Walailak University’s Contribution to Arts and Heritage
Walailak University remains steadfast in its commitment to serving as a cultural beacon, actively engaging communities through the preservation and revitalization of cultural traditions, fine arts, and applied arts. Guided by its 20-year strategic plan (BE 2561–2580), the university prioritizes research excellence, academic service, and the safeguarding of cultural heritage as core pillars of national development. In 2024, Walailak University made significant strides by collaborating with diverse internal and external partners to launch more than 30 impactful programs. These initiatives, both ad hoc and ongoing, are designed to enrich local and national arts and cultural legacies. Anchored by four key objectives, these efforts reflect the university’s deep and enduring dedication to cultural preservation and its pivotal role in sustaining heritage for future generations.
To guide its contributions to local and national arts and heritage preservation, Walailak University has established four core objectives:
- Promoting Local and National Cultural Traditions – The university actively organizes programs, festivals, and community activities that celebrate Southern Thai culture as well as broader national traditions, fostering appreciation and participation among students, staff, and the wider public.
- Arts and Culture Research – Walailak University conducts in-depth research on traditional and contemporary arts, including performing arts, visual arts, and cultural practices. This research not only documents and preserves cultural knowledge but also supports innovation and the integration of heritage into modern contexts.
- Building a Network in Arts and Culture – By collaborating with local communities, cultural organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies, the university strengthens a network of stakeholders committed to sustaining and promoting Thai arts and heritage. These partnerships enable knowledge exchange, joint projects, and capacity-building initiatives.
- Promoting Arts and Culture Skills for Students – The university provides students with opportunities to develop practical skills in various art forms, including music, dance, crafts, and digital arts. Through workshops, training programs, and hands-on experiences, students gain both technical proficiency and a deeper understanding of cultural heritage, empowering them to become ambassadors for Thai arts and culture.
Objective 1: Promoting Local and National Cultural Traditions
To safeguard cherished local and national cultural traditions, Walailak University focuses on fostering awareness, pride, and active participation in cultural preservation. This approach supports the sustainable promotion of arts and culture. In 2023, the university implemented a range of initiatives aimed at promoting traditional arts and preserving cultural heritage, including the following:
1. Monastic Fire Offering Ceremony
On January 11, 2024, Walailak University organized the annual Giving of Fire and Alms Offering ceremony to welcome the New Year 2024 at the Dharma Yard, Walailak University with more than 600 participants, including administrators, faculty, staff, students, the general public, and devotees/those with faith, joining the event. The event aimed to raise awareness among students, staff, and the general public about the valuable Buddhist traditions that have been passed down through generations, and to preserve and uphold Buddhism.
Figures : Monastic Fire Offering Ceremony
2. Magha Puja Cloth Hanging Ceremony
On February 24, 2024, Walailak University co-hosted the annual Makha Bucha “Pha Khuen That” procession in celebration of Makha Bucha Day at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Mueang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province with more than 50 participants, including students and staff from Walailak University. This revered tradition has been passed down for 790 years and is considered one of the most important cultural and religious events for the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Devout Buddhists from various areas gathered in large numbers to take part in the ceremony.
Figures : Magha Puja Cloth Hanging Ceremony
3. Buddhist Lent Candle Casting Ceremony
On July 10, 2024, Walailak University held the annual Buddhist Lent Candle Casting Ceremony to allow students, staff, and Buddhist devotees to help preserve Buddhism and uphold this meaningful tradition which had more than 30 participants in the activity/event. The Lent candles will be offered to five temples located around Walailak University.
Figures : Buddhist Lent Candle Casting Ceremony
4. The Ceremony of Offering Buddhist Worship Items and Installing Bronze Bells Around the Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si Thammarat
On May 22, 2024, Walailak University, in collaboration with Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, held a ceremony to offer Buddhist worship items and install 210 bronze bells around the Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si Thammarat to replace damaged ones. The event was held in honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary (72nd Birthday). Furthermore, there were 209 Buddhists who participated in the activity to conserve, restore, develop, and jointly create a bell (or bells), which is for an auspicious purpose/to bring good fortune.
