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One of many challenges that universities nationwide are encountering is how to produce graduates that meet the demands of the industrial sector both inside and outside the country. Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT) aims to be the third best university in Thailand that specializes in science and technology.
“Our objective is to be recognized among the ASEAN countries. We have restructured 58 academic programs to focus on work performances. The students will undergo performance assessments and each be awarded a performance certificate upon meeting this requirement, so that they can use it to apply for a job,” said RMUTT President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasert Pinprathomrat.
In order to realize this objective, the university aims to strengthen its science and technology research and innovations, in order to deliver inventions to the industries and communities. The university plans to collaborate with the industrial sector in developing standardized academic programs that answer the needs of the industries as well as ASEAN. This includes collaborations at the graduate and doctoral levels that focus on practical training and overseas internships.
“Education in the 21st Century puts less emphasis on classroom learning but more on outside-classroom learning through modern technologies. This also means the libraries must be renovated to cater for independent studies, including free WiFi connections. The closing time has also been extended to midnight.
Moreover, the academic programs put more emphasis on practical learning. Our science programs has 70% practical learning and 30% theory, while the social sciences has 60% practical learning and 40% theory,” Dr. Prasert said.
The university has also revamped its basic English courses to emphasize listening and speaking skills as well as international student exchange programs.
“We develop the students’ ‘soft skills’, which refer to analytical thinking, problem-solving, responsibility, leadership, and community service skills, because the job market today demands that employees have people skill as well as technical skills,” Dr. Prasert said.
Human resources is another area that the university has raised its standards. All 900 lecturers are encouraged to produce a research project, and those without a doctorate degree will be supported to earn the title of Assistant or Associate Professor. New faculty members will be required to produce a research study within three years.
“With all these measures that we have put in place, I am confident that we will become the country’s third best science and technology university within three years,” Dr. Prasert concluded.
