Category: Case Studies

Sustainability and Stewardship Sustainable Water Management: Walailak University’s Water Reuse Policy Walailak University is committed to becoming a sustainable and environmentally friendly “Happy University” under its 20-Year Strategic Plan (2018–2037). The plan promotes development in infrastructure, water management, waste management, energy management, climate change, transportation, and education. The university emphasizes efficient and participatory management of resources, environmental stewardship, and energy conservation. It integrates renewable energy, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation into teaching, research, and all university activities. The aim is to foster a safe, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient environment that benefits both the university and surrounding communities. In 2024, the university implemented measures and guidelines for water reuse across the university. Treated wastewater of appropriate quality is reused for purposes that do not require potable water, such as watering plants, street…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University, as a large higher education institution with an area of over 21,000,000 square meters, recognizes the importance of efficient water resource utilization, particularly in the context of being a university that actively promotes environmental sustainability in tangible ways. One of the key strategies implemented by the university is to align its space utilization with water conservation goals through the allocation and development of land, landscape design, and the selection to minimize water usage in the plants such as drought-tolerant plants, as well as the adoption of efficient water management systems to sustainably reduce overall water consumption. BOTA Cactus Dome: A Model of Water-Efficient Landscape and Learning SpaceCurrently, the university has planted landscapes that serve as ecological and learning hubs, promoting the sustainable use of natural…

Sustainability and Stewardship Efficient water management is a crucial aspect of sustainable development, particularly in the building sector, which consumes a significant amount of water over the long term. For this reason, the university recognizes the importance of applying building standards — such as environmentally conscious design and assessment standards – to systematically and sustainably minimise water use. Walailak University has established a sustainable water resource management policy to support environmental conservation and ensure water security within the campus. In particular, this policy emphasizes designing and renovating buildings to maximize water use efficiency, in line with the university’s vision of becoming a Green University and a Sustainable University. Through the implementation of policies, planning, and building standards, the university continuously applied water-conscious building standards and efficient water use to control…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University, located in the southern region of Thailand, is the largest university campus in the country. With its geographical characteristics of year-round heavy rainfall and high risk of flooding, the university places strong emphasis on comprehensive and integrated water resource management. It has rigorously implemented policies, measures, and processes to prevent polluted water entering the water system, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university. Being situated in the south and recognized as the country’s largest campus, the university is well-prepared to cope with climate change crises while striving to balance water usage, wastewater prevention, and long-term environmental sustainability. At present, the university carries out a range of activities, projects, and processes in flood management, water supply production, and waste management to prevent wastewater…

Sustainability and Stewardship Drinking water is a fundamental resource essential for human survival, and water security is therefore at the heart of sustainable development at every level. However, in today’s society, many people still lack access to clean and safe drinking water. Walailak University, located in southern Thailand, covers an area of more than 21,000,000 square meters and is recognized as the largest university in the country. In 2024, the university is striving to develop into a “Residential University” with comprehensive infrastructure and public utilities, along with full facilities for education, daily living, and work. The aim is to ensure that the university community—including students, staff, and visitors—can live in an environment that is green, safe, enjoyable, and conducive to both formal and informal learning. Figure : Provision of Free…

Sustainability and Stewardship Wastewater generated within the university–from both students and staff–originates from various daily activities such as bathing, dishwashing, laundry, cleaning utensils, and toilet use. This issue has long been regarded by the university as an important environmental concern. To accommodate the volume of wastewater produced, the university has implemented a wastewater management system development project since 2002, covering an area of more than 9,600 square meters. Continuous improvements have been made over the years, particularly in 2024, when the system was upgraded to enhance its efficiency, ensuring optimal treatment performance and restoring balance to the environment. Figures : Water Supply System, the mechanism that was constructed to serve the whole university. Recognizing the environmental and ecological impacts of wastewater, the university has developed a wastewater management system capable…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University is located in the southern region of Thailand, covering a total area of 21,196,440 square meters, making it the largest university in the country in terms of land area. Due to its geographical characteristics, the area is prone to drought during the summer season and experiences heavy rainfall during the rainy season. Recognizing the necessity of systematic and sustainable water resource management, the university has developed and constructed water storage facilities within its premises. These include three main reservoirs (Pruksa Chon Reservoir, Mon Thara Reservoir, and Chala Nusorn Reservoir), along with ponds and lakes, serving as water reserves for consumption and agriculture. They also play an important role in effectively preventing and mitigating flood problems during the rainy season.Walailak University is located in the southern…

Walailak University (WU), as a public higher education institution with a mission to serve community needs, adheres to the principles of inclusive education, ensuring that everyone has equal access to learning opportunities. Thus, the university strives to foster a learning society where no one is left behind by creating Lifelong Learning Policy, announced on 8 November 2022. The existence of the Lifelong Learning Policy ensures that access to these activities is open to all individuals, regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, immigration status, or gender. This commitment is clearly reflected in the following statement from the policy:    "Walailak University is a center for lifelong learning that opens up equal educational opportunities for all, based on democratic participation, and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, skin color, physical…

Walailak University, with its wealth of knowledge, resources, and personnel, cannot achieve sustainable community development if such knowledge remains confined within the university walls. Therefore, Walailak University places strong emphasis on educational outreach activities for communities through social engagement projects, focusing on both continuous programs and ad-hoc activities, extending to local schools and communities. The Educational Outreach Activities under the Continuous Programs The implementation of continuous educational activities is a core mission that helps create sustainable learning opportunities for surrounding communities and society. Walailak University has designed and operated long-term programs with consistent continuity to enhance the quality of education among different target groups. These programs focus on promoting access to learning resources, developing essential skills, and building the potential of learners at all levels. Such activities serve as a…

Self-development is considered the cornerstone of lifelong learning. For this reason, Walailak University places great importance on hosting events at university that are open to the general public to train activities and vocational skill development. These activities are conducted in both long-term programs and ad-hoc initiatives, serving as mechanisms to help address unemployment, enhance workforce quality, and further advance existing skills for career success through engagement with various departments from the diagnostics of participants' needs. The activities are classified into two main types: executive education programs and vocational training. Programme Executive Education Programme The training activities under this topic focus on upskilling and reskilling professionals working in relevant fields, such as pharmacy and education. The participants already possess fundamental knowledge and expertise; therefore, these activities provide opportunities to further enhance…