Walailak University Surpasses International Standards in the 2023 Education Quality Assessment.
Walailak University Achieves Above-Standard Performance in AUN-QA Internal Quality Assessment for Academic Year 2023
On November 28–29, 2024, a panel of distinguished experts from both external and internal agencies conducted the Internal Quality Assurance Assessment at Walailak University for the 2023 academic year. The assessment was welcomed by Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, along with the university’s executive team.
This marks the second consecutive year that Walailak University has adopted the AUN-QA (ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance) framework—an internationally recognized standard with a 7-level scoring system—as part of its internal quality assurance system known as WUQA-U.
The evaluation covered 2 main criteria, 25 sub-criteria, and 16 strategic indicators, focusing on both operational quality and strategic implementation.
The results revealed that the university’s performance was above the international benchmark, and its strategic initiatives at the institutional level successfully met the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) set for the year.
In the 2023 academic year, Walailak University achieved outstanding results in the internal quality assurance assessment based on AUN-QA (ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance) standards. Under Criterion U1: University Management, the university received an overall score of Level 5, indicating performance that is “Better Than Adequate”.
The assessment evaluated four key components:
- U1.1 Strategic Quality Assurance
- U1.2 Systemic Quality Assurance
- U1.3 Functional Quality Assurance
- U1.4 Results
Each component received an overall score of Level 5, reaffirming the university’s consistent quality across all dimensions.
In addition to U1, Walailak University also implemented strategic indicators under Criterion U2: Strategic Implementation at the University Level. The university achieved an average score of 6.44, demonstrating that its performance successfully met the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) outlined in its strategic plan.
A key strength of Walailak University lies in its visionary leadership under Professor Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, who has driven transformative change with clear, measurable outcomes. The university operates with a well-defined annual strategic action plan, communicated through a top-down approach, ensuring alignment across all levels of administration and fostering organizational unity.
The President is recognized as a transformational leader, setting ambitious goals such as:
- Positioning Walailak University among the Top 5 universities in Thailand
- Ensuring all faculty members meet UKPSF (UK Professional Standards Framework) standards
- Promoting research publication in Scopus, especially in Q1 and Q2 journals
- Advancing the university as a Digital University
- Developing a Smart Hospital
This leadership approach has enhanced staff capabilities, elevated the university’s reputation, and strengthened its competitiveness.
Moreover, Walailak University has built extensive external partnerships, earning accolades such as:
- Global Good Governance Awards
- Outstanding Research Award 2024 from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
- Ranking in the 1201+ band globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- Placement in the 101–200 band globally in the THE Impact Rankings 2024
The university’s policies in education, research, and academic services are particularly noteworthy. These include:
- Outcome-Based Education to produce graduates who are both competent and ethical
- A strong emphasis on Scopus-indexed research publications
- Ongoing academic service collaborations with external organizations
- Adoption of the UKPSF framework from the UK to reform teaching and learning practices
Source of information and news images: Walailak University website
