March 27, 2023, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand** – Researchers, professors, and students from eight countries gathered for an international seminar focused on the transformation of teaching and learning in the field of Informatics. The event, organized by the Informatics Innovation Center of Excellence (IICE) and the School of Informatics at Walailak University, covered a wide range of topics related to informatics education in the disruptive era. The seminar aimed to provide participants with the opportunity to learn about the latest research findings, trends, and developments in the field, to network with other experts, and to enhance their knowledge and skills.
The seminar featured world-renowned speakers, including Prof. Lance Chun Che Fung, IEEE Asia-Pacific-Region (R10) Director 2023–2024, and Prof. Dr. Wu-Yuin Hwang from National Central University, Taiwan. Participants engaged in discussion sessions, demonstrations, and interactive sessions on various topics, from the current state of informatics education to strategies for adapting to the rapidly changing global context. The focus was on how universities, faculty, and students can adjust to these disruptive changes.
Prof. Dr. Wu-Yuin Hwang discussed advanced technologies supporting higher education, such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), Virtual Reality (VR), online courses, online activities, and Augmented Reality (AR). These technologies have the potential to revolutionize higher education by providing new tools and resources that can help achieve educational goals and prepare for future job market demands.
Additionally, the seminar showcased research from IICE, highlighting three key areas:
1. **Information Systems for Teaching and Research in Thai Higher Education**: This includes the digital library system WALAI AutoLib, the Union Catalog of Thai Academic Libraries (UCTAL), and the digital thesis repository for Thai higher education (TDC).
2. **Medical and Health Sciences Information Systems**
3. **Multimedia, AR, and VR Systems in Higher Education**
The seminar attracted 50 registered participants, with 31 from Thailand and 19 from abroad, representing 62% and 38% of the attendees, respectively. This turnout met the seminar’s objectives, and the overall feedback indicated high satisfaction among participants, who expressed a desire for similar events in the future. The Informatics Innovation Center of Excellence and the School of Informatics aim to host more international academic seminars in the coming years.
