News & Events

“Expanding access to education for children of migrants through learning centres,” an article by our 4th year student, Mr. Phanna Kov, was selected for publication on the website of The Nation Thailand.

Social Policy and Policy (SPD) Programme was delighted to have our booth at the SEAkers Education Fair (SEF), a provincial outreach project led by our 4th-year student, Mr. Phanna Kov. Under the theme of “Bridging the Gap for Inclusive Education in Cambodia”, this project aims to address the geographical and socio-economic gaps in Cambodia’s education system between rural and urban areas, as well as exchange education-related information and opportunities among Cambodian high school students.

On Wednesday 21st December 2022, the SPD team promoted our BA in Social Policy and Development programme and played a fun but informative Q & A game with high school students at Sam Khok School. I

On 15 December 2022, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Administration, the Director of Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme, and Dr. Victor Karunan, SPD member, visited the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration, Chiang Mai University. A meeting with the Dean, Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs and Deputy Dean of Research included discussion on academic collaboration such as joint research, conferences, and fieldwork as well as student exchange. With their expertise in politics and development in the Northern region of Thailand and Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), together with our strength in social development and welfare, we hope our future collaboration will lead to socially innovative welfare and policy knowledge and recommendations.

On 14-16 December 2022, the Faculty of Social Administration Dean, the Director of SPD Programme and staff travelled to promote the SPD curriculum and SPD Admission of academic year 2023 to top high schools in Chiangmai province, including Sarasas Witaed Chiang Mai School, Dara Academy, The Prince Royal's College, Varee Chiangmai School, Regina Coeli College and Montfort College, Secondary Section.

On 7 December 2022, lecturers, administrative staff and students of Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme from each year, including exchange students, warmly celebrated an early Christmas and New Year party at the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University (Tha Prachan Campus).

Approaching global sustainability with technological intervention in the modern world is not an individual responsibility. Rather, dealing with environmental exploitation in our future world matters for all of us and places a responsibility on us all to lessen, or eliminate, further environmental problems and expand the capacity to manage a sustainable society. In this case, technology and innovation are important elements for sustainable development in our society to achieve this goal.

On Friday 25th November 2022, the SPD team, together with the excellent support of our energetic students, promoted our BA in Social Policy and Development programme to high school students at Sarasas Witaed Suvarnnabhum School and met our friends who joined the SPD expedition 2022 at Bann Mai Chilane Resort, Samut Songkram province. We would like to say a big thank you to our students and to the whole school who welcomed us so warmly.

On 16-17 November 2022, the SPD team, together with the excellent support of our energetic students, promoted our BA in Social Policy and Development programme to high school students at Thammasat Open House 2022 at Puey Park for the People, Thammasat university (Rangsit campus).

Dr Amber McKinley, a leading Australian expert in Clinical and Forensic Victimology and Senior Lecturer at Charles Sturt University’s Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security, joined our SPD Public Lecture series on 23rd November, to deliver a lecture on “Getting Under the Skin of Human Trafficking”.

On Thursday 17 November 2022, students on the ‘Migration and the Changing Society’ course, on the Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme visited the Labour Promotion Network (LPN), Watsamakkeesattharam School, fishing dock, and Myanmar community to explore the livelihoods of migrant workers, their socio-economic issues, and the role of civil society in the protection of their fundamental rights and the improvement of their welfare by the state and employers.

"Getting Under the Skin of Human Trafficking: Insights from a Top Australian Expert in Clinical and Forensic Victimology”

On Saturday 12 November 2022, the Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme organized a promotional expedition to Khlongkhon District, Samut Songkhram Province for high school students. 25 students from various schools such as Rajini School, Sarasas Witaed Suvarnabhumi School, Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School, Triamudomsuksapattanakarn School, Triamudomsuksa Nomklao School, Assumption College Samutprakarn, and Bangkok Prep

On Friday 11 November 2022, students on the ‘Introduction of Political Science’ and ‘Globalization and Development Paradigms’ courses, on the Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme visited Praksa Municipality, Praksawithedsuksa school and Kidney Dialysis Center to explore local administration and sustainable development. Dr. Yongyuth Suwannabut, Member of the National Parliament, Vice-Mayors and the executive team gave a warm welcome to the group.

Miss Khanh Linh Nguyen or Aly, our 3rd year student has been selected among thousands of candidates to do an internship with ASEAN Foundation, an organisation under the ASEAN Secretariat, that spans from 1 September to 12 December 2022. Well done Aly and all the best with your exciting internship at ASEAN Foundation!

