AWARDS PRESENTATION AND FELICITATION ON THE PRESIDENT'S BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS GREETINGS DECEMBER 22,2000
09.00 Arrival of the President
Award Presentation Ceremony
St. Monfort's illustrious Service Award
St. Hilaire Distinction in Academic Writing Award (3rd Class)
St. Martin's Excellence in Teaching Award (2nd Class)
St. Martin's Excellence in Teaching Award (3rd Class)
St. Bernard Special Merit Award (3rd Class)
St. Thomas Research Award (3rd Class)
Awards Presentation by the President
Celebration of the Christmas Fesival
Celebration of the President's Birthday
Speeches in English and Thai Poems to felicitate the President
Presentation of bouquets to the President by Au representatives
Speech of Appreciation by the President
Group Photograph & End of the Program
by Rev. Bro. Buncha Saenghiran
December 22,2000
Beginning next year, the AU Academic Awards Ceremony will no longer exist. It will be replaced by an AU Awards for Excellence Ceremony. This change was brought about because we know and recognize that the University has many outstanding professionals that are not in the academic chain, but whose duties enhance the University's academic programs as well as its status and stature among the students, their families and the community at large. Therefore, an AU Awards for Excellence ceremony seems more apropos.
This year's awards presentation will include, for the first time, second and third class awards that have been added to the St. Thomas, the St. Hilaire and the St. Martin awards. The second and third class awards were adopted so we could recognize more junior members of the teaching and administration staff. The St. Montfort Award has but one class. In the future, the St.Martin Award will encompass not only excellence in teaching but excellence in any area of AU operation that is worth special notice, be it any supporting office or area of University operation.
Bang Na Campus
Perhaps the most significant event of the past year is one that will have a profound and lasting effect on University operation and life. The opening of the new Bang Na campus. As with all new ventures and major organizational changes, both seen and unforeseen problems that require action and attention have occurred. It is not always possible to be proactive on all issues and to foresee all needed changes. Change, even for the better, always meets with resistance.
But it is necessary to be active and take corrective actions as expediently as possible when
problems arise.
Due to the rather poor economic conditions that still prevail in Thailand, the full and permanent phase-in period of the move to the Bang Na Campus is being slowed. Because of the high costs associated with moving of laboratories and equipment, our current plans are to keep the engineering and science faculties and facilities at Hua Mak.
The new Bang Na Campus is still in need of additional infrastructure. A temporary sport complex and other amenities are needed in order to keep our students occupied when they are not in class, especially those who live in the residence halls.
AU Human Resource Development Program
Regardless of the economic downturn, attention must be given to improving the skills and capacities of our staff in order to meet current and future needs and demands. As in past years, we have a strong, continuous and on-going program for human resource development. or people programs.
Currently, there are 8 faculty members studying abroad for master degrees, and another 20 for their doctorates. In Thailand, there are an additional 51 pursuing master degrees, and 19 others enrolled in doctoral programs. Another 18 are studying in joint programs for doctorates, both in and outside Thailand.
Two staff members are now pursuing their bachelor degrees. and 10 others their master degrees in Thailand. Two arc studying for master degree abroad.
In sum. there arc 116 faculty members working on advancing their professional qualifications. In addition. 14 staff members are enrolled in degree programs both in Thailand and abroad.
The University also has a vigorous seminar and other training with industry programs. This year, we have sponsored 190 Faculty and 64 staff, or a total of 254 for these types of programs. These programs were conducted both in Thailand and abroad.
The University has recently begun a Human Resource Management Training program for department chairs and their assistants. This program is needed since most of our chairs and assistant chairs are technical experts, but lack managerial skills and know-how needed to efficiently and effectively manage their departments. This program will, we believe, also foster esprit de corps and a more cooperative spirit amonst and between our diverse faculties and departments.
International initiatives, growth and process
As we move ahead into the new century and millennium, our international programs and initiatives continue to grow in size, dimension, stature and importance. It will not be possible to report on all the activities and programs that are forging ahead, but I shall address a few.
As an international University, our non-Thai student population continues to rise with more than 1,100 degree-seeking students enrolled. The student exchange program continues to expand. This year we saw the largest group of Loyola students on campus--35 in all. We also reached a new high with 17 European student now studying on campus. In this environment, the teaching of and in English is imperative. Thus, the challenge to improve our English language programs becomes more intense and critical.
Visitors from all parts of the world continue to flock to AU. Many have made these stopovers because they have heard of our University, its beauty and its extensive academic programs. The internet is also becoming more active with inquiries concerning entry arriving from many parts of the world.
Our ties to China deserve special mention as they are growing in size and importance. This year, we awarded one of our rare honorary doctorates to Her Excellency Madame Chen Zhili. It was an impressive ceremony and, hopefully, will foster our Chinese-Thai cultural relationships.
Recently, AU held its 5th Annual Thai TESOL SIG-LIT international conference with guest speakers arriving from the UK., France, Hong Kong and Malaysia/This is an annual AU event that brings world class experts to AU where they not only deliver speeches, but also conduct work shops. These well-received work shops bring practical teaching techniques and methodologies to the attention of the participants.
The University also held Thailand's first International Conference on In TECII (Intelligence Technologies). This conference was held at the Bang Na Campus and featured world class researchers from NASA and a number of prestigious universities. Students were admitted free.
This past year, we forged a link with Nottingham University. One of the premier universities in the U.K. This program has great potential for enhancing AU's reputation and may well lead to joint MA/Ph.D. programs. Currently, three faculty members are studying for their Nottingham Ph.D.s in a rigorous, quality, low-cost program.
An agreement was also reached with the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. The University of the Incarnate Word has just opened a two-year associate degree program in China that is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in the U.S. This agreement has the potential to bring to AU many of their Chinese graduates for their last two years of baccalaureate studies.
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The captioned award presentation and festive proceedings were organised on December 22 at the Chapel of Annunciation attended by a large number of university administrators, faculty and staff members and well-wishers. The program was as follows.
Report
Conferences