February 28, 2023 (Thailand time 13.00 to 16.00 hours) – The IRDTP for ASEAN cooperated with NIDTEP and NITS to organize an opening ceremony for the first phase of this School Improvement Plan. This event was aimed to strengthen educational professionals’ teaching competencies to execute the school improvement plan. The first phase of School Improvement Plan 2023 was organized online and on-site by introducing the model for developing knowledge and plans for the purpose of school improvement. The distinguished guests who attended this event consisted of the Project Advisor, the Vice President of NITS, Japan Mr. Masahiro Oji, the General Secretary of the Thailand Teacher Council, the Deputy General Secretary of the Teacher Council, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science Associate Professor Dr. Narin Jansri, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Associate Professor Dr. Orathai Pia-ura. Besides, a total of 60 participants from 20 schools throughout Thailand who are school administrators, supervisors, and teachers involved in this event.

   Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies Professor Dr. Monchai Duangjinda delivered his opening remarks and explained the importance of this project in providing innovations and technology-oriented learning services for improving the quality of the teaching profession as indicated in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as Khon Kaen University’s Objective and Key Result (OKRs). This collaborative project has been planned to encompass five phases. The expected outcomes are providing sufficient platforms for trainees to learn and understand the context of using innovations in order to strengthen their educational professionalism. Over the 20 years, IRDTP for ASEAN has developed and sustained the Thailand Lesson Study incorporated Open Approach (TLSOA) to be the main innovation in the teaching profession. Trainees are provided a chance of learning and sharing lesson cases together with Thailand and Japanese scholars. Therefore, this collaborative project can lead Khon Kaen University towards internationalization and would enable the leaping progress of Khon Kaen University in terms of instruction, research, and academic services.

   This was followed by the Vice President for Education and Academic Services and Acting Director of IRDTP for ASEAN, Associate Professor Dr. Maitree Inprasitha delivered his special lecture entitled “School Improvement Plan”. Thus, Associate Professor Dr. Maitree Inprasitha reported this collaborative project which comprises four key organizations IRDTP for ASEAN, National Institute for Development of Teachers, NIDTEP, and NITS has achieved the mission of project deployment from 2018 to 2020 and considered the piloting phase for three years. A total of 119 trainees from three groups have completed the four phases throughout this piloting phase. Currently, there are 60 participants from 20 schools are going to involve in the upcoming training program of this project.

   Besides, teacher teams from Kajornkiatpattana School and Ban Ma-ue School shared their school administrative experiences in using the Thailand Lesson Study incorporated Open Approach (TLSOA) model, moderated by Mr. Ak Inprasitha. Finally, Assistant Professor Dr. Narumon Changsri took the opportunity to give the guidelines for the upcoming 16th National Open Class as part and parcel of the first phase to introduce the good practices of TLSOA. During the 16th National Open Class, the trainees meet to debrief and reflect on what worked well and what could be improved after observing the Open Class. The focus of this training is not only on improving the lesson itself but also on deepening trainees’ understanding of the subject matter and students’ ideas development.