On Monday 1st November 2022, the SPD team, together with the excellent support of our energetic students, promoted our BA in Social Policy and Development programme to high school students at Rajini School, Bangkok. We would like to say a big thank you to our students and to the whole school who welcomed us so warmly. We hope to see many of you on our programme in the near future.

On 1st November, 2022, the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University signed a MoU with the School for Business and Society, University of York. In the presence of the Vice Rector of International Relations and Administration, Dr Surat, the Dean, Dr Auschala and Deputy Dean, Prof Hudson signed an agreement to explore collaboration in a number of areas, ranging from student exchanges to research expertise, internships, public-private partnerships and dual degree opportunities. Many similarities were found in terms of goals and visions for the respective faculties, and work will now begin on prioritising key areas for action over the coming months. The Faculty of Social Administration would like to thank the delegation from the University of York for their visit and warm engagement on this special occasion.

Students of the SPD course “Seminar” led by Dr Mahesh Chougule recently welcomed Ms Able, named an 'Asian Women Leader 2019' and nominated as a 'Global Woman Achiever 2022' with over 16 years of experience, to the Faculty of Social Administration. Hong Kong-born, US-raised Ms. Able Wanamakok is a media talent with the ability to work across a wide range of platforms, including TV hosting, acting, news presenting, MC'ing, script-writing, and voice-over work.

On 25th November 2022, Dr. Sorasich Swangsilp and Dr. Mahesh Chougule accompanied our SPD students enrolled in the course "Comparative Welfare States" on a visit to the Bangkok Protection Center for the Destitute, at the Department of Social Development and Welfare, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

Students on our SPD course "Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation", led by Ajarn Pred Evans, welcomed Dr Artak Melkonyan, the COO for Impact Investment at UNDP to the Faculty of Social Administration on 26th October 2022.

On Saturday 22 October 2022, the SPD team, together with their energetic students, promoted our BA in Social Policy and Development programme to high school students and their parents at Dek-D Educational Fair at BITEC Convention Center, Bangkok.

On 11-13 October 2022, the SPD programme team led by Ms Sakoonrat Woothichai (Public Relations and Education staff) and Mr Phanna Kov (4th year student) travelled with the Office of International Affairs and representatives from other international programmes to promote SPD to top Cambodian high schools in Cambodia, including High School for Royal University of Phnom Penh, Baktouk High School, Preah Sisowath High School, Toul Tum Poung High School, Paññāsāstra International School (PSIS) and Phnom Penh Thmey High School.

The Social Policy and Development programme, Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University, had the honour of welcoming Mr. Sanon Wangboonsrang, the Deputy Governor of Bangkok, to deliver a special talk on “Youth and Urban Development” on Wednesday 12 October 2022. He emphasized the power of youth in the development of the city. To achieve the goal, all youth must be inclusively empowered through different projects of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, for example, Youth Space for all, BKK rangers, Saturday School, and Declaration of Child Rights. The Deputy Governor's talk was followed by a rich and wide-ranging discussion with our students.

On 12th October, our Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation students were given a presentation and tour of the social enterprise Moreloop. This highly successful business with its factory and offices in Tha Phra curate surplus fabrics from quality garment factories and create a market to allow Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to access quality fabrics at a reasonable price. The vision of the leaders, Khun Amm and Khun Amorpol, is to make circular economy a reality.

On Wednesday 5th October, our 4th year students on the BA in Social Policy and Development International Programme visited Social Enterprise Thailand at the Mae Fah Luang Foundation building in Lumpini to learn more about the support offered to social entrepreneurs and social enterprises across Thailand. Led by our Assistant Dean for International Affairs and lecturer Ajarn Pred Evans, this visit formed a part of the Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation course. Students on this course are encouraged to write their own social business plans, drawing inspiration from a wide range of experts and practitioners in the field of social enterprise.

On 26-28 September 2022, the Director of SPD programme travelled with the Vice-Rector of International Affairs and representatives from other international programmes to promote SPD to top Vietnamese high schools, including High School for the Gifted – VNU.HCM, Experimental High School, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, High School for Gifted Students, HNUE, and THPT Phan đình Phùng High School in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Half tuition fee waive scholarships are offered to the two best students. We are looking forward to having more Vietnamese students on our programme.

