดินไทยตลอดไป

บัดนี้ได้เวลาอันเป็นอุดมมงคลฤกษ์แล้ว เกล้ากระหม่อมขอกราบทูลเชิญฝ่าพระบาททรงเปิดนิทรรศการเฉลิมพระเกียรติและผลงานของนักศึกษา ณ Grand Salon และทรงพระดำเนินไปยังห้อง King เพื่อประทานรางวัลผู้ชนะเลิศการแข่งขันทางวิชาการประจำปี พ.ศ. 2550 และประทานของที่ระลึกแก่ผู้อุปถัมภ์กิจกรรมต่างๆ ของมหาวิทยาลัย จำนวน 20 ราย โดยขอประทานพระอนุญาตให้ ดร. วินธัย โกกระกูล ผู้ช่วยรองอธิการบดีฝ่ายวิชาการ เป็นผู้กราบทูลเบิกผู้เฝ้ารับประทานของรางวัล

เมื่อสิ้นสุดพิธีการดังกล่าวแล้ว ขอประทานอนุญาตฉายพระรูปร่วมกับคณะภราดา สภามหาวิทยาลัย คณะผู้บริหาร คณาจารย์อาวุโส คณะกรรมการโครงการเฉลิมพระเกียรติ และผู้ที่ได้รับประทานรางวัล รวมทั้งสิ้น 4 คณะ หลังจากนั้น ขอประทานกราบทูลเชิญเสวยพระสุธารสชาร่วมกับผู้บริหารฯ ณ ห้อง Queen เป็นลำดับสุดท้าย

 ควรมิควรแล้วแต่จะโปรด

โลกปัจจุบันอยู่ภายใต้กระแสและความกดดันของโลกาภิวัตน์เศรษฐกิจโลก ความเจริญก้าวหน้าทางเทคโนโลยี ความคาดหวังและความท้าทายใหม่ๆ ได้เกิดขึ้นอยู่ตลอดเวลาสถาบันอุดมศึกษาก็ได้รับผลกระทบดังกล่าวเช่นกัน สังคมมีความคาดหวังจากสถาบันอุดมศึกษามากมายหลายประการ เช่น การถ่ายทอดวิชาความรู้ที่ ถึงพร้อมด้วยคุณธรรมและจริยธรรมการวิจัยสร้างองค์ความรู้ใหม่ๆ เพื่อช่วยขับเคลื่อนกระบวนการพัฒนาประเทศและการทํานุบํารุงศิลปวัฒธรรมไทย โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งบทบาทในด้านการวิจัย สังคมคาดหวังให้สถาบันอุดมศึกษาสร้างองค์ความรู้และนวัตกรรมใหม่ๆที่สามารถทําไปใช้แก้ไขปัญหาและพัฒนาประเทศในด้านต่างๆ ได้อย่างเป็นรูปธรรม

มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญในฐานะสถาบันอุดมศึกษาเอกชนที่บุกเบิกการจัดการศึกษานานาชาติเป็นแห่งแรกของประเทศได้ตระหนักถึงบทบาทดังกล่าวและได้สนับสนุนคณาจารย์ และนักศึกษาระดับบัณฑิตศึกษาให้ทําวิจัยอย่างต่อเนื่อง เพราะยึดมั่นว่า "สถาบันอุดมศึกษาต้องเป็นปัญญาของสังคม"

อย่างไรก็ตาม ปรากฏการณ์ประการหนึ่งที่เกิดขึ้นในชุมชนวิจัยของประเทศไทย คือ นักวิจัยมีโอกาสน้อยมากในการเผยแพร่ผลงานวิจัยของตนเองสู่สาธารณะ ทั้งนี้อาจสืบเนื่องมาจากการขาดเวทีที่จะนําเสนอผลงาน จึงทําให้ผลงานวิจัยที่ยอดเยี่ยมหลายชิ้น โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งผลงานของนักศึกษาระดับบัณฑิตศึกษาถูกมองข้ามไปอย่างน่าเสียดาย

มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญจึงมี ความยินดีที่ได้ มีโอกาสเป็นเจ้าภาพจัดการประชุมเสนอผลงานวิจัยระดับบัณฑิตศึกษาแห่งชาติ ครั้งที่ 2 นี้ เพื่อเป็นเวทีให้นักศึกษาระดับบัณฑิตศึกษาได้มี โอกาสนําเสนอผลงานวิจัยของตนเองแก่วงการวิชาการและสาธารณชนทั่วไป การประชุมเสนอผลงานวิจัยครั้งนี้ ยังเป็นโอกาสให้นักศึกษาระดับบัณฑิตศึกษาตระหนักถึงศักยภาพของตนเองในการที่จะก้าวไปเป็นผู้นําทางวิชาการต่อไป ขอขอบคุณทุกท่าน ทุกหน่วยงานที่ร่วมจัดการประชุม รวมทั้งผู้ที่เข้าร่วมประชุมทุกท่านขอให้การประชุมครั้งนี้ประสบความสําเร็จตามวัตถุประสงค์ และเป็นประโยชน์ต่อทั้งวงการวิชาการและวิชาชีพต่อไป 

ถึงเวลาแล้วที่จะต้อง “เร่งรีบ” เปิดโลกให้แก่เยาวชนไทย ให้สามารถสื่อสารกับโลกยุคใหม่ ที่จะต้องเข้าใจวัฒนธรรม เข้าใจเศรษฐกิจ เข้าใจสังคมของประเทศต่างๆ ทั่วโลก การทำความเข้าใจก็ต้องใช้ “ภาษาต่างประเทศ” เพื่อใช้เป็นสื่อกลาง ภาษาที่ควรให้การสนับสนุนคือ ภาษาอังกฤษ เพราะเป็นภาษาที่ใช้ในการสื่อสารมากที่สุดในโลก ถือได้ว่า เป็นภาษาสากล ดังนั้น จึงต้องส่งเสริมภาษาอังกฤษ ให้แก่เยาวชนไทยให้มากขึ้น 

เนื่องจากความรู้ต่างๆ ถูกบันทึกไว้เป็นภาษาอังกฤษ เมืองไทยยังขาดการแปลเป็นภาษาไทยมาก การรู้ภาษาด้วยตัวเอง จะทำให้มีความคล่องตัวในการอ่าน การค้นคว้าและความสามารถใช้ในการทำงาน การพูด การเจรจา กับคนได้ทุกมุมโลก ที่ทุกวันนี้และในอนาคตจะมีการเชื่อมโยงกันทั้งหมด หากไม่รู้ภาษาอังกฤษที่ดีพอ จะทำให้เสียเปรียบในหลายๆ ด้าน

ทราบมาว่า ทางด้านแผนพัฒนาเศรษฐกิจและสังคมแห่งชาติ แผนชาติด้านการศึกษา ได้มีการกำหนดที่จะให้โรงเรียนไทย สอนเป็น “สองภาษา” ภายในระยะ 15 ปี ต่อจากนี้ นับเป็นเรื่องที่ดีและน่าสนับสนุนอย่างยิ่ง ที่โรงเรียนต่างๆ ในประเทศ จะได้กำหนดเป็นนโยบาย ที่ชัดเจน

หากสามารถสอนได้ในระดับนักเรียนหรือเด็กๆ แล้ว เด็กจะเรียนรู้และรับได้อย่างรวดเร็ว จึงเห็นด้วยที่จะให้เริ่มสอนตั้งแต่ระดับโรงเรียน หากปล่อยเลยมาจนถึงระดับมหาวิทยาลัยแล้ว จะเป็นการยาก 

สมัยก่อนหน้านี้ ก็เคยมีการเปิดสอนสองภาษามาแล้ว แต่ด้วยเหตุผลทางการเมืองของสงครามเย็นและความกลัวลัทธิการเมือง ทำให้มีการยกเลิกการสอนในระบบนั้นไป นับเป็นเรื่องที่น่าเสียดาย แต่ยังไม่สายที่จะฟื้นขึ้นมาใหม่อีกครั้งอย่างจริงจัง พร้อมทั้งมีระบบการสอนแบบนานาชาติและระบบการสอนสองภาษาที่ใช้ภาษาอังกฤษเป็นสื่อรองรับอยู่แล้วนี่เป็นแนวโน้มและทิศทางของแนวคิดใหม่ทางด้านการศึกษาที่จะต้องมุ่งสร้างขีดความสามารถการแข่งขันให้ประเทศไทยได้ในอนาคต 

