Author: Kittipong Bunlear

Sustainability and Stewardship As Walailak University continues to expand, the demand for affordable housing has grown, particularly among the increasing number of university employees. With the university employing 2,535 staff members in 2023, comprising 1,965 professional and general staff and 764 full-time academic staff, the pressure on local housing markets has intensified. The rising cost of living in the surrounding areas has left many employees in need of affordable accommodation. In response, Walailak University has implemented a comprehensive housing plan aimed at alleviating these challenges by providing affordable, high-quality housing for its employees, both in the form of direct housing options and financial support. Figure : The map highlights staff dormitory areas. Click on the map for a clearer view with more details Evaluating Affordability With the rapid expansion of…

Sustainability and Stewardship Enhancing Sustainability Through Waste and Hazardous Materials Management Policy Walailak University is dedicated to advancing sustainability through its comprehensive Waste and Hazardous Materials Management Policy, which encompasses clear processes and practices for the responsible management of all types of waste, including hazardous materials. Walailak University has consistently implemented practices related to general waste, hazardous waste, infectious waste, and wastewater. After that, this policy was created to be addressing general waste, hazardous waste, infectious waste, and wastewater, ensuring that waste is continuously managed efficiently and with minimal environmental impact. However, before this policy was established, the university had already developed a collaborative agreement to address these issues. Since its official implementation, the university has continued to carry out these practices with dedication and consistency up to the present day.The waste management process…

Sustainability and Stewardship Implementing Ethical Sourcing Policies: Promoting Sustainable Food Production and Consumption Walailak University places great importance on ensuring the quality of services, food, and the efficiency of food distribution to consumers, including students, staff, and external individuals who sell food in the university restaurants. The university focuses on establishing standards and processes for controlling the quality of food service to provide guidelines for food vendors and restaurants. This includes fostering an understanding of food hygiene principles (according to the Department of Health's regulations), managing food outlets, maintaining service standards, and ensuring compliance with rules and other guidelines. These efforts are aimed at ensuring that food service follows proper food hygiene practices, providing consumers with confidence that they are consuming high-quality and safe food in accordance with these standards.Walailak…

Collaborative Initiative: Walailak University and Local Authorities Unite to Provide Secure, Affordable Housing for Communities Established in 1992, Walailak University spans a vast area of 20,800,000 square meters, originally designated for public agricultural use. The 14,400,000 square-meter area has been allocated for university facilities, including academic buildings, student dormitories, Walailak University Hospital, sports and health centers, a Smart Farm, and historical sites. The remaining 5,760,000 square meters are dedicated to community housing development under the "Satit Walailak Pattana Community Project."As part of its mission to foster social responsibility, the university is committed to addressing the need for affordable housing for disadvantaged communities. Each year, Walailak University sets clear plans to construct affordable housing, making a substantial impact on the local population by offering homes for those lacking proper housing options,…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University (WU) is deeply prioritized to create a campus that supports walking and sustainability, as part of its long-term vision to become a green, sustainable, and happy university. The university focuses on designing pedestrians that are accessible, safe, and convenient for everyone, ensuring that students, staff, and the public can easily navigate the campus. As part of its sustainability strategy, WU has integrated pedestrian pathways into its Sustainable Commuting Targets Action Plan (2022-2025). There are currently 56 pedestrian routes on campus, many of 25% are covered walkways, located throughout the university. These pathways connect key zones, including academic buildings, student dormitories, canteens, parks, and the medical center, ensuring that walking remains an important, eco-friendly commuting option. The university’s Division of Landscaping and Building is responsible for…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University has established policies and a 20-year Strategic Plan to become a high-performance organization with modern management systems and streamlined workflows. In 2023, the university actively promoted, supported, allowed, and authorized staff to work remotely or use communication technology for various telecommuting activities, aiming to reduce travel that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts.These telecommuting initiatives are part of the university’s efforts to achieve sustainable transportation, including: Online Meetings: Walailak University staff can attend meetings remotely via electronic platforms like ZOOM or other software. Participants no longer need to be in the same location to discuss and share their views, reducing the need for travel. This approach is applied especially to regular meetings such as the academic council and the university's administrative meetings, which…

Sustainability and Stewardship Transforming Contaminated Lands into Green Hubs of Academic Excellence and Sustainable Development In its early days, Walailak University was situated on what was once a vast, overgrown forest, with much of the land left untamed and later used for agricultural purposes. Some areas were designated for farming, which unfortunately introduced pollutants into the environment. These activities, such as crop cultivation and animal husbandry, contributed to environmental degradation due to the use of chemicals and fertilizers. Over time, the university began to repurpose these lands by building on these brownfield sites, transitioning them for more sustainable uses, and one notable area was the former shrimp farming zone. In 2022, Walailak University took significant steps to rehabilitate this area, which once housed shrimp ponds and had fallen into disuse.…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University (WU) has long prioritized sustainability and adherence to high standards in its infrastructure development and energy management initiatives. The university ensures that all new buildings and renovations comply with the EIT Standard (The Engineering Institute of Thailand under His Majesty the King’s Patronage), which emphasizes precision and careful implementation. Construction and maintenance are supervised by licensed architects and engineers in collaboration with the Division of Landscaping and Building, ensuring compliance with the Ministerial Regulations on Building Control. Besides, WU’s Center for Library Resources and Educational Media has been recognized as meeting the Building Energy Code (BEC), the national standard for energy efficiency in buildings. This recognition, granted by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) under the Ministry of Energy, highlights the building's…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University is committed to measuring and setting targets for more sustainable commuting by implementing a comprehensive approach that includes cutting-edge technologies, forward-thinking policies, and innovative measures. The university’s 20-year strategic plan (BE 2561-2580) aligns with Thailand's 20-Year National Strategic Framework (BE 2560-2579), the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (BE 2560-2564), and the Thailand 4.0 policy. This robust plan, consisting of 9 strategic issues, 36 objectives, 94 key performance indicators, and 78 strategies, aims to support the nation’s sustainable development, positioning Walailak University as a key player in shaping Thailand's future. A core focus of Walailak University’s mission is the promotion of sustainable, eco-friendly practices. The university has set ambitious targets to become a model for green living, both on and off campus. This includes…