AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT DR. BANCHA SAENGHIRAN.*
(*reproduced from ABACA PROFILE of October-December 2002.)
For over 40 years, Reverend Brother Dr. Bancha Saenghiran has dedicated his physical strength and mental powers to fulfilling his duties as a Brother of the St. Gabriel's Foundation of Thailand. He has established full confidence in his knowledge, talent and vision, which is deep as well as far and wide thanks to his vast experience gained by working at the various institutions operated by the order. Today ABAC Alumni Association proudly welcomes his new significant appointment as President of Assumption University and requested an interview with him and here is what he has to say about his visions and his responsibilities.
Continuing to make ABAC a world-class university.
"The duty before me is mainly to continue the work begun by the former Rector, Reverend Brother Dr. Prathip Martin Komolmas, who has, at this moment, been appointed President Emeritus by the University Council. Our mission is to continue to develop our university to be a world-class institution. If anyone should ask at this point when this will be achieved, the answer is that it will take time to effect changes for the better. We must move forward step by step in accordance with the university's vision and mission, working methodically and patiently to realize the philosophy of the Brothers of St. Gabriel. At present we have students coming from within the country and overseas to pursue further studies here, and their numbers have been growing steadily. Judging by their numbers, the world-class university is not a too distant goal. But most of all, we can regard the successes of our graduates as proof of the good quality and high standard of our university. In the last five to six years, Assumption University graduates have been able to enroll in leading world universities to study in different fields, hi particular, in the year 2002, two graduates have been admitted to the MBA program at Harvard University and one student at MIT. Besides this, many of our graduates were able to obtain jobs at multinational corporations."
"The university attaches great importance to the quality of teachers, the methodology of research and teaching and learning. Research and teaching and learning to hand in hand. But in addition to qualified teachers, and a good teaching and learning environment, we must have facilities to provide to our students. It is not possible to continue in the crowded conditions we have at Hua Mak Campus, where some 18,000 students were cramped in the space of a 16-rai plot, and therefore, we must continue the work of the former Rector to develop the Bang Na Campus. At this moment 40 percent of the work has been completed. With more space and better surroundings, our students can achieve quality, knowledge and ability."
Producing graduates who possess knowledge and integrity
"Our special characteristic is that we use English as the language of instruction. Our courses are unique in that business management is at the base of every program we teach, and our graduates are trained as managers, with solid theoretical knowledge and a practical background. Moreover, professional ethics and service-Omindedness will ensure that they are graduates of integrity. This may not sound so different from other institutions, but we regard this as the unique feature of a Catholic university. The word does not merely define an idea, or show that the administrators are brothers. It means that, in the context of the Catholic University, the administrators must pay attention to morality, ethics and good behaviour and this is an important process in our education. Other universities are known to have international programs, large facilities and students from overseas, but our value of education here is defined by the Christian concepts of love, kindness and sacrifice. These values we endeavour to instill in our students, by the continuous interrelation between administrators, faculty, personnel and students, not only in the classroom but in all aspects of university life."
Teaching students how to learn about new things all their lives
"Students often say it's hard to study at ABAC, therefore they don't have time for other activities. It may be true that studying there is hard because English is the medium of instruction, but this is only in the beginning when students need to adjust to a new language. However, I often see that students are free and don't know what to do so they simply do nothing or use the telephone a lot. It's not that they don't have free time. But they don't know how to mange their time and use it to their utmost advantage they forget that "Time is Money," or simply that "Time and Tide Wait for No Man." If they know the importance of time management, they will always learn new things to develop themselves. Unity, for example, is not the result of activity alone, it is the result of many things. Attending classes, and going home, is the very basic activity of students and they have known this since high school. But at university level they have to adjust their life and way of thinking, and change from students who learn from teachers to students who know how to look for knowledge and learn how to learn by themselves. There are many methods on how to depend on themselves. The teacher becomes the manger who encourages students to study and look for solutions to problems, because in the future there will be no teacher to stand by them. The students must teach themselves, and adjust their behaviour to their surroundings. All these things cannot be learned through specific programmes, however carefully they might have been chosen. On the contrary, activities often lead to fights and quarrels, and the effect can be adverse to its real aim. But if we acquire knowledge, and apply new knowledge to our life, we have really learned and gained something. Simply think of how much we had to adjust when we were young. Nobody wants to brush their teeth because it hurts, but knowing that it is necessary as well as important we stick to, we adjust, and it becomes a regular habit and a part oflife."