5. Walailak Songkran Festival: Water Pouring on the Elderly
On April 18, 2024, Walailak University organized a Songkran Festival event featuring the traditional water-pouring ceremony to seek blessings from the elderly. The event aimed to preserve and promote Thailand’s cherished cultural traditions, foster appreciation for Thai arts and heritage, and instill a sense of love, respect, and gratitude toward parents and benefactors. The atmosphere at the event was lively, with over 500 participants, including university administrators, faculty, staff, and students, as well as distinguished guests and community leaders, attending the ceremony to pour water and ask for blessings from the elderly from the surrounding communities. This year, 70 senior citizens took part in the activity.
6. Annual Merit-making Ceremony of Toompang Archeological Site
On March 12, 2024, Walailak University held the Annual Merit-Making Ceremony of the Toompang Archaeological Site for the year 2024. The ceremony aimed to promote awareness among students and staff of the cultural heritage and long-standing beliefs deeply rooted in Thai society, as well as to pay respect to the sacred entities of the university for auspicious blessings. More than 500 people, including university administrators, faculty, staff, students, distinguished guests, and the general public, attended the event.
7. Kritdapinihan Dance
On January 15, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Kritdapinihan Dance to bring auspiciousness to the administration of Walailak University Hospital. More than 200 people, including staff/personnel and the general public, attended the event.
Figures : Kritdapinihan Dance
8. Menorah Dance in Ang Kaew Games 2024
On June 9, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club showcased the Menorah Dance at the Ang Kaew Games 2024 to promote and celebrate Southern Thai culture among audiences in northern Thailand with more than 1,000 people attending.
Figures : Menorah Dance in Ang Kaew Games 2024
9. Menorah Dance in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: SoTL9
On May 3, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Menorah Dance during the closing ceremony of the 9th Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL9) to mark the occasion with a cultural celebration. More than 300 people, including staff/personnel and the general public, attended the event.
10. Thai Classical Music Performance in the 47th Thai Music in Higher Education Festival
On November 25, 2024, the WU Thai Classical Music Club participated in the 47th Thai Music in Higher Education Festival, showcasing traditional Thai music and reinforcing the university’s role as a leading institution in preserving the nation’s classical music heritage with more than 2,000 people attending.
11. Snake Mother Dance Performance in Thai Classical Music
On November 8, 2024, Walailak University, represented by students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club, collaborated with several other universities to present the “Snake Mother Dance,” accompanied by one of the most popular pieces in Thai classical music with more than 2,000 people attending.
12. Traditional Thai Music in the Thai Music in Heart Festival
On September 2, 2024, students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club performed traditional Thai music at the “Thai Music in Heart” Festival held at Walailak University, aiming to raise awareness among WU students about the importance of preserving the nation’s musical heritage which had more than 200 students participating in the activity.
13. Traditional Thai Music in Teacher’s Day Observation
On June 29, 2024, students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club performed traditional Thai music during the Teacher’s Day ceremony organized by the School of Allied Health Sciences with more than 1,000 people attending.
14. Traditional Thai Music in the Student Club Festival
On June 8, 2024, students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club performed traditional Thai music at the Student Club Festival to encourage new WU students to join the club and take part in preserving Thai national music with more than 1,000 people attending.
15. Traditional Thai Music in the Love in the Air Concert
On February 14, 2024, students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club performed traditional Thai music during the “Love in the Air Concert” at Walailak University, aiming to showcase Thai classical music to both WU students and the general public. More than 1,500 people, including administrators and students, attended the event. The atmosphere was full of energy and very lively.
16. Traditional Thai Music in the Love in the WU Bota Market
On February 8, 2024, students from the WU Thai Classical Music Club performed traditional Thai music at the WU Bota Market to showcase Thai classical music to WU students and the wider community More than 200 people attended.
