Advancing Gender Equality through Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Policy
Childcare Facilities and Support for WU Staff and Students
Walailak University has established partnerships with the Wat Khok Lek Early Childhood Development Center and the Chumchon Satit Walailak Pattana Early Childhood Development Center to provide accessible and free childcare services for university staff, faculty members, and students. This initiative helps university members balance their academic or professional responsibilities with childcare needs, particularly supporting female students who have recently become mothers so that they can continue their higher education without childcare responsibilities becoming a barrier to their studies. The University can also use diagnostic assessments to identify childcare-related challenges faced by student parents and staff, helping to inform improvements in service accessibility and support. Located near Walailak University in Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, the two centers provide convenient access to childcare services for university members while also contributing to the well-being of families in the surrounding community.
The partnership extends beyond childcare provision by supporting the development of quality early childhood education. Both centers implement an educational program based on the HighScope Preschool Curriculum, developed in collaboration with Walailak University. Through this collaboration, the University contributes academic knowledge, research expertise, community engagement, and student volunteer activities to strengthen early childhood learning and development. The approach promotes equitable access to quality early childhood education, ensuring that children enrolled at the centers have opportunities to learn and develop in a supportive environment.
The HighScope-based curriculum emphasizes active participatory learning, enabling children to explore their surroundings, ask questions, make decisions, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. The program supports key areas of child development, including language and literacy, cognitive development, social interaction, communication, and problem-solving. A structured daily routine provides children with a consistent learning environment while allowing sufficient flexibility for individual interests and learning needs.
At the Wat Khok Lek Early Childhood Development Center, teachers apply intentional teaching practices to guide children’s learning and development while encouraging them to make choices and pursue activities that reflect their interests. This approach promotes independence, cooperation, creativity, and problem-solving skills from an early age. By combining accessible childcare with quality early childhood education, Walailak University’s partnership contributes to an inclusive and supportive environment for student parents, staff, families, and young children, while strengthening the University’s engagement with the surrounding community.
Strengthening Community Engagement through Early Childhood Development Programs
Beyond providing accessible childcare services, Walailak University extends its academic and community engagement activities to the Wat Khok Lek Early Childhood Development Center and the Chumchon Satit Walailak Pattana Early Childhood Development Center. Through interdisciplinary collaboration involving education and health-related fields, the University organizes activities designed to assess and strengthen the development of young children in communities surrounding the University.
One of these initiatives focuses on assessing children’s Executive Functions (EF) and motor development, providing an opportunity to identify developmental strengths and areas that may benefit from further support. The activities integrate knowledge and practices from different disciplines and are designed to promote the holistic development of young children while laying a foundation for long-term health and well-being among children and their families.
The program includes three key areas of assessment and learning:
- Early Childhood Skills Assessment based on approaches informed by the HighScope Curriculum, supporting children’s learning and development through active and participatory experiences.
- Motor Skills Assessment conducted through physical therapy approaches to observe children’s movement and motor development and promote appropriate physical development.
- Basic English Literacy Activities designed to introduce young learners to foundational English language skills in an age-appropriate and engaging learning environment.
By bringing together expertise from education, health, and related academic fields, these activities demonstrate Walailak University’s commitment to applying academic knowledge for the benefit of surrounding communities. The initiative not only supports children’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development but also raises awareness among families and community members of the importance of early childhood development as a foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being. Appropriate measures and indicators can also be used to assess children’s developmental progress and evaluate the effectiveness of activities in supporting their overall development.
Through continued collaboration with local early childhood development centers, Walailak University strengthens the connection between higher education and community development, creating opportunities for academic knowledge, professional expertise, and community engagement to contribute directly to the well-being and sustainable development of local families. Ongoing measurement of program outcomes and community benefits can help identify areas for improvement, strengthen future interventions, and ensure that these collaborative efforts continue to respond effectively to the needs of children and their families.
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คณาจารย์ เจ้าหน้าที่ และนักศึกษา ม.วลัยลักษณ์ ลงพื้นที่ประเมินทักษะ EF และพัฒนาการเคลื่อนไหวเด็กเล็ก ชุมชนรายรอบมหาวิทยาลัย
WU Strengthens Local Early Childhood Education Quality through Interdisciplinary Engagement
มหาวิทยาลัยวลัยลักษณ์ ร่วมกับ ศูนย์พัฒนาเด็กเล็กชุมชนสาธิตวลัยลักษณ์พัฒนาจัดกิจกรรมพัฒนาสื่อการเรียนการสอนนิทานภาษาอังกฤษสำหรับเด็กเด็ก
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