HIGHLIGHTS

• Formal Plan Exists (by 2024): Thammasat established a formal “Energy Conservation Policy” dated August 26, 2024, meeting the requirement for a plan to be in place. 
• Goal to Reduce Consumption: The 2024 Policy explicitly commits the university to “improve energy efficiency” and operate sustainably, implicitly aiming to reduce overall energy consumption. 
• Specific Reduction Measures Implemented: The policy is supported by detailed, long-standing “Energy Saving Measures” (e.g., specified operating hours for AC and lifts, rules for lighting and office equipment) demonstrating practical steps taken to reduce consumption. 
• Policy & Practice Alignment: The combination of the formal 2024 Policy and the detailed 2013 Measures document provides evidence of both a strategic plan and its operational implementation aimed at energy reduction.

Thammasat University reinforces its dedication to sustainability and responsible resource management by formalizing its Energy Conservation Policy, announced on August 26, 2024. This policy aligns with Thailand’s Energy Conservation Promotion Act B.E. 2535 (amended B.E. 2550) and establishes a clear framework for enhancing energy efficiency across all university operations.

A University-Wide Commitment

The policy underscores that energy conservation is an integral part of Thammasat’s mission. It mandates continuous improvement in energy efficiency suitable for the specific needs of university buildings and emphasizes that compliance with relevant energy laws is the responsibility of all administrators, staff, and students. The university commits to allocating necessary resources, including budget and personnel, to achieve these goals effectively and will monitor and report on energy management progress annually.

Practical Measures for Energy Saving

This formal policy builds upon long-standing practical measures already implemented, particularly at the Rangsit Campus as outlined in 2013, demonstrating a consistent effort towards reducing energy consumption. These ongoing measures include:

• Air Conditioning Management: Setting specific operating hours (e.g., 09:00-12:00, 13:00-16:30), maintaining thermostat settings at 26 degrees Celsius, shutting down systems during unoccupied periods, and encouraging fan use during off-hours.
• Lighting Efficiency: Mandating the switching off of lights during lunch breaks, after work hours, or when rooms are unoccupied, including restrooms.
• Lift Optimisation: Implementing schedules to reduce the number of active lifts during off-peak hours and weekends/holidays, designating specific lifts for cargo, and restricting stops at the second floor to encourage stair use.
• Office Equipment Practices: Encouraging staff to turn off and unplug office equipment after work, switch off monitors during breaks, and utilize computer power-saving modes.
• Monitoring: Encouraging faculties and units to install electricity meters to track their energy usage.

Through the combination of this clear university-wide policy and established practical measures, Thammasat University reaffirms its commitment to efficient energy use, cost reduction, and contributing to a sustainable future.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Formal Process Exists: Thammasat has established a formal appeal and grievance process through the “Thammasat University Regulations on Appeals and Grievances B.E. 2559 (2016)” and utilizes a dedicated Appeals and Grievances Committee (UAGC).
• Covers All Employees: The regulations explicitly state the process is available for university employees and contract staff, ensuring broad coverage.
• Addresses Employee Rights: The scope of grievances includes key employee rights issues such as unfair treatment, discriminatory personnel management, and actions causing loss of rights or benefits.
• Includes Pay & Remuneration: The process specifically allows grievances concerning remuneration, unfair salary increase evaluations, and failure to receive due benefits in a timely manner, covering the pay aspect.

Thammasat University has laid the foundation for a transparent and fair personnel management system by establishing systematic processes for staff to lodge appeals and grievances. This aims to guarantee that university employees and contract staff receive fair treatment and can protect their due rights. These processes are formally stipulated in the “Thammasat University Regulations on Appeals and Grievances B.E. 2559 (2016)” and reinforced by clear guidelines in the “Thammasat University Code of Ethics Handbook,” reflecting the university’s commitment to caring for its personnel with good governance.

The Main Adjudicating Mechanism: The Appeals and Grievances Committee

At the heart of this process is the Thammasat University Appeals and Grievances Committee (UAGC), established specifically to consider appeals and grievances. Its authority covers two main areas:

1. Consideration of Appeals: In cases where university employees and contract staff face disciplinary action.
2. Consideration of Grievances: In cases where university employees and contract staff believe they have “experienced unfairness or distress” resulting from the actions or orders of a superior.