Creating an international teaching-learning environment
"Many people keep asking why ABAC does not have faculty comprising entirely of foreigners. In order to answer this question, let us first look at what it means to study at the international level. Faculty at this university is selected according to their expertise in their fields, their educational qualifications and the universities where they studied, and their ability to teach in English as use English efficiently. It is not necessary to look for foreign teachers only, because in real life, in the world arena, the graduates will meet with people of various nations and cultures. Therefore, we choose teachers without discrimination. We have a truly international atmosphere here with both teachers and students from some 57 countries in the world. At one time in Thailand we were crazy after foreigners, who were understood to be from Europe, and considered as good as their products. But in the globalized world, when we buy goods from Europe, they are likely to be made in China, or Korea, or Thailand, but we don't know it, and believe that everything foreign is good. On December 4 His Majesty the King suggested that Thai people should breed Thai dogs and train them. Before that nobody ever thought about it. His Majesty also praises Thai wisdom, but the word "local wisdom" should be more appropriately translated as "local knowledge." Americans and Europeans have competence in their own languages, but Thai people can acquire the skill and the pronunciation of native speakers by practicing outside the class, by watching news such as CNN, CNBC and BBC. One thing required of our teachers is international intelligibility. If we watch CNN or BBC we can see many Asian newscasters who can speak perfect English. Therefore, let us not create wrong values, but let us look toward creating a world-class standard of education and fulfill the need for knowledge to serve the international community at ABAC."
Developing technology to facilitate the teaching-learning process
"The first faculty we launched was Business Administration, and then when we looked at the base of all our studies, we find that it is Liberal Arts and this is an essential part of education if we aim to build human beings, because we are not only born to work. Some may think that studying means the acquisition of skills to be able to work, but we need people in the society to build a happy and harmonious life. This is what people need, what eh nation needs and what the world needs. When Business Administration and Arts had developed to a certain point, the university saw the need for teaching computer management, which was the first course of its kind in Thailand. Since then, the university has concentrated on building technology resources because the world has given much importance to technology, so that we are ready to create technology. The construction of the new IT Building at Bang Na campus is proof of the progress we have made with the promotion of information technology at the university, in particular since we are the founding member of the internet Society, the only one in the Asia Pacific region. We regard it as a great source for a happy student life, giving them knowledge and entertainment without end. But it must be used in the right way. Whether it is beneficial or harmful depends on the user, of course."
"Language is important at the university, because in a globalized world we cannot use Thai. For this reason, English, French, Chinese and Japanese are major language courses so that our students can communicate efficiently in the business world. With their background in business, management and information technology, the students can enter the current of globalization without fear."
Helping create a network of friends, societies and business
"A good network is important, such as a network of organizations and a network of students. It works horizontally and vertically. Just like the Internet, which we can hook up if we are looking for knowledge. Students should form a network to consult with each other. There is the story of an ailing person who had been looking for a cure for a long time. Then one day he posted his symptoms on the Internet, and a doctor who read it could suggest a successful cure. There may be many such important matters, whether it is a problem at work, or a problem with a relationship, hi this age networking is important. It can open up the world for both business and a happy way of life. Both students and parents share the opinion that studying at Assumption University has enormous benefits, for here they will meet friends and create an opportunity for networking business and friends in the future.
Developing Ethics to maintain happiness and success
"In order to sustain continuous happiness, three things are very important. Keep learning all the time. The completion of your studies at a certain level is not everything. Many stop learning after they obtained their degree, but really speaking we must learn all the time. We should continue reading and solve problems. Learn to adjust. The world keeps changing all the time, so we must catch up with the events and adjust ourselves to the new times and circumstances. If we don't change we will be like elephants. The dinosaur is already dead, and now the elephants are in danger of dying out because they are being driven out of their habitats. If we can't adjust we will lose. Also with technology, if we don't know how to use it, we cannot keep up with progress. We must have morality and ethics. Otherwise the world will be in trouble. These three things are important, in particular ethics, otherwise religion will be eliminated and life will become meaningless. As men live together they must know what is right and wrong, they must make ethical decisions and be able to sacrifice. In society we depend on each other and must love one another. Then we will be clever and good and happy, clever to survive in the changing world, good in the heart and full of integrity, so that we will be always happy."
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