HIGHLIGHTS

• Future Wellness University Launch: Thammasat University, in partnership with SSSO, launched the Future Wellness University Project on September 26, 2024, aiming to enhance the well-being of over 51,000 students and staff across all campuses by 2025.
• Urgent Response to Mental Health Needs: Triggered by internal survey data showing high rates of stress and burnout, the project addresses mental and physical health through prevention, early intervention, and supportive campus environments.
• Guided by Regional Health Standards: The initiative follows the ASEAN University Network – Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN) framework, with four strategic pillars focusing on policy, innovation, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.
• AI-Powered Wellness Tools: Central tools include the TU Great and TU Staff Future Wellness apps, which use AI to screen for health risks and connect users with expert care, making support more accessible and personalised.

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Thammasat University (TU) and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (SSSO) have forged a significant alliance through the Future Wellness University Project, officially launched on September 26, 2024. This project reflects a commitment to elevate the well-being of students and staff, aiming to create a “Future Wellness University” that is not merely a centre of academic knowledge but also a space promoting a holistic and good life.

Inception and Necessity: When Well-being Becomes a Challenge

This project did not arise in a vacuum; it is a response to the well-being challenges currently faced by the Thammasat community. An internal university survey in 2024 revealed alarming data: 72% of students and staff lacked understanding in stress management, and 56% were experiencing burnout in their studies and work. These figures align with the national trend of mental health issues among students and working-age individuals, highlighting the urgent need to establish robust well-being support and promotion systems.

The Imperative: Addressing Well-being Challenges

This project isn’t a random undertaking; it’s a direct response to the well-being challenges facing the Thammasat community. A 2024 internal university survey revealed concerning data: 72% of students and staff reported lacking knowledge in stress management, and a significant 56% were experiencing academic or work-related burnout. These figures mirror national trends in mental health among students and working professionals, underscoring the urgent need for robust well-being support systems.

Vision and Goals: A Model for University Well-being

The Future Wellness University Project primarily aims to establish Thammasat University as a pioneering “Future Wellness University” and a leader in addressing its community’s health and well-being. Key specific objectives include:

• Prevention and Early Intervention: Proactive health promotion, risk screening, and connecting individuals who need help with appropriate care.
• Creating a Supportive Environment: Developing a safe and health-promoting campus environment that supports physical, mental, intellectual, and social well-being.
• Broadening Reach: Expanding operations to all four Thammasat University campuses (Tha Prachan, Rangsit, Lampang, and Pattaya) by 2025, aiming to reach over 51,300 students and staff.
• Setting a Standard: Generating best practices and knowledge that can serve as a model for other universities in Thailand and the wider ASEAN region.

Strategic Framework: Four Pillars, Global Standards

The project operates within the Healthy University Framework of the ASEAN University Network – Health Promotion Network (AUN-HPN), actively championed by SSSO. It is guided by Four Strategic Pillars:

• Future Wellness Policy and Data: Developing forward-thinking and effective well-being policies based on systematic data.
• Future Wellness Workplace: Enhancing well-being services through accessible and cutting-edge innovations and technologies.
• Future Wellness Hub: Fostering collaboration among relevant university departments for efficient operation.
• Future Wellness Flagship: Driving strategies derived from collective knowledge and participation from all stakeholders (community, students, staff) to resolve health issues and elevate well-being to international standards.

Collaborative Dynamics: TU Leads, SSSO Supports

In this partnership, Thammasat University takes the lead, setting policies, developing essential tools such as the TU Great – Future Wellness application and the TU Staff Future Wellness App, integrating Health Literacy into academic curricula and operations, and organizing various health promotion activities.

SSSO acts as the core supporter, offering conceptual guidance and operational frameworks through the AUN-HPN network and the Healthy University Framework. This includes backing the project’s goal to extend its reach to all campuses by 2025. SSSO has also commended the initial successes, expressing confidence in the project’s potential to become a model for other institutions.

Key Tools: The TU Great App

Central to the project’s current phase is the TU Great – Future Wellness application (and its counterpart, TU Staff Future Wellness for personnel). This app serves as a personal well-being assessment tool, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) from D-mind to screen for risks and connect users with experts. These experts include “Volunteer Doctors” from the Viva City Centre and medical professionals from Thammasat University Hospital, who provide tailored advice and care.

Reaching the Community: Comprehensive Coverage

The project targets all Thammasat students and university personnel (over 9,300 individuals). The goal is to extend coverage to approximately 51,300 people annually across all four campuses by 2025. This focus on both students and staff, particularly given that many spend nearly 24 hours a day on campus, underscores the critical need for a robust and accessible well-being support system.

Expected Outcomes: Fostering Sustainable Well-being

This project anticipates multi-faceted positive impacts, ranging from addressing the health challenges of students and staff to creating a well-being-conducive environment, developing a comprehensive health system, and serving as a model for other institutions. SSSO has lauded the positive initial feedback as an encouraging sign. Key indicators, such as the initial rates of stress and burnout, will be crucial for evaluating the project’s long-term success.

The Future Wellness University Project marks a pivotal step for Thammasat University and SSSO in investing in the well-being of the university community. It reaffirms that 21st-century universities must prioritize fostering citizens who are not only intellectually capable but also possess excellent well-being, thereby becoming a sustainable force for societal progress.