สาขาวิชาที่ควรจะส่งเสริม เมื่อมี “ภาษาอังกฤษเป็นตัวนำไปสู่การแสวงหาความรู้” แล้ว แนวคิดใหม่ทางด้านการศึกษาจะสัมฤทธิผลได้ ก็ต่อเมื่อสามารถต่อยอดไปสู่องค์ความรู้ใหม่ๆ โดยเฉพาะด้านวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี ที่จะเป็นฐานไปสู่การคิดค้นคว้าสิ่งใหม่ๆ ต่อไปได้อย่างไม่หยุดนิ่ง 

“ภาษาอังกฤษจะเป็นสื่อในการแสวงหาค้นคว้าความรู้ให้กว้างขวาง”

 ภราดา ดร.บัญชา แสงหิรัญ

อธิการบดี มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ (เอแบค) 

แหล่งที่มา คมชัดลึก ประจำวันที่ 24 กันยายน 2551

President of the PDK (Thailand Chapter)

Participants

Honored Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen: 

May I first welcome all of you to Assumption University (Suvarnabhumi Campus) in general and to this conference in particular.

I want also to congratulate the Phi Delta Kappa (Thailand Chapter) on its 25th anniversary, being celebrated this year. Truly this organization has initiated great improvement in Thai educational circles and continues to make greater strides of achievement possible for Thai scholars. The organization has been instrumental in improving the opportunities available in Thailand for learning and furtherance of educational opportunity within the Thai context. As a member of an international organization, the Phi Delta Kappa (Thailand Chapter) is also instrumental in continuing and updating the critical linkages between Thai educators and international scholars from a variety of other countries.

In the current situation, with advancement in the domestic arena being so interdependent with learning and skills acquired all over the globe, these linkages assume ever greater importance. By ensuring and furthering the continuation of such linkages, Phi Delta Kappa (Thailand Chapter) plays a critical role in the furtherance of learning of the Thai people. I wish to congratulate and commend the organization on both its twenty-five years of service and its continuing support of Thai scholars.

The topic of this conference is very timely. It deals with ethics and the use of technology in the postmodern era of education. May I draw your attention to three key words, namely, ethics, technology, and postmodern era.

Postmodern Era is the period designated by philosophers, social scientists, and social critics to refer to aspects of contemporary culture, economics and society that are the result of the unique features of late 20th century and early 21st century life. In general, post modernity is the response to society which has evolved from modernity.

Historically, post modernity has been said to have gone through two relatively distinct phases:

(i) The first phase began in the 1950s and overlaps the end of modernity. In this period there was the rise of television as the primary news source, the decreasing importance of manufacturing in the economies of Western Europe and the United States. The era was marked by the emergence of pop cultural styles of music and drama, including rock music.

(ii) The second phase of post modernity is visible by the increasing power of personal and digital means of communication, including fax machines, modems, cable, and eventually high speed internet. This led to the creation of a new economy.

The ability to manipulate items of popular culture, the world wide web, the use of search engines to index knowledge, and telecommunications were producing a convergence which would be marked by the rise of “participatory culture” and the use of media appliances, such as Apple’s iPod

Ethics is a major branch of philosophy, encompassing right content and good life. It’s significantly broader than the common concept of analyzing right and wrong. Many philosophers believe that morality consists of following precisely defined rules of conduct. Plato emphasized four virtues in particular, namely: wisdom, courage, temperance and justice (which were later called cardinal virtues). Other important virtues are fortitude, generosity, self-respect, good temper, and sincerity.

In moral education, we normally stress the importance of developing good habits of character. A central aspect of ethics is “the good life”, the life worth living or life that is simply satisfying which is more important than moral conduct. The truly wise man will know what is right, do what is good and therefore be happy.

Technology. At present, we talk about emerging technologies, like, electric cars, biofuels, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, anti-aging drugs, wireless communication, nanomaterials, machine translation, to mention just a few. What is of special interest at this conference is the use of the internet. Internet is a network of almost all the computers in the world. You can browse through much more information than you could do in a library. That is because computers can store enormous amounts of information. You also have very fast and convenient access to information. Through email you can communicate with a person thousand of miles away in seconds. There is chat software that enables one to chat with another person on a real-time basis. Video conferencing tools are becoming readily available to the common man. Computers have leapfrogged the human society into another league. It is used in each and every aspect of human life. This revolutionary technology can be indeed either a boon or a bane to the human race depending on the users.

