Papers

• “(Internationalization) International Accreditation in Higher Education Institutions in Indonesia: Challenges in Ensuring Inclusive Education” Adiasri Putri Purbantina University of Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" Jawa Timur

  Indonesia’s recent Ministerial policy, “Freedom in Learning and Campus”, motivates universities to pursue better and, if possible, international accreditation. This is done through performance-based funding, with the Ministry of Education promising at least an IDR500 million incentive (about USD35,700) to universities that meet eight points of quality achievement directly related to improved accreditation. However, this policy raises concerns about the clash between the pursuit of inclusive education and capitalistic approaches in Indonesian higher education. It is important to find a way to balance these two competing goals.

• The Direction of the Indigenization of Filipino Psychology in DLSU-CLA Deborrah Anastacio De La Salle University

  Filipino Psychology, or Sikolohiyang Pilipino (SP), is a type of alternative psychology that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s in response to the incompatibility of Western psychology with non-Western cultures. In the Philippines, SP was pioneered by Dr. Virgilio G. Enriquez, Dr. Zeus A. Salazar, and Dr. Prospero R. Covar at the University of the Philippines, and by Br. Andrew B. Gonzales, FSC at De La Salle University. This study aims to add to the overview of SP in the Philippines by examining the research on SP published by scholars at Philippine institutions.

• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education at the Thailand-Laos border area Ampa Kaewkumkong Thammasat University

  Between 2020 and 2022, Thailand was especially affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, considered a new form of security threat (non-traditional security) and requiring many societal adjustments. International lockdown policies and travel bans economically and socially impacted Thailand. Domestic safety measures including forbidding travel across provinces and quarantining for observation of symptoms. Border provinces were among hardest-hit areas due to social interdependence with neighboring countries.

  This research focuses on educational impacts in the Thailand-Laos border area through case studies of higher education institutions in Ubon Ratchathani, a Thai province sharing a physical border with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Udon Thani, a significant province in Thailand’s geo-economic border relations. Universities in both regions were affected by problems experienced by the administration from unavailability of software and hardware infrastructure, and the challenge of trying to maintain traditional standards when educating Thai and foreign students, especially Lao, Vietnamese, and Cambodian students. Both institutions sought timely methods to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, by using unique lessons learned in directly affected areas. Outcomes were then developed into policy and strategic recommendations that may help future planning for coping with future pandemics. This may require changing the image of higher education in border areas to be more consistent with globalization.

• In search of quality ? Assessor’s perspective in applying criteria for performance excellence in higher education in Thailand Warach Madhyamapurush UNIVERSITY OF PHAYAO

  Thai universities have been compelled to improve the quality of their performance. One of the management tools is the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence (EdPEx), which has been more widely employed in many universities during 2019-2023. However, the results of applying EdPEx revealed major issues regarding the top management’s understanding within the organization in utilizing EdPEx tools for organizational development. EdPEx merely aims at annual reporting tasks. Additionally, the vision-setting process for each organization is complex, and performance measurement is challenging, making success difficult to achieve. Furthermore, despite continuous changes in the tools for developing the quality of Thai universities over the decades, it’s found that the path to quality may lead to inequality among universities.”

• Life-long Learning Policy in Higher Education: The Next Step of Educational Reform? Numtip Smerchuar University of Phayao

  Lifelong learning is essential in today’s rapidly changing world, where workers need to learn new skills to stay ahead of the curve (World Economic Forum, 2020). Digital technology is a driving factor behind this need for lifelong learning (UNESCO-IBE, 2016). Learners can now choose from a variety of online and in-person learning opportunities, tailored to their individual needs and interests (Leong, Sung, Au, and Blanchard, 2020). This trend increases particularly after the Global Covin-19 pandemic. Lifelong learning can significantly reduce employment loss and skill lag (Allen & de Grip, 2007).

• Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Mental Health of Vietnamese Students in Japan during the COVID-19 Pandemic Thi Hue Tran Kobe Women’s University

  This study assesses the health and economic challenges faced by Vietnamese students living in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study of 589 Vietnamese residents in Japan found that nearly half of the participants had depressive symptoms higher than the general population. Students reported a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those with other resident statuses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that more severe depressive symptoms were associated with poor self-perception of health and difficulties in accessing healthcare. However, perceived social support was found to protect against depression. Findings from this study can guide efforts to build effective public health approaches to reduce the mental health burden among vulnerable populations in Japan and globally.