STATEMENT OF POLICY

Statement of Policy 2011-2015

Delivered by President Mathana Santiwat
June 1, 2011
at Bangkok University, Rangsit Campus
Following the decision of the Bangkok University Board of Trustees at the
5th meeting of the 2010 academic year, on April 22 2011, to extend my
term of offce for a further 4 years, I feel deeply honored and would like to
express my gratitude to the licence holders of Bangkok University and the
Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the great responsibility of guiding
this prestigious institution to fully become a Creative University.
The 4 years of my frst term passed very quickly. I have had time to evaluate
the policies that I presented when I was frst appointed to the position and
have found that in some areas we have not yet achieved complete success.
Therefore, I would like to use the occasion of this statement of policy today
to reaffrm my commitment to the work from my frst term that is not yet
complete, and to present the main policy areas to be accomplished during
my second term in order to make the university stronger and bring about
sustainable progress that will consolidate our position as a leading
educational institution.
Policy on the Universitys Strategic Plan
The universitys Strategic Planning and Corporate Communication Division has produced a
strategic plan for 2011-2013 that will provide the direction for the strategic and action plans
of our various units and emphasize our identity as a Creative University, built on creativity,
entrepreneurial spirit and internationalization, through giving them vitality.
Academic Policy
The frst priority for curriculum and teaching management must be academic quality in
accordance with the National Qualifcations Framework for Higher Education. There must
be opportunities to reinforce the identity of the university, to undertake curriculum revision
that responds to the requirements of students and the job market, to enhance the strengths
of our existing schools and to encourage the development of new curriculums, especially
those that meet the needs of the creative economy and prepare for the opening of the
ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The Bangkok University International College has
received support to ensure stable growth through academic cooperation with leading
international institutions and organizations to facilitate the expansion of the graduate and
undergraduate programs. Support has also been provided for projects for the development
of knowledge in felds related to specifc careers, as well as short courses that meet the
particular needs of the older population, those in work and our own alumni.
Policy on Personnel Development and Research
The enduring progress of the university is dependent on the quality of
the personnel. The university has made a change in strategy by making
faculty research and creative responsibilities equal in importance to their
teaching duties. Research funding has been increased to promote
research and to bring this research up to international standards.
Support has been given to increase the number of qualifed faculty at
doctoral level and those awarded academic title. A new personnel
system will be implemented in order to produce a new generation of
administrators, faculty and staff to cope with the challenges of the ASEAN
Economic Community in 2015, particularly the need for foreign language
competency, IT skills and modern management expertise.
Policy on the Desirable Attributes of Graduates
Bangkok University graduates should possess creative thinking,
entrepreneurial spirit and an international outlook. I wish to see Bangkok
University graduates with a love of reading, knowledge and ability in three
languages. This is a task in which I did not succeed during my frst term. I
was pleased that those units, such as the Language Institute, put themselves
fully into this task, and I feel grateful to those colleagues who understand
and wish to bring about the same developments. The university will provide
support to students who join exchange programs, competitions or
exhibitions abroad in order to broaden their view of the world. Importance
must also be placed on instilling in our graduates a sense of giving, a love
of unity, the nation, religion, the monarchy and an approach to life that is
guided by merit and virtue.

Policy on the Role of the University in Serving the Community

New social and public expectations require universities to be institutions on which
the country can depend. Those who have the opportunity to work or study in a university
should be considered fortunate to have received an opportunity that is available to relatively
few. They should therefore be willing to share the knowledge and experience they have
gained with local and rural communities that require assistance to develop a better quality
of life and livelihood in order to close the gap between them and residents of Bangkok. I
will provide support for faculty and students who carry out projects to alleviate problems
in the local community or remote rural areas that can instill students with community spirit.
In addition, faculty members will be given opportunities to take on cutting edge research
questions and carry out research that aims to provide answers to genuine problems. This
will also assist in taking the research carried out by the university faculty to a higher level.
Since the new election will be coming soon in July, BU needs to play the major role in
promoting the democracy among all faculty and students.
Policy on Quality Assurance and International Standards

The university has undertaken continuous development of the quality assurance system
through the development of an IT system that can store and analyze data and provide reports
for administration that is easily available, fast and reliable. In 2011, the university will
receive the 3rd external quality assessment from the Offce for National Education Standards
and Quality Assessment (ONESQA). We have also begun preparing to move towards the
educational assessment criteria of Thailand Quality Award (TQA), which will raise the level
of quality assessment and be comparable to that of ASEAN and other regions.
Policy on Alumni Relations
In 2012, the university will reach the age of 50, making us one of the oldest private
educational institutions in Thailand. More than 110,000 of our graduates have gone out
to serve society. These members of our alumni have found success in many careers and
felds, creating a good reputation for the university.
Knowledge management with our alumni provides a chance to turn the strength of
our alumni towards the development of the university. I will raise the level of participation
of members of our alumni in the new administrative structure of the university, which will
strengthen the close relationship and links between the university and alumni.
Policy on General Administration
Over the next 1-2 years, improvements will be made to the administrative structure
of the university for greater convenience, speed and economy. I understand that moving
units between divisions may cause anxiety and unfamiliarity. However, I can promise that
thorough consideration will be given to any changes and I will be pleased to listen to the
views of all those affected. Principles of good governance will be applied at every stage of
the administrative process.
The university will continue to gradually move undergraduate students from the City
campus to Rangsit. When the renovation of buildings 4, 5 and 6, and the construction of
the new Humanities lab building and BU Mall have been completed, I am aware that there
will be many more students at Rangsit campus. I will speed up the allocation of areas for
use by the student union, the student body and the various student committees, clubs and
societies so that they are able to carry out their creative activities.
Administration of IT resources for the support of teaching and the administration of
the university in a modern and responsive way is something on which the university places
great importance in order to fulfll the needs of personnel and students. In addition, the
university has established centers of excellence such as Creative Academy, BUCC, CEDI,
and INSAPS for the promotion of all three aspects of the universitys identity. They work
alongside the academic and research areas to keep the university in the public mind, and
reinforce the universitys reputation and wider recognition, thus enabling the university to
increase its role in providing new creative services.
Finally, I hope that all of you who have had a chance to listen to me outlining my
intentions today are ready to offer your strength and take on the responsibility of working
side by side to ensure that my second term will proceed smoothly and produce a creative
phenomenon that will make the university known for a vibrancy that people want to experi-
ence and become part of. Bangkok University, Creative University, the university that is
engaged in an exciting mission for the bright future of higher education in Thailand.