The topic of this conference, involving as it does both the ethical and technological aspects of our current educational environment, gets to the heart of one of the critical challenges of our time. This challenge is how to ensure that our students get the best value and learning experience by using technology while at the same time protecting these selfsame students from the wide ranging and disparate abuses of such technology. It is of this challenge that I now wish to speak. In our globalized current situation the internet and all of its applications from commerce and trade to local and international business, sports, entertainment, investment and even criminal activity of every description, is inescapable. It is not possible nor is it desirable for us to close our eyes to this development, which encompasses every aspect of modern life from the most private to the most public of contexts.

It is imperative, however, that as we embrace the new technologies and work to further the opportunities we can and will create for our students in using them, we remain cognizant of both their limits and their inherent dangers. We know that with these technologies it is now possible, as one example, through research databases, to have at our fingertips vast resources of journals on education, medicine, technological change, industry and spiritual knowledge with only a few strokes of the keyboard. Space conscious institutions like Assumption University may have literally a million or more volumes filled with the latest ideas available in an instant where in the past possibly days or weeks may have been spent searching through stacks in a library to locate information, and even then it would be time bound in a way that research database information is not. Further, by using e-mail and messaging technologies, it is now a simple matter to interact with researchers all over the world who may be engaged in similar projects to our own scholars so that ideas may be compared. We thus have a true synergistic platform available for our usage.

But, as I alluded to earlier, all of these benefits and wondrous advantages, which are clearly very substantial, do not come without possible limitations and costs. While our students can and will use this medium to stay current with rapidly changing knowledge in every field of endeavor, they can also use it to access the latest in pornographic material; the students may use it to hurt other students; some may use it to bully their peers. In the context of public and private education at the elementary, middle and high school levels, it can have and unfortunately will probably continue to be used to instigate violence, even murder, against students and other members of society. Though the internet and modern technology have tremendous potential for the growth and learning of our students worldwide, it is a medium which has inherent limitations and may be subject to tremendous abuse in certain situations.

We, as educators, have both an opportunity and a responsibility, and it is imperative that while enjoying the former, we do not abdicate the latter. Our opportunity is to take the tremendous potential of these new technologies and use them to provide the best in updated learning methodologies for our students; to take this new knowledge and interact with other scholars all over the globe as we work together to find new ways to advance knowledge; to work with students having needs beyond to scope of a normal classroom and find ways to use these technologies to enhance and improve their learning; to serve those in locations not traditionally served by learning institutions, such as jails, remote farming communities or poorer areas; to take the potential of these new technologies and find ways to make them serve the ever changing needs of our students.

Our responsibility is to teach our students about the role of ethics in technology. We need to ensure that our students understand that there is information on the internet that can hurt them if improperly used. Our students need to know that there is unreliable information our there and they need ways of recognizing and identifying such information. Our students need to learn that responsible recreational use of the computer is perfectly acceptable, but that there is a time and a place for such use. They need to be taught where the lines blur and internet use may become internet addiction. Students need ways of identifying the attributes of such addiction in themselves and their peers. They need ways of identifying those who may use the internet to take advantage of them and to know that they have reliable and trustworthy teachers to who they may turn to if something is amiss.

Internet use with the proper supervision is a fabulous opportunity for students which we clearly need to make available and pursue in all of its exigencies. Irresponsible supervision of the use of internet can be destructive to both the psychological and moral fiber of our society, as well as being a physical danger in certain situations.

But we need to go beyond mere supervision into teaching our students to become responsible users of this medium. If we take a typical teenager with limited self-control and maturity who is left to merely follow his or her whims in the use of these technologies, it is clear that there is danger lurking very close by. If the goal is only to have the pleasures available in the 21st century, to enjoy the sensory or visceral pleasures that these technologies may offer, while not taking cognizance of the wider goal or responsibility evident and inherent in their usage, then these technologies can become a double edged sword. The double edged sword, as we know, cuts in the direction we want, and provides us with advantage, but at the same time its opposite blade may cut against us, hurting us. This may happen with these technologies with the teenager referred to above, if not provided with the proper guidance, and, where merited, supervision.

