Page 83 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 63

MOOCs AND OTHER OPEN EDUCATION radio station, so as to give the opportunity
PRACTICES for anyone to access the reliable learning
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are resources and references.
online courses that provide an affordable
and flexible way to learn new skills, enhance RESEARCH FINDINGS IN 2015-2019
your career and offer quality educational Similar to traditional universities, STOU has
experiences. STOU-MOOC is the cooperation determined that research is one of the four
between the Thai Cyber University (TCU), the key functions of the university. The Institute
Office of the Higher Education Commission of Research and Development (IRD) has been
(OHEC) and STOU to expand learning established since 1992 with the mission
opportunities to learners. Therefore, to conduct research focusing on distance
MOOCs are more proper to the needs education which reflects the identity of STOU
of learners in a digital age. and creates quality education in distance
education context of STOU at national and
So as to avail the learners of adequate and international levels. Later, other research
effective learning resources, STOU has been areas beyond distance education have also
involved in the development of thirty-six been supported and recognized.
courses which include twenty courses related
to subjects taught by STOU Schools through STOU has allocated about 20 million Thai
the Open edX platform in Stages 1 and 2, Baht annually to offer research opportunity
which is a free and open source learning for STOU faculty and staff. From 2009 to
platform to host MOOCs, smaller classes and 2019, that the largest numbers of research
training modules, and sixteen courses related projects (1,522 projects) received funding
to community promotion and development from external agents and produced the
under the operation of the Center for largest amount of funding (1,722.44 million
Knowledge Management, Communication Baht). The second highest number of
and Development (CCDKM). research projects are from the Rattanakosin
Bicentennial Fund for academic research
In addition to STOU-MOOC, open learning which was established as part of the
resources of the university are accessed Rattanakosin Bicentennial celebration (217
through media.stou.ac.th, which presented projects with 26.7 million Baht granted).
portal of STOU media offered through 12
Schools of study. STOU learners are able to In terms of research productivities in the
access media through every platform, including last five years, there is a large number of
FM Sukhothai, E-Tutorials through STOU completed research projects from 2015 to
Channel and the teaching video clips in 2019. These numbers show a tremendous
moodle.stou.ac.th. However, general public number of research in education in
could watch and listen to educational media various aspects that reflect the identity
through STOU Channel, university television of STOU research. It is not surprised that
channel, and FM Sukhothai, university the largest number of research projects

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU)