Professor Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, acting on behalf of the university president, presided over the meeting. The professional and general administrative staff participated in the discussion to establish guidelines for creating the university’s digital action plan. The university’s digital direction focuses on developing IT infrastructure and information technology to support all aspects of operations, especially digital learning. The goal is to be an efficient digital university that can adapt to rapid technological changes. Additionally, the university aims to enhance digital skills for students and staff, enabling them to proficiently use technology and adapt to future technological shifts. In terms of artificial intelligence (AI), the university intends to incorporate AI in teaching, exam evaluation, and overall operational efficiency. This meeting provided an opportunity for input from all university sectors, ensuring a comprehensive and flexible digital action plan that aligns with diverse perspectives and supports future technological changes.
Assistant Professor Nitchanan Kittipatthanabawon, Assistant Vice President, reported that over the past four years (from 2563 to 2567), Walailak University has been preparing its digital infrastructure to support the university’s information technology system. The university has focused on ten areas to become a Smart University, including Smart IT Infrastructure, Smart Organization, Smart Learning, Smart Classroom, Smart Life & Health, Smart Hospital, Smart Transportation, Smart Security, Smart Green University, and Smart Farming. The existing plan will be reviewed, and a new digital action plan for the years 2568-2571 will be developed to guide the university’s future digital endeavors.

According to the plan discussed, it should be based on input from all university sectors. Therefore, there should be listening sessions and brainstorming to gather opinions and suggestions. The goal is to create a comprehensive digital action plan that can be effectively implemented. The plan should then define clear directions and operational strategies. The activity groups are as follows:
1. Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents Group: This group includes deputy university presidents and assistant vice presidents.
2. Directors and Managers Group: Comprising directors and managers from centers, institutes, and parks.
3. Academic Staff Group: Consisting of deans, faculty members, and staff working in faculties and colleges.
4. Professional and General Administrative Staff Group: Represented by section heads, department heads, and unit heads.
5. Information Technology Staff Group: Focused on staff involved in information technology at the Walailak University Medical Center.
6. Student Representatives Group: Including student administrative organizations, club presidents, and student council members.
7. The Center for Digital Technology Staff Group: Comprising staff from The Center for Digital Technology.

Assistant Professor Nitchanan Kittipatthanabawon emphasized that this meeting specifically targeted the professional and general administrative staff. A total of 54 participants from 24 units attended, including 5 section heads, 35 department heads or unit heads, and 14 staff members. The main objective was to set directions for developing the university into a digital university, covering infrastructure, information technology, digital skills for students and staff, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency.
Following the meeting, the activity involved presenting the draft policy framework for the digital action plan. Assistant Professor Nitchanan Kittipatthanabawon explained the plan, and Assistant Professor Thimaporn Petchkaew facilitated group discussions to gather feedback from each group