The teenager merely surfs the internet at will, letting what images he or she may come across enter into his or her consciousness, taking these images to be proper representations of society and her or his role in it. Such was the case with the recent tragedy of a teenager brutally savaging and murdering a Bangkok taxi driver after having played the online version of a game in which one of the objectives was ‘carjacking’ or murdering the driver of a car and stealing money and/or the vehicle and its contents. When young people are subjected to these images over and over again without a reflective adult voice to provide guidance, they may begin to make assumptions about what is normal and acceptable in society which have little to do with any real or responsible context. This can lead to irresponsibility, social decay, violence, abusive behaviors and an uncaring, jaded populace.

Our task as educators is to ensure that these technologies are a service and not a detriment to our students and the wider society of which we are all a part. We need to work to ensure that love, integrity and moral purpose form the core of our interaction with our students in the use of these technologies.

We must not shrink from our responsibility in recognizing and alerting our students to the limitations and dangers of these developing technologies. Part of the mission of the Phi Delta Kappa (Thailand Chapter) is to support the development of education for teachers and others in Thai society. In the current environment, this means, in part, developing a concern for and skill in using internet and communications technology in a responsible manner. Students need to learn the manner in which they may use the tools available to them responsibly to facilitate change and improvement in our society. We need to be aware of the National Act on the Use of the Internet which lays out procedures for education including that no pornographic material is to be accessed; the internet is not to be used to lead people astray, for forgery or other illegal activity.

If people are aware of the negative effects of say, an ingredient such as melamine, to use a recent example, then they are much less likely to consume it. The same is true for the internet. I don’t want people to have the impression that I am being alarmist with any of these remarks. This is not the intent: It is simply the case that when we are aware of the limitations and dangers inherent in a situation we are much more likely to take steps to avoid it or to minimize the risks if we should become involved. The same is true for the internet: awareness of the risks and limitations may often be curative in and of itself.

The goal, then, of this conference is to shed light on the unknown, to be a source of light, to prepare the way for our educators, so that in knowing we may be responsible in our actions and interactions with students and the wider community. We can’t just bar our students from using this medium. We must teach our students to use the medium with moral maturity. We need to explain the limits and opportunities, the benefits and the perils, the building opportunity and destructive potential dangers. If educators can guide students in the right way, then these students can step forward, can embrace the opportunity presented with these new and emerging technologies, can bring themselves up to par with development and the needed concern for ethics which is so much a part of all that we do, in education and in life.

My final wish for this conference, with which I would like to leave you this morning, is that it be a great success. I wish that the papers presented at this conference together with the discussion may shed light on our current procedures, and that new findings in methods for education and innovations become a hallmark both of this conference and in the time that follows these proceedings. It is my conviction that further deliberations both here in Thailand and elsewhere will result from and be informed by our efforts here.

We meet tonight, brought together by the Horizons 2009 event, as friends, of each other and of a beloved institution. As students, faculty, administrators, alumni, or merely supporters we are united in our commitment to the continued development of the Graduate School and an expansion of the role that it plays in the lives of its students and in our society. As we take advantage of this opportunity to share and discuss our thoughts and ideas about the future of the Graduate program, we all should be aware that this new cooperative initiative constitutes just one more milestone in Assumption University’s history. 

It is very fitting that Horizons 2009 is taking place in this year, which is also the 40th anniversary of Assumption University of Thailand, the 24th anniversary of the Graduate School of Business, and the 12th anniversary of the OD program. This is, of course, a time to celebrate but it is of course most appropriate that part of a university’s celebration of its history should involve moments of thoughtful exchanges of ideas about is own mission and how that mission could be fulfilled. It is the goal of Horizons 2009 to provide one opportunity for such reflection on the institution’s present and most of all its future.

It is also particularly fitting to have Dr. Ampon Kittiampon as tonight’s keynote speaker. As Secretary General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), and as an architect in the planning of the Thai economy, his talk on the “Effects of the Global Economic Crisis on Thai Economy & Development Plan” will provide insight into the larger social and economic context in which our institutional mission is necessarily embedded. It can, therefore, play a particularly important component in our reflections and discussions, tonight and in the future. 