17. Loy Krathong Festival
On November 15, 2024, Walailak University organized the Loy Krathong Festival to promote cultural preservation, emphasizing the use of environmentally friendly materials with more than 2,000 people participating in the activity.
Figures : Loy Krathong Festival
18. Nang Noppamas Beauty Contest
On November 15, 2024, Walailak University organized the Nang Noppamas Beauty Contest as part of the Loy Krathong Festival to honor Thailand’s first female poet and celebrate Thai cultural heritage with more than 1,000 people attending.
Figures : Nang Noppamas Beauty Contest
19. The Dance of Benediction
On July 4, 2024, Walailak University, through students from the Walailak University Thai Dance Club, performed the Dance of Benediction in front of the royal portrait of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, the Princess Srisavangavadhana with more than 1,000 people participating in the activity.
Figures : The Dance of Benediction
20. Walailak Songkran Delivery Festival
On April 1, 2024, Walailak University, in collaboration with the Satit Walailak Pattana Community Health Promotion Hospital, organized a water-pouring ceremony and presented gifts to the elderly in the Satit Walailak Pattana Community as part of the “Walailak Songkran” celebration. More than 30 people participated in the said activity. The event aimed to strengthen ties between the Satit Walailak Pattana Community and neighboring communities, while honoring the elderly through the traditional water-pouring ritual and seeking their blessings for good fortune.
Figures : Walailak Songkran Delivery Festival
21. Aarayacha Mokhalan Dance Performance
On February 23, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Aarayacha Mokhalan Dance at the 22nd Annual Cultural Art Festival of Higher Education to demonstrate the identity of Mokhalan subdistrict in Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. More than 200 people participated in the said activity.
Figures : Aarayacha Mokhalan Dance Performance
22. Lai Thom Muang Nakhon Dance
On February 24, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Lai Thom Muang Nakhon Dance at the 22nd Annual Cultural Art Festival of Higher Education, showcasing the rich cultural identity of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province as a once-renowned kingdom in Southeast Asia. More than 200 people participated in the activity.
Figures : Lai Thom Muang Nakhon Dance
23. Naataya Boochaa Nora Songkhrueang Dance
On February 25, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Naataya Boochaa Nora Songkhrueang Dance at the 22nd Annual Cultural Art Festival of Higher Education, showcasing the history of Menorah Dance. There were more than 200 attendees.
Figures : Naataya Boochaa Nora Songkhrueang Dance
24. Asura Rice Mixing Ceremony
Walailak University organized the Asura Rice Mixing Ceremony for Muslim students at Walailak University to conserve culture and commemorate the day Prophet Nuh (Noah) and his followers survived the Great Flood. There were more than 200 attendees.
Figures : Asura Rice Mixing Ceremony
25. The Kathin Ceremony
On October 25, 2024, Walailak University, through the Center for Cultural Promotion and Sports, co-hosted the annual Kathin Samakkhi (Unified Robe Offering) ceremony on behalf of the university for the year 2024. The event aimed to raise funds for the construction of an ordination hall (Ubosot) at Wat Bon Thanun in Pho Thong Subdistrict, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The event was attended by more than 100 participants.
Figures : The Kathin Ceremony
26. Ceremony for Presenting Offerings to Thao Hiran Phanasun
On January 13, 2024, Walailak University held a merit-making ceremony for its Bangkok Office following the completion of renovations. The event included a ritual offering to Thao Hiran Phanasun, the sacred guardian spirit of the premises, a Buddhist merit-making ceremony, and a New Year celebration for members of the Walailak University Council. The event was attended by more than 40 participants.
27. Elderly Performance of the Traditional Songkran Dance
On April 18, 2024, Walailak University organized a Songkran Festival event featuring the Elderly Performance of the Traditional Songkran Dance, which has been implemented for decades. The event was lively and vibrant, with more than 500 attendees, including university executives, faculty members, staff, students, honored guests, and community leaders.
