Message from The President Historic Achievements – WU Towards World Class University

Walailak University is now ranked by Times Higher Education (THE), achieving a world-class status as one of the 1,799 ranked research-intensive universities in the world. This is one of our proudest achievements, as it is the first time that WU has been ranked in the most internationally-recognized ranking category. This world-class status is the result of well-thought out strategies and persistent implementation of our initiatives. Central to all these is the emphasis on high-level publications. In 2022, our publications in Scopus-indexed journals in Quartiles 1 and 2 have grown to 83.3%, placing Walailak University 2nd in Thailand. More specifically, we performed outstandingly in Physical Sciences and Chemistry, ranking 5th and 11th respectively in the country according to the Nature Index Institute 2022. And SCImago Institutions Rankings 2022 placed WU at 15th in Thailand and 708th worldwide.

Quality teaching, as defined by the United Kingdom Professional Standards (UKPSF) first adopted by the University in 2018, is another hallmark of WU. Over 593, or 97.53%, of the University’s lecturers have been certified by Advance HE based on UKPSF. Our students learn in smart classrooms and participate in an eight-month long Cooperative Education in which students gain practical experience in various industries.

A total of 426 beds of the 750-bed Walailak University Hospital have been operational since 2022. This is a steady progress from 2017. Walailak University Hospital will play a very significant role in providing health care for the community, particularly for people in the upper South. 

All in all, in 2023, Walailak University will continue to progress with confidence and produce quality graduates who are ready for the job market and well-prepared for an ever-changing society.  

Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong
President