Author: Kittipong Bunlear

In 2023, Walailak University undertook projects and activities to record and preserve intangible cultural heritage at the local or regional level, national level, and heritage of displaced communities. WU collaborates with the Ministry of Culture and the College of Dramatic Arts through an MOU to foster and preserve arts and culture, intending to become a center for local, national, and international cultural heritage. On July 13, 2023, Walailak University held a signing ceremony for an academic collaboration agreement on the preservation of arts and culture with the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, Nakhonsithammarat College of Dramatic Arts, and Phatthalung Dramatic Arts College at Huatapan Meeting Room, 3rd Floor, Building A, Walailak University Hospital.The immediate action plan includes: 1) Promoting cultural heritage and traditional knowledge to preserve, continue, and…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University is steadfast in its role as a cultural beacon, fostering community engagement through the preservation and revitalization of cultural traditions, fine arts, and applied arts. This mission is deeply rooted in the university’s 20-year strategic plan (BE 2561-2580), which emphasizes advancing research excellence, academic services, and safeguarding cultural heritage to support national development. In 2023, the university achieved remarkable progress by collaborating with various internal and external partners, launching over 30 impactful programs dedicated to contributing to local and national arts and cultural legacies and promoting both ad-hoc and ongoing programs. These initiatives, anchored by four key objectives, highlight Walailak University’s enduring dedication to cultural preservation and its vital role in sustaining heritage for future generations. Objective 1: Promoting Local and National Cultural Traditions To…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University remains steadfast in its commitment to becoming a sustainable, eco-friendly residential campus. As part of this vision, the university continually focuses on improving and transforming its internal and external environment into multifunctional, environmentally conscious spaces. Remarkably, we constructed and nurtured the tremendous eco-friendly area that is the open spaces and green spaces, to embrace both people and nature as one, all permanently free access for the public to visit. Figure: Map showing green and open spaces at Walailak University Click on the map for a clearer view with more details Open Spaces BOTA Market Open Space The open area of BOTA Market in front of the entrance to Walailak Botanic Park (BOTA) Excluding the main purpose of the marketplace, it serves as a space for…

Sustainability and Stewardship The Center for Library Resources and Educational Media: Walailak University's Open Access Learning Hub for All The Center for Library Resources and Educational Media at Walailak University plays a crucial role in supporting the academic community by serving as a hub for learning resources and information services, particularly within the library. It offers free access to information for students, staff, and the general public, providing books, publications, computers, and other essential equipment for research and lifelong learning. The center’s primary mission is to develop and maintain a wide range of educational resources, produce teaching materials, and offer academic support to the surrounding community. Additionally, it ensures accessibility for individuals with disabilities, offering wheelchair ramps and Braille books. In 2023, the center recorded visits including 394,521 visits to…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University currently spans over 21,000,000 square meters, making it the largest university in Thailand by land area. The university has developed its environment into a Residential University, a fully integrated campus community with comprehensive infrastructure, utilities, and various amenities. It provides a beautiful, convenient, safe, and peaceful living environment for students, faculty, staff, and residents. The comprehensive utilities and services, along with additional facilities, are designed to enhance the quality of life in both education and work, allowing individuals to fulfill their roles effectively and with high quality. The campus serves as a learning hub for both formal and informal education, accessible to the university community, local residents, and the general public. This environment fosters physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth, creating a welcoming and sustainable…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University, located in southern Thailand and covering the largest campus area in the country, faces frequent flooding due to heavy rainfall. The university manages its water consumption by producing potable water for on-campus use, utilizing on-site reservoirs to store high-quality rainwater. Currently, the university is deeply committed to sustainable water management and actively processes to prevents polluted water entering the water system, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university. Consequently, various proactive initiatives ensure that water resources remain clean and free from pollutants to conserve, appropriately use and protect the quality and quantity of water sources surrounding the university. Figure : Water supply system schematic1. Monkey Cheek Project: This project focuses on preventing water pollution and addresses flooding issues during the rainy season,…

Sustainability and Stewardship In 2023, Walailak University continues to prioritize and operate its wastewater treatment processes through the university’s wastewater treatment plant, ensuring environmental sustainability and the well-being of the community by protecting the quality and quantity of water sources. The current system has the capacity to treat 950 cubic meters of wastewater per day from various buildings on campus. The process in place to treat wastewater is collected, processed, and reused within the university. Figures : Development Project of Wastewater Management System at WURecognizing the environmental and ecological impacts of wastewater, the university operates an Aerated Lagoon (AL) system that can handle 4,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. This system uses floating aerators to increase oxygen levels in the water, facilitating faster decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms.…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University is located in southern Thailand, covering a total area of 21,196,440 square meters, making it the largest university in terms of land area in the country. Additionally, the university experiences two seasons throughout the year: the hot season and the rainy season. During the rainy season, there is significant rainfall, with an annual precipitation of 2,544.53 millimeters, which often causes flooding in the area. To address this, Walailak University has implemented a sustainable water management system to prevent flooding while maintaining water reserves in its 3 main reservoirs (Pruk Sachon Reservoir, Mon Tara Reservoir, and Chala Nusorn Reservoir), ponds, and canals. Pruk Sachon ReservoirMon Tara ReservoirChala Nusorn ReservoirCurrently, the university has a total water conservation area of 1,672,217 square meters, which has increased by 4,000…

The lack of paid maternity and paternity policies can negatively affect the health and well-being of pregnant women, infants, and fatherhood. Walailak University realizes that maternity and paternity leaves are fundamental family-friendly rights that all employees should be provided. Thus, Walailak University has had its maternity and paternity policies to support women’s participation and allow a male staff member who is a father to be away from his job for the arrival of a child. The maternity policy of Walailak University is titled “Walailak University Regulations on Maternity Leave, B.E. 2567 (2024)”. The regulations are detailed below:Both staff and temporary staff are entitled to a maximum of 60 days of paid maternity leave, to be taken before and after childbirth.Staff and temporary employees on maternity leave who have not yet given…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University takes pride in providing free public access to all its significant cultural, academic, and green spaces, ensuring inclusivity and promoting learning and engagement. From the expansive Walailak Botanic Park to the Toompang Archeological Site, the university’s commitment to cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and educational excellence is evident. These open spaces, exhibition galleries, and historical sites are accessible to everyone, offering a diverse range of experiences in both natural and cultural heritage. Toompang Archeological Site: A Public Learning Hub for Archaeology The Toompang Archaeological Site is a valuable public heritage area, both historically and naturally, located within the area of Walailak University. It acts as a significant educational and cultural resource, providing an enriching experience with its diverse local plants and native bird species. The 12th Regional…