On October 29th, 2021, Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, and Prof. Dr. Sumaryanto, M.Kes., AIFO Rector of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta co-chaired an online MOU signing ceremony between Walailak University (WU), Thailand and Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), Indonesia, at Khao Luang Chamber, Cooperative Education Building. The MOU between NYU and WU was initiated by ASEAN Studies faculty members, School of Political Science and Law, through their courtesy of free Thai language teaching lessons to UNY students. WU witnesses of the ceremony included Prof. Dr. Surasit Vajirakachorn, Dean of School of Political Science and Law, Assistant Prof. Dr. Pongsathorn Dechatiwongse, Dean of School of Languages and General Education, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeerakiat Apibunyopas, Dean of School of Management, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jitbanjong Tangpong, Dean of School of Allied Health Science.
The participants from UNY consisted of Dr. Sujarwo, M.Pd. Faculty of Education, Dr. Sri Harti Widyastuti, M.Hum, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Prof. Dr. Ariswan, M.Si, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences,
Dr. Suhadi Purwantara, M.Si, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Herman Dwi Surjono Ph.D, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Wawan Sundawan Suherman, M.Ed., Faculty of Sports Sciences, Dr. Siswanto, M.Pd. Faculty of Economics, Prof. Dr. Anik Ghufron, M.Pd, Director of Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Suharjana, M.Kes., Institution of Quality Assurance and Educational Development, Prof. Dr. Samsul Hadi, M.Pd.,M.T., Institution of Research and Community Service.
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On this occasion, Walailak President welcomed all the UNY delegates and congratulated on past fruitful collaborations that led to the current MOU signing ceremony and expressed his willingness to support various academic activities, including research, conferences, and international mobility, in the future. Walailak President also shared with UNY delegates WU’s global 2021 THE Impact Ranking achievement at the level of 601-800 and various national recognitions by world-renowned databases like Nature Index and SCIMAGO. Walailak President also asserted his willingness to share WU’s qualified academic staff members of over 400 certified by UK Professional Standards Framework, smart learning facilities, modern laboratories, its well-equipped sport complex, premium student accommodation, hospital facilities, and every inches of its reconstructed eco-friendly landscape. On this occasion, Walailak President also updated UNY delegates on the opening ceremony of WU hospital on November 15th, 2021.
Concurrently, Walailak President conveyed his sincere appreciation of His Excellency Fachry Sulaiman, Consul of the Republic of Indonesia, Songkhla who has always strongly supported successful academic ties between WU and many universities in Indonesia. Managing his tight schedule to pay a kind visit to WU around noon, His Excellency Fachry Sulaiman was cordially welcome by Walailak President with a Thai-styled gourmet lunch at Walailak President’s serene lakeside residence, through favorable conversation exchanges for the future academic collaboration between Indonesia and Thailand.
Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) was founded on May 29th, 1964. UNY is well known for educational sciences and teacher education. The university offers 1 graduate school and 7 faculties, including Faculty of Education, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Faculty of Social Science, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Sport Science, and Faculty of Economics. So far UNY, with 9 research centers (7 national and 2 international) has published 1,131 research studies. UNY was granted the 501-550th place by QS Asia Rankings, the 2022 reporter status by THE World University Rankings, and the 1001st place by THE Impact Rankings in 2021.
Regarding the aforementioned Thai language lessons by the courtesy of ASEAN Studies faculty members, Prof. Dr. Surasit Vajirakachon, Dean of School of Political Science and Laws, elaborated ASEAN Studies faculty members organized them for 34 UNY students via a video conference for one month in late August to September 2021. The successful activities led to the MOU signing which paved the way for more successful future cooperation between the two universities.
