Programs IDENTIFIERS *Thailand

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) is one of Thailand's two official open universities. STOU has no on-campus classes. Instead, it offers self-instructional packages in a distance education format and conducts optional tutorials in local study centers throughout Thailand. STOU's curriculum, which is designed to provide educational programs to advance Thailand's quality of life and development and preserve its culture, consists of course blocks that are each worth at least six university credits that may in turn be applied toward two-, three-, or four-year bachelor's degree, programs or one- or two-year certificate of achievement programs. The optional tutorials, which are taught on weekends by STOU academic staff on a rotating basis, allow students to ask teachers questions about self-study units, receive detailed explanations of topics that are difficult to study independently, and view real-life examples and models. All tutorial teachers adhere to university-prepared guidelines and a standard teaching style. Despite their effectiveness, the tutorials can be improved by offering them in more locations, scheduling them at locations related to their topic, and awarding extra credits for tutorial participation to boost attendance. (Appended are tables and charts detailing STOU's enrollment, administrative structure, and distance education plan.) (MN) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document