28. Traditional Songkran Dance
On April 18, 2024, Walailak University organized a Songkran Festival event featuring the Traditional Songkran Dance performed by the students from the Walailak University Thai Dance Club. The event was filled with a lively and vibrant atmosphere, attended by more than 500 participants, including university executives, faculty members, staff, students, distinguished guests, and community leaders.
Figures : Traditional Songkran Dance
29. Nakharathanee Sri Thaksin Dance at the Tha Sala Walking Street Festival
On December 29, 2024, WU students from the Bachelor of Education in Thai Dance program at Walailak University performed the Nakharathanee Sri Thaksin Dance at the Tha Sala Walking Street Festival, presenting traditional southern Thai dance to the public. The event attracted more than 1,000 attendees.
30. Menorah Dance Performance at the Statue of WU Menorah
On March 1, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed the Menorah Dance at the WU Menorah Statue in WU Park. The performance aimed to celebrate the statue as a symbol of southern Thai heritage and to showcase the traditional dance to the public. The media was publicly disseminated.
The Land of Glory Performance
On March 1, 2024, the Walailak University Thai Dance Club performed a traditional dance titled “The Land of Glory” during the seminar “Data Driven Future Educator” at Thai Buri Building, Walailak University. The event attracted more than 1,500 attendees.
Figures : The Land of Glory Performance
Objective 2: Arts and Culture Research
Walailak University conducted fieldwork to collect data for a project studying the role and continued existence of Nora in Tha Sala, Sichon, and Khanom Districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This field visit focused on traditional production sites of Nora equipment, particularly those of Master Chaloemchai Nora-Arirat, which include the crafting of Nora headdresses (thuead Nora), Nora fingernails, and complete costume sets. These traditional skills have been passed down to younger generations, who continue to make Nora costumes and beadwork to this day. These production sites reflect the enduring presence and cultural significance of Nora in the region.
This initiative aims not only to conduct research for the preservation of Nora, which has been inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, but also to produce educational media for Walailak University students and to raise public awareness of the importance of safeguarding this cultural heritage. In addition, Walailak University will establish partnerships with secondary schools to provide education on the Menora Dance to secondary students, ensuring that the knowledge and appreciation of this traditional art form are passed on to younger generations.
The project is divided into three parts: the first involves collecting data on the role and continued existence of Nora; the second focuses on creating a Nora cultural map; and the third involves producing a documentary film on Nora.
Objective 3: Building a Network in Arts and Culture
Walailak University and Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University have joined hands to strengthen research and academic collaboration in the fields of arts, culture, and the humanities. This partnership aims to enhance the quality and impact of scholarly work while promoting cultural preservation and academic exchange in southern Thailand.
As part of the collaboration, Walailak University, which publishes the Asian Journal of Arts and Culture, engaged in the exchange of academic knowledge, editorial practices, and research experiences with Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, the publisher of the Journal of Humanities. This mutual sharing of expertise is expected to improve the editorial standards and scholarly contributions of both journals. Furthermore, the two institutions plan to co-organize academic events, support joint research initiatives, and develop a regional network of scholars dedicated to advancing knowledge in the humanities and cultural studies.
Objective 4: Promoting Arts and Culture Skills for Students
Walailak University encouraged its students to participate in the “MHESI Music” competition, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The competition aimed to promote the performance of Thai traditional music among university students, fostering cultural preservation while providing a platform for young talents to showcase their artistic abilities. Demonstrating exceptional skill and dedication, the students from Walailak University earned the First Runner-up award in the competition, reflecting the university’s commitment to nurturing cultural excellence and supporting student engagement in the arts.
Walailak University demonstrates a strong commitment to the preservation and development of arts and cultural heritage through a comprehensive approach that combines diagnostic assessment, strategic planning, and community engagement. Guided by its long-term vision, the university implements various initiatives that promote local traditions, conduct research on cultural heritage, and foster student participation in the arts. Through systematic measurement of outcomes—such as program participation, partnerships, and cultural impact—Walailak University continues to advance the sustainable development of Thai arts and heritage while nurturing future generations as custodians of cultural identity.
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 1: No Poverty
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals