Satit-Sermsamong Student Program

(enhanced-intellectual demonstration student program)

Origins and Developments

Satit-Sermsamong Student Program (enhanced-intellectual demonstration student program), formerly known as the Sermsamong Scholarship Project (enhanced-intellectual scholarship project), was established in 1982 by the initiative of Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-An. He was then the president of the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and also served as a managerial committee for the scholarship program at Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group). He proposed the Sermsamong Scholarship Project to the CP Group?s board of committee. The project was approved to support students for higher education after completing the government-required six years elementary school. To be qualified, the students must possess excellent academic scores and portray good behavior; but lack of financial support. Had the students not receive the scholarship, they would hardly continue their education beyond the government?s requirement. The scholarship is granted from six years secondary education to four years college. It is a ten-year scholarship that provides each student an opportunity to graduate a bachelor degree from any Thai university.

The scholarship project was also accredited by the Ministry of Education. In the first year, the government approved the project as a private organization project under the government?s celebration program for the 200th year of Rattanakosin.

During the beginning of the program from the year 1982 to 1986, the scholarship was allocated to one student from each province throughout the country. Since 1987, the number of scholarships was limited and was pre-determined year by year. The annual stipends vary by students? educational level. The first stage was 4,000 Baht per year for the three-year lower secondary education. The next stage was 6,000 Baht per year for the three-year upper secondary education. The last stage was 10,000 Baht per year for the four-year college education. Later, the scholarship was increased to 20,000 Baht per year for the college level because most of the students had to incur higher expenses relocating to attend their universities.

Selection Process.

The selection process begins by having each elementary school all over the country propose its most qualify student to the local group of schools. One student from a group of local schools is then selected and proposed to the district committee of the elementary education. One student from each district is selected and proposed to the provincial committee of the elementary education. Four students from each province are selected and proposed to the office of the national primary education commission, which collects and sends the applications to STOU. The scholarship committee at STOU makes the final decision on selecting one of the four students from each province to receive the scholarship.

Managerial Aspects.

In the first year of 1982, the Sermsamong Scholarship Project was managed by the CP Group. Since 1983, the project has been transferred and managed by STOU. The CP Group, however, has continuingly supported this project ever since.

Under the management of the STOU, the Sermsamong Scholarship Project was expanded to the Satit-Sermsamong Student Program integrated with long distance education system. This expanded program not only grants the scholarship but also provides educational tutorials and academic consultation as well as monitors and supports students? development. The STOU assigned this program to the school of educational studies for general management as its educational development research program. In 1983, STOU setup a fund of 10 million baht for the scholarship and the managing expenses of the program. The STOU also invites public individuals for donations. The program continuingly receives supports from various public donors.

Program's Characteristics.

The Satit-Sermsamong Student Program is treated as a demonstration project of long distance educational system for STOU. The program allows students to choose their own areas of study at any schools without any obligation after graduation. By the characteristic of the program, most of the secondary students are studying in their home towns in various provinces; and the college students are flexible to attend their universities throughout the country.

To effectively manage this project, STOU coordinates with each school that selected students are attending. The schools receive scholarship budget from STOU and distribute to students accordingly. In addition, each school assigns a mentoring teacher for each student to support and provide consultations on various issues. The schools also help reporting the students? academic progress to STOU every semester; as well as reporting additional information and comments regarding the students? matters as seen appropriate. STOU, therefore, can provide responsive advices and educational supports to students for them to successfully complete the program and effectively fulfill the program?s objectives.

STOU also provides additional educational activities to promote activities of the participating institutions and to support the development of the Sermsamong students. STOU assigns faculty members of the school of educational studies to be student advisors who will continuously monitor and communicate with the students and their attending schools. Another long distance educational activity is to provide students with educational materials along with useful news and information that help student development. In addition, STOU publish Sermsamong magazine for students to inform all the program activities and progress as well as to provide knowledge of various academic advancements. Furthermore, to provide additional activities that it cannot conduct in the long distance education system, STOU arranges a seminar for students yearly around the end of April. The seminar is to broaden students? skills and experiences; as well as to provide an opportunity to meet with the fund donors, their faculty advisors, and among the Sermsamong students themselves. The event provides various activities for students to enhance their knowledge and skills including a counseling program and examination to learn and understand their abilities and potentials. The seminar along with these activities is hosted at the STOU campus.