The Role of Women in Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand

This article was written by Group 1 in Srinakharinwirot University, as part of the Wikigender University Programme.

Introduction

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) is based in Bangkok, Thailand.^[1]

Today, women are given more chances than before to work or even to become leaders of their countries. For example, the Prime Minister of Thailand is a woman.^[2] In addition to education, women have more opportunities to access learning. For example, the majority of people who have a bachelor degree in Thailand are women.^[3] In this article we would like to present the role of women in our university, Srinakharinwirot University, by starting with an introduction of our university as follows.

In Thailand, all names have a meaning so the meaning of Srinakharinwirot University is "the glory of the city" and its Philosophy is "Education is growth". The value of this is being the intellectual leader with the vision to become the leading research and learning organisation on a basis of virtue and education oriented to international innovation and creativity.

Mission

1. To generate personal development with quality and virtue for society through the learning process and a learning society.

2. To create quality, beneficial and sustainable research and innovation for national and international society.

3. To provide services with quality, awareness and accountability for society.

4. To study, analyse and foster arts and culture.

5. To develop administration systems with quality and good governance.

University Emblem

The Srinakharinwirot University emblem derives from a graph showing the mathematic equation of an exponential curve

( Y = ex ). It symbolises growth, which is consistent with the university's philosophy "Education is growth".

SWU Color

Grey is the color of brain, meaning thought or wisdom.
Red is the color of blood, meaning courage.

The Ratchapreuk Tree Signifies the Srinakharinwirot University Tree

The Ratchapreuk tree is known as Golden Shower, Indian Laburnum, Pudding - pine Tree, Cassis fistula linn, which is in the Leguminosae family. It is also called Koon, Chaiyapreuk, or Lom Laeng.

We are proud to say that Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has graduated from Srinakarinwirot University in 1987 with a PH.D Education programme in Development Education, an inter-disciplinary degree for her professional development.

The principle of using education as a means of community and social development which Her Royal Highness has acquired during her doctoral studies, together with her former experience in the field, has served as a solid base for her subsequent involvement in community development activities ever since.^[4]

The Role of Women in Srinakharinwirot University

The percentage of women enrolled in the university is higher than the percentage of men, as shown in the figures below.


Number of Students in Undergraduate Education in Thailand 2009-2011
(From the Office of the Higher Education Commission)^[5]

The figure shows that every year, there are more female students than male students. In 2011, the number of undergraduates in Thailand was 1,606,995 (is 936,779 or 58% female and 670,216 or 42% male). Today women get more opportunities in education and therefore more roles in society. This means that in the future women will become an important driving force for the economy of Thailand. Furthermore, we would like to present the ratio of female and male at the level of our university.





Number of Students Graduated from Srinakharinwirot University, 2008 - 2010
(Education Services of Srinakharinwirot University)^[6]

As can be seen in this figure, the number of students graduated with a Bachelor degree from Srinakharinwirot University in 2008-2010 was 8,974, 5,987 of which were women (or 66%) and 2,996 men (or 33.4%). This emphasises the important role of women in Thailand since the numbers show that there are more female than male graduates. The University has supplied more women to the labour market than men and in this way it contributes to our country's development.

Although the number of females who graduated from Srinakharinwirot University is higher than that of males, still the proportion is not sufficient to address the demand of the labour market, especially in the Science and Technology sector. Please consider the table below.










At present, Srinakharinwirot University has implemented 14 faculties and colleges, including 8 faculties of Science and 6 faculties of Social Science.^[7]

From this figure, the number of females who graduated in both Sciences and Social Sciences is higher than the number of males. But the current situation of the Thai labour market has a high demand for Sciences in comparison to Social Sciences, which led to a mismatch in the labour market.^[8] So those who graduated from the Social Sciences sector experience more difficulty in obtaining a job. To solve this issue, graduate students should attend training courses to upgrade their knowledge, skills and competencies and become wage earners or self–employed.

The Role of Women in The School of Economics and Public Policy

As we are students of the School of Economics and Public Policy, we would like to present the role of women in the faculty who play a positive role for society.

In order to serve the university’s educational mission of contributing to society, the School of Economics and Public Policy is dedicated to develop undergraduate and graduate students many abilities to approach knowledge in economics theoretically and logically. At present, the School of Economics and Public Policy is offering three programs. The programs are comprised of a bachelor’s program, a master program as well as a doctoral program. The bachelor’s grogram is designed to give a basic knowledge in economics and to provide students with experience on Thailand socio-economics issues. The aim of both graduate programs is to prepare the students to professional careers in teaching, research, business and especially government office. All programs attempt to provide students a mastery of theoretical, applied, and research fields of economics and public policy. At the same time such programs are responding for producing high quality graduates with morals and ethics working in both local and global markets.

For the Undergraduate programs: the programme takes 4 years to get the Bachelor of Economics (B. Econ). The Master Programs Master of Arts on Public Economics (M.A. Public Economics ) lasts 2 to 5 years. The Doctoral Degree on Philosophy of Economics (Ph.D. Economics) offers 3 to 8 years programmes.^[9]

The Dean, Dr. Renu Sukharomana and the Deputy Dean, Dr. Chompoonuh Kosalakorn Permpoonwiwat, Ph.D. are both responsible for this course and are the leading supporters of the OECD Wikigender University Programme.

The Cooperation of School of Economics and Public Policy, Srinakarinwirot Univertsity with OECD Development Centre

In the academic year 2012, the School of Economics and Public Policy at Srinakharinwirot University initiated a project with Wikigender's programme Wikigender University. Srinakharinwirot University will be the first university in Thailand to do such a project. The advisor and also lecturer of the Current Economics Problems and Issues is Areeya Rojvithee, former Deputy Director General of the Department of Skills Development, Ministry of Labour, Thailand who after having retired from the government is still working as Freelance Consultant for some projects at international organisations such as the ILO, ADB, APEC, ASEM and OECD.

In summary, nowadays, with adequate support, respect and recognition of the role of women, we can say that women are key for societal progress in Thailand.

Wikigender University student article” Thailand, School of Economics and Public Policy, Srinakarinwirot University.

See Also

• Wikigender University: Srinakharinwirot University

References

1. ↑ Srinakharinwirot University , available at : http://www.swu.ac.th/en/content/introduction.asp
2. ↑ Time (2011), Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, 16.09.2011, available at: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2005455_2005458_2086925,00.html
3. ↑ Office of the Higher Education Commission, available at: http://www.info.mua.go.th/information and Education Services of Srinakharinwirot University, available at: http://edservice.oop.swu.ac.th/Default.aspx?tabid=3749
4. ↑ The Golden Jubilee Network, available at : http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/sirindhorn/index.en.htmll
5. ↑ Office of the Higher Education Commission, available at: http://www.info.mua.go.th/information
6. ↑ Education Services of Srinakharinwirot University, available at: http://edservice.oop.swu.ac.th/Default.aspx?tabid=3749
7. ↑ Education Services of Srinakharinwirot University, available at: http://edservice.oop.swu.ac.th/Default.aspx?tabid=3749
8. ↑ Focused and Quick (FAQ) Issue 57 (2011), Labour shortages, available at: http://www.bot.or.th/Thai/EconomicConditions/Publication/FAQ_documents/FAQ_57.pdf
9. ↑ The School of Economics and Public Policy, available at: http://www.swu.ac.th/en/content/econ.asp

Group 1

The members of ECS 485 Group 1 are:

1. Mr. Raveroj Wattanakijpanich
2. Mr. Nartsupon Dumchuen
3. Mr. Pattarakorn Jiravichayanon
4. Miss Waranya Pornlertkochakorn
5. Miss Pattraporn Prateappornsak
6. Miss Nara Nopporn
7. Mr. Arnon Jumsin
8. Mr. Zion Panjachaiya

Feedback

Report Spam or Vandalism

Article : The Role of Women in Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand
Comment : Please enter a comment.