This reflection will ensure that AU will continue to educate young women and men of today so that they will combine a solid awareness of fundamental principles with the dynamism and innovation needed to be successful in the world, and in fact to change the world.

I am grateful to Dr. Ampon Kittiampon for accepting our invitation to speak tonight. I wish everyone success and enjoyment. I also wish to congratulate the organizers of Horizons 2009 for their vision and for their hard work in making tonight’s gathering possible. 

 God be with you always. 

Dear student: 

Wai-Kru ceremony or paying respect to teachers is the Thai tradition which is deeply rooted in the past and is practiced in many professions. For AU, Wai–Kru Ceremony is being conducted at the start of the new academic years. It is held in high esteem and considered sacred because teachers confer knowledge, concentration and wisdom.

There are two parties involved in this ceremony: namely students and teachers. Symbolically, students participating in this ceremony advance to make a request to teachers to accept them as their students. They promise to respect and obey, and follow the instruction and advices given by the teachers. Whatever demands put forward by the teachers, they are ready to follow for their own benefits. With trust and confidence in their teachers, students will do whatever in their power to pursue truth and knowledge. In the process of learning, such disposition of trust, confidence, and respect are essential to personal growth from within and development can take place and flourish in this regard.

On the other hand, teachers accept all of you to be their students. This implies that teachers undertake the responsibility to educate you and to prepare you to be ready for the society and the world in the 21st century. They profess to commit to teaching profession. In the teaching and learning process, commitment, cooperation and collaboration of the two parties are necessary and essential to achieving the goals.

Today, you will have the opportunity to witness good examples from the recipients of the awards for excellent academic performance of the past year. Learn from them, try to outdo and excel them. Your life on campus will be years of formation through different experiences. Engage with people and environment on campus wisely. 

Dear student:

Consider this Wai–Kru Ceremony to be a special event. May the spirit of Wai–Kru Ceremony live on in both our teaching and learning, in our ngagements, and in our daily living.

Allow me to thank everyone who help make this event a meaningful one.

I pray to God to grant you the wisdom to overcome difficulties that may come your way. May He bless all who teach and all who learn. May your minds be always open to the truth and the teaching of teachers with humility.

May God bless you all & thank you. 

Wai–Kru Ceremony 2011

June 16, 2011

Administrators, 

Faculty & Staff members, Alumni,

Student Organization, and Students       

This academic year 2011 marks a special event in the Thai history. It’s the 84th Anniversary of His Majesty the King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. We, members of AU family, have every reason to rejoice. The government has announced this calendar year 2011 to be the year to honor our King in a special.

For us at AU, as we mark the beginning of our academic year with Wai–Kru Ceremony, it is fitting and appropriate for us at this moment to have first Wai–Kru Ceremony for Teacher of the Land. For His Majesty the King is considered to be a great teacher for our lecturers to imitate and all of us here to follow his teachings and model after him. From January 1 to December 31, 2011, Thailand will celebrate the 84th birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

For Thai, the 84th anniversary is considered an important milestone of life. It’s the completion of the seventh 12–year cycle. It’s special celebration on this occasion. The cabinet, during its meeting on December 21, 2010, endorsed the proposal by the Ministry of Education to present His Majesty the King with the title of the “Teacher of the Land” to honor His Majesty in commemoration of his 84th birthday anniversary.

His Majesty won the title “Teacher of the Land” for several reasons. From the life and work of His Majesty, he has a special interest in education development. He sets himself as a clear example of life–long learning. His royal addresses and writings keep reminding all involved in the importance of learning. Also his royal activities, work plans, and projects aim at demonstrating the solving of problems and at creating learning communities for the development of the quality of life of the Thai people.

(i)Regarding formal education, His Majesty established Chitralada School in 1955, where young royal children, children of courtiers, and children from the general public could study together.

(ii)Having learned about the lack of educational opportunities among disadvantaged children during his visits to rural remote areas of the country, His Majesty has instructed the setting up of schools and has given them support. A total of 104 schools are under royal patronage and guidance.

