Category: Sustainability and Stewardship

Sustainability and Stewardship Food insecurity and hunger among students are pressing issues faced by many universities worldwide, including Walailak University. Despite being located in an area abundant in food resources, some students—particularly those with financial constraints—struggle to access sufficient and nutritious meals. This problem affects not only their physical and mental health but also their learning performance. Recognizing the importance of this issue, Walailak University has programs in place on student food insecurity by launching the “Free Meal Grants” Program in 2004 to provide food assistance to underprivileged students. The initiative is managed by the Center of Property Management (CPM) in collaboration with campus food vendors, with a screening system facilitated by the Division of Student Support and Development (DSSD) and academic advisors to ensure that support reaches the right…

Sustainability and Stewardship A Systematic and Sustainable System for Tracking and Managing Food Waste Across the Entire University Food waste can occur at every stage of the food production process, from production, handling and storage, processing, and distribution to consumption. The causes of food waste are diverse, ranging from inadequate market systems, improper transportation of fresh products, and production of excess food, to purchasing or displaying large quantities, oversized meal portions, and the prevailing attitude that disposal is cheaper than reuse. Recognizing these challenges, Walailak University has established a systematic approach to track and measure food waste generated within the campus from the campus population including students and employees. This monitoring system covers the whole university where food is consumed, including food centers, student dormitories, staff dormitories, academic buildings, administrative…

Walailak University has successfully passed the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) for the fiscal year 2024 with a score of 92.33. The evaluation comprises three key components: Internal Integrity and Transparency Assessment (IIT):This assessment reflects the opinions of university personnel who have been employed for at least one year, regarding the integrity and transparency of the institution. A total of 876 personnel participated in the survey, contributing to a score of 46 points. External Integrity and Transparency Assessment (EIT):This assessment collects feedback from service recipients and external stakeholders who interacted with the university during the fiscal year 2024. A total of 900 respondents participated, resulting in a score of 87 points. Open Data Integrity and Transparency Assessment (OIT): This component evaluates the extent to which public information is disclosed on the university’s official…

Sustainability and Stewardship The revenue from the industrial sector of Walailak University WU, classified as a Frontier Research University, has enhanced the quality of research output and significantly increased the number of groundbreaking research works. This has been achieved through the mission of its Science and Technology Park, an organization within the university that promotes and develops knowledge in science, technology, and innovation to strengthen the country. It supports private entities in research and development by bringing together researchers and experts from both the public and private sectors to collaborate with businesses in need of expertise in various fields.From the operational results in fiscal year 2022, revenue generated from utilizing research innovations in the industrial sector through the Science and Technology Park amounted to a total of 8,988,422.53 baht. For…

Sustainability and Stewardship Spin-offs from WU: The Businesses from University Knowledge Being a Frontier Research University, Walailak University (WU), by the highly qualified faculty members, produces a large number of quality research studies and projects that give tangible results. Many research projects have high impact and achieve an outstanding success, enabling them to be established as spin-offs of the university, such as Walaibiocontrol Co., Ltd.Walaibiocontrol Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary company of WU, which is a spin-off company of the School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Warin Intana serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). It was registered and established to benefit from the intellectual property of Walailak University for more than 3 years (since the year 2020), and it continues to operate its agricultural…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak Patent and Petty Patent Citing University Research The Science and Technology Park of WU has been advancing to promote startups and innovative entrepreneurs, especially those using advanced technology or Deep Tech, to access patent registration processes and legal knowledge through project activities and funding, as well as to create collaborative networks with the Department of Intellectual Property. The achievements and successes of the university have promoted university personnel, resulting in the registration of intellectual property rights and their utilization for commercial innovation development. As a result, from the year 2021 to 2023, a total of 51 intellectual property registrations were made by university personnel.Focusing on 2023, WU had the number of patents that cite research conducted by the university, totaling 13 patents citing university research to…

Sustainability and Stewardship Reducing Energy Consumption Plan Energy is essential for humans in the modern era. Currently, the world's energy consumption primarily comes from fossil fuels, accounting for as much as 95% of total usage. Since fossil fuel energy is a non-renewable resource, WU has recognized this problem and developed an energy efficiency plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption through the Green University Project. This initiative aligns with the government's Energy Efficiency Development Plan (EEDP), with the goal of reducing the university's total energy consumption by 10% per year.To ensure the effectiveness of university's plan and the government's energy policy, efficient energy use, energy saving, and waste reduction have been seriously and continuously implemented. The university has announced energy-saving plan to instill a shared culture among students and…

Sustainability and Stewardship A Smart & Green Campus: Sustainable Initiatives at Walailak University Global warming refers to the increase in the Earth’s average temperature due to the greenhouse effect. This phenomenon is primarily caused by human activities that increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the burning of various fuels, transportation, and industrial production.Consequently, Walailak University (WU) has a carbon management and reduction process to promote energy conservation and efficiency, focusing on the use of renewable energy, alternative energy, and clean energy, aiming towards becoming a Smart & Green University and reducing carbon dioxide emissions through diverse operational initiatives, such as:Waste ManagementEfficient waste management processes contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emission. This can be achieved through various technologies such as: Methane capture from anaerobic digestion of food…

Sustainability and Stewardship Living Wage Employment Practices: Adequate Compensation for Staff Walailak University recognizes the importance of staff living wages, which are defined as the local living wage and the local financial poverty indicator for a family of four. as determined by the government.In 2014, the university revised its salary policy to guarantee that all staff, regardless of position, receive a living wage or salary that reflects current economic conditions, enabling them to maintain a stable and smooth quality of life. This policy has been in effect since its implementation and remains active to this day. The policy, implemented in 2014, remains active and can be accessed athttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1ncwJK-Jm_a0OL4oydrArlYevtMb4nOU_/view At Walailak University, staff are categorized into three groups: academic staff, supporting staff, and academic administrative staff. The determination of living wages…

Sustainability and Stewardship Walailak University Upholds Transparent Communication and Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement Established in 1992 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Walailak University has consistently demonstrated a commitment to transparent communication and active stakeholder engagement, recognizing these principles as essential to its mission of academic excellence and community service. This community encompasses students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, community partners, and governing bodies, all of whom are essential to the university's ongoing success and development.Demonstrating its dedication to transparent governance, WU has enacted the "Walailak University Regulations on Administrative Investigation and Consideration B.E. 2562." This policy provides a structured framework for stakeholders to voice concerns and appeal decisions that directly affect them. Whether issues pertain to campus expansion, construction projects, environmental changes, or policy modifications, the university ensures stakeholders have a formal…