Address by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Bancha Saenghiran

Dear Bro. President,

V.P. Academic affaires Dr. Bancha Saenghiran presenting his report during the Commencement Exercises held on January 26.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, graduates, and students, I am pleased that you are present here today to preside over the degree conferring ceremony of the 1st year of the third millennium.

Let me take this opportunity to inform you and those here assembled of some of the University progress and accomplishments achieved in the past year.

  1. At present, the University offers 10 bachelor's degree programs, one graduate diploma program, 24 masteral programs, and 7 doctoral programs.

    Considering that the 21st century is likely to be kaleidoscopic, the University foresees the importance of developing academic programs to meet the challenges of the day. About 30 academic programs went through the process of curriculum development.

  2. It is well understood that the most essential element in providing quality teaching and learning, is the quality of the faculty members. To achieve this, regular human resources development in terms of involving our faculty members in higher studies, professional seminars and workshops both in Thailand and outside have been sponsored.

  3. On research, the Research Institute of Assumption University (RIAU) has begun to play an active role inside the University to facilitate faculty and students in research activities. A Research fund has been established. Moreover, conferences and ABAC polls were conducted to help solve the problems of the country.

  4. On academic Resources and facilities development
    The University has as its policy not only to maintain but also to upgrade and to develop the University academic resources and facilities to be able to keep pace with the challenges of to-day, they either be the University Library, Information Technology, Computer Aided Instruction, Audio-Visual aids, software applications, including spaceroom use,

  5. On Foreign Relations
    As an international community, expressed in the University's Vision 2000, at present, there are over 1,500 international students from 55 countries.

    We also have international alliance with a number of universities outside Thailand.

    In this connection, it should not be out of place to mention that the University was able to win the recognition of the Royal Thai Government by securing the prestigious "Prime Minister's Export Award for Outstanding Performance as the Best service Provider for 2001." We have to be proud as this award was conferred for the first time last year.

  6. On Quality Assurance
    The primary concern of any educational institution is academic excellence. The University tries its very best and consistently strives after this goal.

Alongside with the National Education Act 1999, the University is working rigorously and extensively on the quality assurance scheme. The Center for Excellence (CFE) was established on May 15, 2001 to facilitate the quality system of the University.

Now I would like to turn your attention to some statistical data pertaining to our current student body and the graduating class here assembled.

Our student body of 2001 consisted of 19,383 students and of these,:

  • 16,829 were studying in the bachelor degree program, another
  • 2,505 in various masteral programs, and
  • 49 others were pursuing their doctorates.

This year 3,826 graduates will receive their degrees.

  • Two Doctors of Philosophy in Computer Information Systems and in Computer Engineering Management will be awarded another
  • 807 are to receive master's degree,
  • and 3,017 for the bachelor's degree.

Among these many graduates, there are 161 students who will receive academic awards of excellence with

  • 14 Summa cum Laude
  • 58 Magna cum Laude
  • and 89 to graduate with cum Laude

In addition to these outstanding medal winning scholars, there are 152 current and graduating students here to receive the president's Certificate of Honors for receiving Grade Point Average of 3.5 and above for the past academic year.

In closing, I believe that all here assembled can appreciate the University's accomplishments of the past year. The accomplishments are many and varied but with God's help and together, we, the students, faculty and staff, and administration will be able to bring greater accomplishments in the years to come.

May I, now, call upon our President to award the honors and degrees to this year's graduates of Class XXIX. 

	

	



	
	


	
			
	

	

	
	

	
	

	

		







ABAC Today Assumption University, Thailand