Page 69 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 49

“

STOU is committed to providing equity and quality
lifelong learning for all to respond to the digital age.

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University STOU has followed lifelong education
(STOU), the first open university in Thailand, philosophy by employing the distance
has provided lifelong learning under the learning system to expand higher education
distance education system to respond to opportunity to all Thai people regardless
individual and societal needs. STOU aims to of gender, age, social status, and residence
produce qualified graduates, to contribute location. Since its establishment, STOU has
to human development and to promote enabled the development of individuals
learning opportunities for all Thai people. and communities throughout Thailand and
Over 42 years, more than three million beyond.
graduates have reflected the attempt of the
university to employ a distance education On October 24, 1978, His Majesty issued
system to provide lifelong learning for all. royal mandates appointing the first University
Council and appointing Professor Dr. Wichit
ESTABLISHMENT Srisa-an as the first president, effective
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University from January 1978. After approximately
(STOU) was officially established by the Royal two years of preparation, STOU offered its
Charter on September 5, 1978, as Thailand’s first academic class on December 1, 1980,
eleventh state university. His Majesty with three schools of study: Educational
King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) Studies, Liberal Arts, and Management
graciously bestowed the university its name Science. Studies at STOU are not confined
in honor of King Prajadhipok (King Rama VII), to traditional classrooms. STOU distance
who once held the title “Prince Sukhothai learning system is a multimedia system which
Thammaracha” prior to his accession to the consists of main media and supplementary
throne. media. At the beginning, the main media
were printed materials supplemented by

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU)