A Case Study of eLearning in ASEAN at Assumption University of Thailand Prof.Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman Board Chairman and CEO College of Internet Distance Education Assumption University Invited Speaker, 2 nd ASEAN Education Forum “Bridging the Knowledge Gap within the ASEAN Community: Education for All”. Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam, November 19, 2008

1.Introduction. 2.First eLearning Law in Thailand. 3.College of Internet Distance Education. 3.1 Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology. 3.2 M.Sc. in Management. 3.3 M.Sc. in ICT. 3.4 Certificate Program for SMEs. 3.5 eLearning for Bedside Chorus. 4. Concluding Remarks. A Case Study of eLearning in ASEAN at Assumption University of Thailand. 2

 One of the leading organizations supporting quality eLearning is the Sloan Consortium: - Survey Reports - Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks - Sloan-C Effective Practices - Conference - Training - Etc Introduction.

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 The College of Internet Distance Education of Assumption University is an Institutional Member of Sloan Consortium. 5 Introduction (Cont.)

6  eLearning is gaining more and more popularity all over the world, including in ASEAN.  University level: no field of study where eLearning is not used.  Short courses and training level: formal academic institutions, learned societies and companies are providing eLearning.

7 Introduction (Cont.) K12: State of Michigan passed the first law in the world requiring eLearning in high schools. Each year 450,000 students take eLearning. K12: State of Florida passed a law allowing K12 students to study in eLearning mode for all the courses, if anyone wishes.

8 2. First eLearning Law in Thailand.  On April 25, 2002, Prof. Charmonman proposed and got approval from the Board of Trustees of Assumption University (AU) to establish the first eLearning College in Thailand: - The College of Internet Distance Education announced that the College would eventually serve 100,000 students per year.

9 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  If the College of Internet Distance Education has 100,000 students, at 100,000 baht each, the revenue per year is 10 billion baht.  If the expenses are 6 billion baht, the net profit is 4 billion baht per year.

10 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  In the year 2002, he also met the Prime Minister at that time and proposed to him that Thailand legalize eLearning. - The former Prime Minister agreed and advised him to start the process. - So, he sent a letter to the Minister of University Affairs asking permission for Assumption University to offer its degree programs in the eLearning mode.

11 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.) - Prof. Charmonman also authored the first draft of the first eLearning decree in Thailand. - The government established a committee to consider the law and he was invited to be a member.

12 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  AU team met the Minister of University Affairs and tried to convince him to support eLearning. - Rev.Bro.Dr. Prathip Martin Komolmas, the President Emeritus. - Rev.Bro.Dr. Bancha Saenghirun, the President. - Prof. Charmonman, the College CEO.

13 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  As the Founder and Chairman of ABAC Poll, Prof. Charmonman ordered an eLearning survey in 2003 which founded - 77% of the sample were interested in continuing their education through eLearning.

14 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  November 26, 2003, the Ministry of University Affairs organized an open hearing on the eLearning law.

15 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  As the President of the Computer Association of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of HM the King, - Prof. Charmonman presented the draft law in the morning and chaired the open hearing in the afternoon. - The results were used in modifying the law.

16 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  August 2004, Prof. Charmonman was elected Chairman of e-ASEAN Business Council. - At that time, the Thai Government had not passed the eLearning decree. - So, he tried to get help from ASEAN. - He proposed to the ASEAN Ministers that eLearning be promoted by all ASEAN member countries and the Ministers agreed.

17 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  Prof. Charmonman sent many letters to the authorities. - September 23, 2002, he sent a letter to the Minister requesting permission for AU to offer eLearning. - September 15, 2003, he sent a letter to the Prime Minister to speed up the eLearning decree.

18 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  March 14, 2005, he sent another letter to the Prime Minister that Cambodia was ahead of Thailand on eLearning and Thailand should pass the eLearning decree as soon as possible to be ahead of Cambodia.

19 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  After 3 years, 5 Ministers, and many revisions of the eLearning law, the decree to legalize eLearning in Thailand was published in the Royal Gazette on 26 October 2005.

20  January 2006, AU became the first university in Thailand to offer a complete eLearning degree program, Master of Science in Management, with Prof. Charmonman as the Program Director. Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)

21 Thai Laws eLearning (Cont.)  In 2006, AU offered two MS degree programs and Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology which is the first such Ph.D. in the world.  By November 2008, AU offers: - Ph.D. - M.Sc. - Certificate Programs - Bedside Chorus Program

22 3. College of Internet Distance Education of Assumption University.  A success story is at the College of Internet Distance Education (CIDE) of Assumption University, which is the first university in Thailand to offer a complete university degree program and the first university in the world to offer the Ph.D. program in eLearning Methodology.

23 CIDE of AU (Cont.)  The College is managed more or less like a business in the sense that it is headed by: - Chief Executive Officer (CEO) similar to a university president. - Chief Technology Officer (CTO) similar to the Vice President for Technology.

24 CIDE of AU (Cont.) - Chief Operating Officer (COO) similar to the Vice President for Administration. - Chief Academic Officer (CAO) similar to the Vice President for Academic Affairs

25 CIDE of AU (Cont.)  The College of Internet Distance Education was established to offer eLearning without the purpose of making profit. As a matter of fact, about 15 US$ million was invested to construct “Srisakdi Charmonman IT Center” with 12 floors and about 12,000 square meters as well as all the required IT and audio visual equipments.

26 Srisakdi Charmonman IT Center.

27 CIDE of AU (Cont.)  The College uses eBusiness for eLearning in the sense that all the processes are done thru the Internet, including - eAdvertising of the eLearning programs. - eApplication where students submit their applications thru the Internet.

28 CIDE of AU (Cont.) - eInterview in which the admission officers interview the applicants thru the Internet. - eAdmission in which the announcements that the students have been admitted into the programs are made thru the Internet. - eRegistration where students register for the courses thru the Internet.

29 CIDE of AU (Cont.) - eAttendance where students listen to or view the lectures thru the Internet. - eAssignment where students get the assignment and submit their work thru the Internet. - eExamination in which students take the examinations thru the Internet.

30 CIDE of AU (Cont.) - eGrading in which the professors post the grades and students read the grades thru the Internet. - eGraduation in which students may join the graduation ceremony thru the Internet.

31 CIDE of AU (Cont.)  The College developed its own “Learning and Content Management System” or “LCMS” from Moodle and named it “SCITplus” to indicate that it has been developed at SC IT or Srisakdi Charmonman IT Center.

Ph.D. Program in eLearning Methodogy.  Assumption University is the first university in Thailand to establish a college-level organization specifically to offer eLearning.  The first university in Thailand to offer complete eLearning degree programs.  The first university in the world to offer a Ph.D. program in eLearning Methodology.

33 Searching Google for “PhD eLearning Methodology”.

34 Ph.D. Program (Cont.)  Searching for “Ph.D. eLearning Methodology” from Google. - The first five entries are about Assumption University. - The first entry is about the program. - The second entry is about the College.

35 Ph.D. Program (Cont.) - The third entry is the Application Form. - The fourth entry is about logging in. - The fifth entry is a paper about the program.

36 Ph.D. Program (Cont.)  As of November 2008, the Doctor of Philosophy Program in eLearning Methodology is the only such program in the world Graduation Requirements Nationalities of Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology Students Nationalities of Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology Applicants.

Graduation Requirement.  Assumption University confers the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in eLearning Methodology upon students who meet all the requirements as follows: 1) Pass the qualifying examination. 2) Pass the dissertation proposal defense and dissertation final defense.

38 Graduation Requirements (Cont.) 3)Pass English language test such as TOEFL score of at least 550 PBT/213 CBT or IELTS score of 6.5 or other English tests that are of equivalent standard. 4)Have the dissertation or a part of dissertation published or obtain an acceptance by a scholarly publication with peer review.

Nationalities of Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology Students.  As of the year 2008, the Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology program has six batches which include students from 12 counties: - USA- Canada - England- Australia - New Zealand- Iran - Philippines- Paraguay - Vietnam - Mayenmar - Romania- Thailand Approximately 45 % of the students are Foreigners.

Nationalities of Ph.D. in eLearning Methodology Applicants.  There have been applicants from 19 counties: - USA- Canada - England- Australia - New Zealand- Iran - Philippines- Paraguay - Vietnam - Mayenmar - Romania- Thailand

41 Ph.D. Methodology Applicants (Cont.) - Germany- China - Japan- Kenyaa - Sri Lanka - Pakistan - Gambia  Similar to the nationality of Ph.D. students, approximately 44 % of applicants are foreigners.

 There are over 300 students in the Master of Science in Management Program Master of Science in Management.

43 M.Sc. in Management (Cont.)  There are five majors: - Small and Medium Enterprise Management. - Human Resource Management. - Technology Management. - Strategic Marketing Management. - Business Management.

Master of Science in Information and Communication Technology.  There are over 100 students in the Master of Science in ICT Program with 4 majors. - Information Technology - Computer Communications and Network - Computer Graphics and Animation - Technology Management

Certificate Program for SMEs.  As of November 2008, there are over 20,000 students registered free of charge.  The total number of potential students is over 2 millions out of 9 millions working in SME.

46 Certificate Program (Cont.)  The program includes 18 courses: SME101Concepts of Starting SME Business SME102Introduction to Marketing for SME SME103Financial Management for SME SME104Accounting and Budgeting for SME SME105Production and Service Management for SME

47 Certificate Program (Cont.) SME106Sustainable Growth in SME Business SME107Analysis of Trends, Opportunities and Strategies for SME SME108Creativities and Innovations for SME SME109Information Technology and eCommerce for SME SME110SME Business and Advanced Marketing SME111Risk Management and Internal Control for SME SME112Business Plan for SME

48 Certificate Program (Cont.) SME201The Roles of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion SME202Promotion of Brand Names SME203Knowledge Management for SMEs SME204Cost Management SME205Import and Export SME206Supply Chain Management and Logistics

eLearning for Bedside Chorus.  CIDE has cooperated with the Hospice Foundation of Thailand to produce “eLearning for Bedside Chorus for Palliative Care”.

50 eLearning for Bedside Chorus (Cont.)  Ten songs have been implemented  CIDE provides the service free of charge or as a charity: - Courseware on how to sing - Singing lessons - Delivery of the courseware

51 4. Concluding Remarks  There is no field of study at the university level where eLearning has not been used.  Degree programs in the eLearning mode in all ASEAN countries should be accredited.

52 Concluding Remarks (Cont.)  There should be a central clearinghouse for all eLearning programs in all ASEAN countries and citizens of the ASEAN countries should be encouraged to enroll in the program of their choices.  All parties in all the ten ASEAN countries should cooperate in using eLearning for the benefits of all concerned.