SPD Programme would like to thank Ajarn Weerawat Phattarasukkumjorn-the professor of EC210: Introductory Economics for teaching our SPD students for almost 4 years. We hope your new journey for studying in Japan goes well.

On 7 September 2022, a productive meeting took place between the Faculty of Social Administration Dean and SPD Director and the Board of Rajini School to discuss a range of exciting academic collaboration. The Board at the school were very pleased to welcome us and the discussion led to a win-win outcome for both sides.

Recently the launch of the "Sharing their Narratives" report - a research by Dr Victor Karunan and Dr Justin Rogers on alternative care in Thailand was held at our Faculty with a wide range of participants and partners from Thailand and from across the world. Check out the details here, and many thanks to all who supported this event including many of our students.

SPD Director Dr Sorasich Swangsilp was recently interviewed by the Bangkok Post as a Thai expert on Southeast Asia. In this article called "Time ripe for a review", Ajarn Sorasich shares his views on the challenges posed by regional ASEAN disunity, and the opportunities which exist for greater integration, including the special role that Thailand can play moving forward.

BANGKOK—The Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University is pleased to announce the release of the ‘Sharing their Narratives’ report on Wednesday 24 August 2022 from 15.00-18.00, in room 302, the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat university (Tha Prachan campus). The launch of the report was led by Dr. Victor Karunan, a member of the Social Policy and Development (SPD) programme board, Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat university; Dr. Justin Rogers, The Open University; and Dr. Pryn Ketnim, a researcher.

On 9-10th August 2022, the Faculty of Social Administration Dean, Auschala Chalayonnavin and the Director of SPD Programme, Dr Sorasich Swangsilp promoted the SPD curriculum to International Schools within Phuket Province in order to show what the Faculty can offer to students living in the province.

On 6 August 2022 our SPD team visited Thailand Education Expo 2022 to promote our programme to prospective students. A big thanks to Mia, Nam, Joey, Thorfun and Jenny -our SPD students for representing us so well at this event.

SPD organized "SPD Freshy Trip 2022" to officially welcome the 09th cohort to programme at Khao Yai, from 03 to 05 August 2022. The trip comprised 1) a study visit to Learning Center for Older Persons in Muak Lek District to learn about welfare policy for older persons in the district; 2) a tour at Thai-Denmark Milk Farm, Khao Yai; 3) Group discussion on specific social issues and policy recommendations, and 4) Indoor and outdoor activities to build a stronger connection between current students and new students. We hope SPD09 students enjoy their learning journey with SPD! #SPD #SPDFreshyTrip #SPDStudents #SPDStudyVisit

On 23 May 2023 our SPD team visited Thammasat Secondary School Education Fair 2022 to promote our programme to prospective students. A big thanks to Mia and Nam-our SPD students for representing us so well at this event.

Congratulations to our 3rd-4th graduating cohort from the Bachelor of Arts in Social Policy and Development (International Programme), Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University. Hope to see all of you again on Saturday 29th May 2022 for the Graduation Ceremony Day

SPD Program was excited to host Dr. Gavin Shatkin, Professor of Public Policy and Architecture at Northeastern University, as part of our ongoing Speaker Series. Dr. Shatkin spoke about the flooding, development, and politics of Jakarta, as well as other related issues throughout Southeast Asia. Thank you again to Dr. Shatkin, as well as to all of the attendees for joining!

SPD students attended a special session led by a U.S. diplomat, Ms. Sarah Quinzio, Deputy Director at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. Ms. Quinzio spoke about public policy, climate change, international cooperation, and many other important topics. A big thank you to the U.S. Embassy for taking the time to speak with our students, and we greatly look forward to our future collaboration together.

This is an activity that the Thammasat University Student Council Organization recognizes as an important activity and as a way to ecourage participation in the activities of the university. It is also a way to learn about public relations, to plan management and teamwork, with the experience of working with others and collaborating with students from different faculties and also connecting in terms of relations with senior students and developing a respect for the rules of sports games.

On 17th March 2022, SPD welcomed Khun Lee Ayu Chuepa from Akha Ama, an award-winning community-based social enterprise committed to sustainable coffee. In this highly engaging session, Khun Lee shared with us how his coffee is enriching people’s lives and transforming communities, and how the enterprise provides high-quality coffee to global consumers while protecting the livelihood of his community's farmers. Many thanks to Khun Lee for taking the time out to be with us and for all the truly inspirational insights into what it takes to create meaningful social change. For those who missed it, you can check out the special session here