Scope of Grievances: Covering Rights, Interests, and Remuneration

The regulations provide a channel for personnel to file grievances on a wide range of issues directly related to their rights and interests, including remuneration. Cases eligible for a grievance include:

• Unfair Treatment: When a superior exercises their authority in a manner that is unlawful towards staff.
• Discriminatory Personnel Management: Personnel management practices that are unfairly discriminatory, potentially affecting performance evaluations, promotions, and remuneration.
• Procrastination Causing Loss of Rights: Delays in processing matters to the extent that staff lose their rights or “do not receive due rights and benefits in a timely manner,” which may include salary increases or other benefits.
• Unfair Evaluations: The Code of Ethics Handbook also specifies a channel for reporting corruption and misconduct, which covers “unfair salary increase evaluations/contract renewals.”

A Systematic and Transparent Procedure

Thammasat University has defined clear grievance procedures to ensure staff can access internal justice mechanisms effectively.

• Timeframe for Grievances: Personnel must file a grievance within 30 days from the date of learning of the incident that is the cause of the grievance.
• Hierarchical Consideration Structure:
  • Cases originating from a superior within a faculty/department: The grievance is submitted to the “Grievance Consideration Committee” appointed by the Rector, which will propose recommendations to the Rector for a decision. If the decision is unfavourable to the grievant, it must be reported to the University Council for further consideration.
  • Cases originating from the Rector: The grievance is submitted directly to the University Appeals and Grievances Committee (UAGC), which will consider the matter and report the outcome to the University Council for approval.
• Notification of Results and Right to Further Action: Once the process is concluded, the university will inform the grievant of the resolution in writing promptly. This notification will also state their right to file a case with the Administrative Court, ensuring the university’s process aligns with the rule of law and is open to external oversight.

Furthermore, the Legal Affairs Division serves as the responsible unit for receiving complaints/grievances concerning actions that constitute misconduct or various forms of unfairness, reinforcing the existence of formal and accessible channels for all personnel.

In summary, Thammasat University has created a comprehensive and effective appeal and grievance mechanism through clear regulations and an independent adjudicating committee. This provides personnel with a concrete channel to demand fairness regarding their rights, duties, and benefits (including pay), which is a crucial foundation for sustainable and fair personnel management.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Specific Upgrades in Existing Buildings: Renovation projects for existing structures like the Pridi Banomyong Libraryand the SC1 Building explicitly included upgrades to higher energy efficiency systems (e.g., replacement with LED lighting, mandatory high-efficiency VRF air conditioning), demonstrating action by 2024.
• Sustainability Focus in Heritage Conservation: The large-scale conservation of the existing, historic Dome buildingincorporated considerations for “energy and environment for sustainability,” guiding system choices towards efficiency within the heritage context.
• Demonstrated Practice Reflecting Intent: While not a single formal “Plan” document, the consistent application of energy efficiency upgrades (LEDs, HVAC) across multiple major renovation projects on existing buildings by 2024 demonstrates a clear operational strategy and implicit plan to improve energy performance.
• Benchmark for Future Upgrades: The ASEAN Energy Award for the Siri Witthayalak building, although potentially new construction, reinforces the university’s commitment and sets a standard influencing the energy efficiency goals for upgrading other existing buildings.

Thammasat University demonstrates its ongoing commitment to creating a sustainable campus by consistently integrating energy efficiency measures into the renovation and conservation of its existing buildings. This strategic direction, evident across multiple significant projects undertaken by 2024, reflects the university’s dedication to responsible resource management and aligns with our broader goals for environmental sustainability.

The university’s approach to enhancing energy performance in older structures is clear through the following key initiatives:

Pridi Banomyong Library: Illuminating the Future with LEDs

The major renovation of the Pridi Banomyong Library at Tha Prachan prominently features energy efficiency. A core component of the upgrade involves replacing outdated lighting systems with modern, energy-saving LED technology throughout the building. This systematic upgrade is designed to significantly reduce the library’s long-term energy consumption. [Explore Plan]

The Iconic Dome: Conserving Heritage with Sustainable Practices

Even in the delicate conservation of the historic Dome building, initiated by 2024, energy considerations are integral. The project framework explicitly includes a focus on “energy and environment for sustainability,” ensuring that choices made during the renovation, while respecting the building’s heritage, are aligned with principles of improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

Setting High Standards: SC1 Renovation

The approach taken during the renovation of the SC1 building (Faculty of Social Administration) exemplifies Thammasat’s standard practices. Project requirements mandated the adoption of high-performance, energy-saving technologies, specifically demanding high-efficacy LED T8 lighting and high-efficiency VRF air conditioning systems. This serves as a clear blueprint demonstrating the university’s consistent application of energy-efficient standards during building upgrades. [Explore TOR]

Recognised Excellence: A Benchmark for Efficiency

The ASEAN Energy Award 2024 recognition for the Siri Witthayalak Building further reinforces Thammasat’s commitment to high energy performance standards. This achievement sets a benchmark and provides direction for incorporating proven energy-saving designs and technologies into future renovations of existing campus buildings.

