Greeting from my heart
As I begin my second time as Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University Thailand, I am energized and deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our staff members, students and so too society. We will accomplish this together by providing friendly environment, systematic and quality work. By addressing clear vision, strategic plan, ethical practice based on good governance, all faculty staff will be equally looking after in term of supportive system and good social welfare. By setting high academic expectations for all students and providing supportive systems to assure they are met. Setting high standards for all lecturer performance, increased academic expectations for all students and engaging the community, it is our goal at that all graduates are career ready.
We will make every effort so that all students will graduate with high standard, become successful members of Thai society, are able to continue study at higher education, and so too able to compete in an increasingly complex world in which they will work and live. The caring and dedicated faculty and staff at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University will continue to encourage all students to set high goals for themselves and to reach for their dreams.
Our vision during the next four years include “Being one of the top ten Faculty of Social Sciences in Thailand by 2017”. This will loping higher levels of thinking and learning and higher levels of engagement global opportunities.
It is my hope that all students get involved in our mission through strengthening historical systematic thinking, socio-political consciousness, social development, and healthy psychological mind and soul. Students will have opportunities to improve their leadership, research skill, academic skill as well as social skill. Moreover, language, community volunteerism, social activities and clubs will also be outlined. Working together, we can ensure that the students of Faculty of Social Sciences continue to achieve their highest potential in the classroom, on societal arena, or on the field. All involvement, partnership and support are thus greatly appreciated during the university year as we work together to build and maintain our academic programs.
On behalf of the Faculty of Social Sciences and team staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you and all students to a new university year. My long experience as a lecturer and researcher has shown me that it takes a good team as well as a good plan to help all students reach their maximum potential. I will work collaboratively with the faculty staff to provide an academic program where all students can be successful.
I sincerely hope you will take time to look through our web pages and learn about the opportunities available to all students who are members of our “Social Sciences Family”. As a team, I believe that this coming years will enlarge our bright future. I am confident that this will be an outstanding university year and look forward to working with the staff, students, and community to continue the faculty tradition of academic excellence. Together, we can create social innovation for sustainable society.
Policy and Strategic Planning for Faculty of Social Sciences (2014-2017)
The Faculty’s vision has been developed based on 5 main original sources. These include 1) systematic institutional documentary research of the Faculty of social sciences (2003-2013); 2) National Socio-economic development plan (2012-2016); 3) Thai Strategic Educational Development Plan (2012-2016); 4) The current University Strategic Plan (2014); and 5) Self Assessment Report of the Faculty of Social Sciences (2014).
To achieve the vision of becoming “the research faculty and excellent social innovation organization by the year 2017”, I have announced 5 major policies. Each policy has its strategic plan and indicators. First, it is the management policy based on good governance. 6 principles are acknowledged; including legal principles, merit principles, transparency principle, participation principles, responsibility principles, and economy principles. Second, it is the teaching and learning policy focusing on increasing academic standard of post-graduate students, lecturers, and Bachelor degree students to an international level. Third, research policy will be more specific on development social innovation based on a better knowledge management. Integrated teaching and learning into socio-economic development and practices will be highlighted. Systematic data based, social excellent and innovation center will be public exhibited by next year. Fourth, academic social services will be outlined based on an increasing public consciousness, sustainability learning, and strong cooperative social network with both local and international level. Last, art and cultural preservation will be focused on strengthening systematic research and knowledge management of lower northern identity. Cooperative activities will be arranged under the idea of local context, values and needs.
“Walk with me, talk with me”
I have been working in various organizations for nearly thirty years. Although I have been assigned for numbers of administrative positions for several years, started from project director, program director, vice institutional director, vice dean, and head of department but being Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Naresuan University in 2014 is the most challenging task. Not only because we are under the political limitation, social and cultural instability and poor planning educational structure; but also the natural resources degradation as well as confronting international pressure in various issues, including human trafficking, coup ’de tat , corruption, violence, and national conflicts.
Well, believe me being a dean during these situation is not amused. Moreover, our faculty’s transformation into both ASEAN arena and global competition sphere need a good strategic plan and well organized cooperative partners. I have four years to complete the above policy and strategic plan while many people recommended that it may take at least a decade to take effect. When Thomas Jefferson created the University of Virginia in the early 1800s, he submitted that it would “be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind, to explore and to expose every subject susceptible of its contemplation.” This idea, resonant with so many then and over future decades, advanced the notion that university life should be one of exploration and discovery, of reflection and contemplation.
I hope that our residential life at the Faculty of Social Sciences will be best and happy based on love, trust, participation, and ethical practices. Good learning environment is thus not merely for our students but for all of us. Learning at this higher level; I intend to provide equal opportunity for the exchange of ideas, suggestion and friendship. So, come and walk with me, talk with me; together we can.
By
Assoc.Prof.Dr.Patcharin Sirasoonthorn
Dean, Faculty of social Sciences Naresuan University; Phitsanulok Thailand