(iii)His Majesty has granted many scholarships for students wishing to study abroad with the hope that they will work for the country upon their graduation to assist in the development of the country as a whole.

(iv)Concerning non-formal education, His Majesty set up Phra Dabos School in 1975 to provide vocational training in various fields for people who lack the means necessary to enter formal schools. Open to everyone, the project began by providing electronics and radio training at the Royal Household Bureau in Bangkok, and it was later expanded to include radio repair, welding, construction, and electrical skills in its curriculum.

His concept of education involves the roles and duties of educators and teachers. In his view, educators are obliged to “Make good learners,” so that they are able to earn their livelihood and be able to contribute to the country.

In recognition of His Majesty’s dedication development, His Majesty deserves the title of the “Teacher of the Land.”

During his active years, His Majesty travelled to every nook and corner of Thailand to teach the Thai people how to earn their living and how to lead a life of quality. He is very practical in dealing with people. His Majesty taught them theories and put what he taught into practices. This can be seen from His Majesty’s “New Theory,” “Sufficiency Economy,” to mention just a few. He sees the potentials in his people and encourages their development. His Majesty taught people how to develop from both without and also from within. His teaching methodology covers all teaching dimensions, either it be theory, practice, research, and innovation. He integrated them in teaching people to uplift their standards of living for the learning to help themselves. The King moreover goes beyond what is expected. He made follow-ups of all what he engaged with people. He is a prime example of what he taught to them in all aspects of life.

Though His Majesty has been in Siriraj Hospital since September 2009 under the close supervision of medical personnel, yet His Majesty continues to teach his people through his words and work.

His Majesty has a sense of purpose in the teaching of his people. He can make an incredible difference in the life of his people. The Thai people, as the King’s students, are also aware that their teacher care for them and want to teach them, that’s why they are more apt to listen and to learn, for people (students) can sense the heart of this teacher, their King.

As the Teacher of the Land, His Majesty has made impact on the life of his people, He inspires people to reach their aspirations. Many are excellent teachers of subject material of facts and figures, but His Majesty makes a difference in their lives. He is great in the way he teaches and in the way he interacts with people.

His Majesty can achieve this title the “Teacher of the Land” through the path of devotion, the road of sacrifice, listening to people with patience, listening to the heart.

His Majesty has the art of encouragement, trust and confidence in his people. He pursues his goal with determination. He also has the words of wisdom and sometime filled with humors.

     He is a source of inspiration

     a source of joy & peace,

     a source of hope & serenity,

     a source of wisdom.

He is rightly our Teacher, the Teacher of the Land. We all pay homage to His Majesty the King, accepting him as our teacher. We promise to follow his teachings so that our lives will be transformed as proud citizens of the country. We wish His Majesty good health, good rest and long life to live with his students and continue to teach us to become good assets of the country.

In honor of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Teacher of the Land. 

 On Wai–Kru Ceremony

 at John Paul II Sports Center

 By AU Family

 June 16, 2011

เมื่อเอ่ยถึง ภราดา มาร์ติน ประทีป โกมลมาศ ทุกคนที่รู้จักท่านจะต้องนึกถึงโรงเรียนเซนต์คาเบรียล และ มหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ (ABAC) แต่ระหว่างสองสถาบันการศึกษานี้ ท่านจะถูกกล่าวขานมากที่สุดเกี่ยวกับมหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ เพราะตลอดชีวิตนักบวชในการรับใช้พระศาสนา และการจัดการศึกษาของท่าน ท่านใช้ชีวิตในการทำงานที่สถาบันการศึกษาแห่งนี้นานที่สุด และได้ฝากชิ้นงานสถาปัตยกรรม ปฏิมากรรมและจิตรกรรมอันเป็นอมตะไว้กับแผ่นดินไทย คือ การก่อสร้างมหาวิทยาลัยอัสสัมชัญ วิทยาเขตสุวรรณภูมิ ขึ้นมาจากพื้นที่อันเป็นทุ่งนา และการทำการเกษตรที่ไม่มีใครนึกฝันว่าจะกลายเป็นชุมชนการศึกษาที่เจริญก้าวหน้าอย่างรวดเร็วจนกลายเป็นสถานที่ศึกษาดูงานด้านการบริหารอุดมศึกษาของประเทศ