The recurring implementation of energy-saving measures, such as LED lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems, across major renovation projects like the Pridi Banomyong Library, the Dome, and SC1, clearly indicates a consistent operational direction. These actions demonstrate Thammasat University’s practical strategy, active by 2024, to progressively upgrade its existing building stock for higher energy efficiency, contributing tangibly to a more sustainable campus environment.

HIGHTLIGHTS

• Comprehensive Startup Ecosystem: Thammasat has developed an integrated support system for low-carbon and green-tech startups, covering every stage from idea generation and prototype development to business incubation and IP protection.
• Innovation Infrastructure at Thammasat Creative Space (TCS): Equipped with advanced tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters, TCS provides the physical and collaborative environment needed for students and entrepreneurs to turn low-carbon technology ideas into tangible products.
• Business and Intellectual Property Support via TU IPI: The Thammasat University Intellectual Property and Business Incubation Center offers end-to-end services, including IP registration, business consulting, and financial mentoring, to help green startups become sustainable enterprises.
• Living Lab Model: Solar Café: The on-campus Solar Café showcases practical application of low-carbon innovation, operating entirely on solar power and zero-waste principles, serving as a real-world example that inspires and validates green entrepreneurship.

Thammasat University has positioned itself as a leading higher education institution that not only generates theoretical knowledge but also plays an active role in supporting and nurturing startups driven by innovation for sustainability and a low-carbon economy. The University has built a “startup ecosystem” that empowers students and entrepreneurs to transform green technology ideas into viable businesses — from inspiration and prototype development to business and intellectual property consultation.

Inspiring Ideas: Platforms for Sustainable Startup Creation

Thammasat University encourages its students to participate in national-level competitions to spark creativity and innovation that address environmental challenges. A recent success story is Uzusi Consulting, a team of students from the Faculty of Economics (International Programme – BE), who won the Tri Petch Group Awakens Your Challenge 2023 competition with their project on tyre waste management through upcycling and circular economy solutions. This achievement demonstrates that Thammasat can cultivate sustainable business concepts with real commercial potential right from the classroom.

Creative Infrastructure: Turning Ideas into Prototypes at Thammasat Creative Space (TCS)

To ensure that great ideas do not remain only on paper, Thammasat University established Thammasat Creative Space (TCS) at Puey Ungphakorn Library, Rangsit Campus — a physical hub for innovation with key facilities including:

• Maker Space: The heart of prototype development, equipped with advanced technology such as 3D printers and laser cutters. These investments underline Thammasat’s commitment to hardware-based innovation — essential for green technology (GreenTech) startups that often develop tangible products like smart sensors or energy-saving devices.
• Co-working Space: A collaborative area where students and entrepreneurs can exchange knowledge and ideas, network, and develop their business concepts further.

TCS thus serves as an incubating ground that lowers barriers for low-carbon technology startups, enabling them to develop prototypes and test concepts quickly and efficiently.

Business Support Mechanisms: Thammasat University Intellectual Property and Business Incubation Center (TU IPI)

Once a startup has developed a ready-to-market prototype, the Thammasat University Intellectual Property and Business Incubation Center (TU IPI) steps in as a key mechanism to transform research and innovation into sustainable businesses. The center provides comprehensive services, including:

• Intellectual Property Support: Consulting and assisting startups in protecting their innovations through patent, petty patent, and copyright registration.
• Business Incubation: Providing in-depth guidance on business operations, marketing, and finance — from the early stages until entrepreneurs can stand independently.

Real-Life Success Model: Solar Café – A Clean Energy Business on Campus

Beyond structural support mechanisms, the University also uses its own campus as a living laboratory to demonstrate that green businesses can thrive in practice. Solar Café at the Rangsit Campus, supported by the Office of Property and Sports Management, exemplifies this vision. The café operates on genuine low-carbon principles — powered by solar energy from rooftop panels, adopting zero-waste waste management, and maintaining a sustainable supply chain. It serves as a tangible model that inspires other entrepreneurs to follow suit.

Thammasat University has built a comprehensive ecosystem to support startups in the low-carbon economy and green technology sectors — from idea generation through competitions, to prototype creation at TCS, business and IP consulting via TU IPI, and successful real-world implementation through campus-based models. Altogether, these efforts reaffirm the University’s strong commitment to driving a sustainable, low-carbon society.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Free Online Courses with Certificates: Thammasat offers accessible online learning via platforms like TU NEXT and OIA, providing certificates upon completion for career enhancement.
• Public Access to Campus Facilities: Key learning spaces, including the Rangsit Centre Public Library, museums, and recreational areas, are open for free public use, fostering community engagement. 
• Extensive Digital Resources: The university provides free online access to vast digital collections (TU Digital Collections), and seminar recordings, making knowledge widely available.
• Commitment to Lifelong Learning: All initiatives reflect Thammasat’s core mission as the ‘University for the People’, dedicated to breaking down educational barriers and enriching Thai society. 

As Thailand’s ‘University for the People’, Thammasat University is steadfast in its commitment to broadening educational horizons and championing lifelong learning throughout Thai society. True to this mission, we are proud to offer a wide array of educational resources freely accessible to the public through multiple channels:

1. Free Online Courses with Certificates: Learn Anytime, Anywhere

Our dynamic online learning platforms empower everyone to acquire new skills and deepen their knowledge at their own pace:

• Language Skills Development: Prepare for the global stage with free online courses offered by our Office of International Affairs (OIA). Whether you’re aiming for IELTS or TOEFL success, or learning Thai as a foreigner, these courses equip you with vital communication skills for today’s interconnected world. [Explore OIA Courses]

2. Access to Inspiring Campus Facilities: Knowledge Beyond the Classroom

Learning thrives in stimulating environments. Thammasat welcomes the public to experience our key centres for knowledge and discovery:

• Thammasat Museum of History and Hall of Fame: Explore the journey of Thai society, politics, and democracy through the lens of Thammasat’s history. Offering free admission, the museum aims to inspire and connect generations. [Discover Thammasat Museums]
• Public Spaces and Sports Facilities: We believe in holistic development. Our campus includes open public spaces and designated sports facilities, like the extreme sports plaza, promoting community well-being alongside intellectual pursuits.

3. Rich Online Resources: Knowledge at Your Fingertips

We are dedicated to transforming our extensive knowledge and research into truly public assets, accessible anywhere:

• TU Digital Collections: Delve into a vast online library containing over 157,000 items, including rare manuscripts, archival documents, theses, and cutting-edge research. This invaluable primary source is freely available to academics, students, and history enthusiasts alike. [Access Digital Collections]
• Online Seminars and Public Lectures: Missed a fascinating lecture? Faculties and institutes regularly publish recordings and materials from academic events, allowing you to learn directly from leading experts at your convenience, free of charge.

These initiatives underscore Thammasat University’s unwavering dedication to dismantling barriers to education. We are committed to ensuring that the wealth of knowledge cultivated within our walls serves as a powerful resource for the enrichment and progress of all Thai society.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Formal Carbon Accounting Process: Initiated in 2024, Thammasat established a Carbon Credit Program integrating solar, waste, and tree planting, formally registered with the TGO (LESS), demonstrating a structured process for carbon management.
• Active Emission Reduction Initiatives: The university actively reduces CO2 through the long-standing Solar Rooftop project (expanded to 6.28 MW, cutting >21,000 tons CO2 annually) and the ongoing “Zero Waste to Landfill”campaign (active in 2024) which reduces landfill emissions through source separation and diversion.
• Strategic Framework & Oversight: A university-wide “Carbon Neutrality by 2050” strategy exists, supported by a dedicated Taskforce (established by 2024/2025) indicating a managed process.

Thammasat University is intensifying its commitment to environmental stewardship through a dynamic and expanding process for managing carbon footprints and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Focusing on recent advancements while leveraging long-standing efforts, the university is driving progress towards its sustainability goals and supporting Thailand’s national climate objectives, including carbon neutrality by 2050.

Recent Strides in Carbon Management

In recent years, Thammasat has launched significant initiatives to bolster its carbon reduction process:

• Formal Carbon Accounting: A key development in 2024 was the initiation of a pilot program by the Office of Asset Management and Sports to accumulate carbon credits. This formal process quantifies emission reductions from waste management, tree planting, and solar power generation. Demonstrating adherence to national standards, the program is registered under the Low Emission Support Scheme (LESS) with the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) (View Registration Details).

• Data-Driven Strategic Planning: Utilizing the internationally recognised GHG Protocol, recent assessments like the Lampang Campus study (evaluating 2019-2022 emissions) provide critical data. This research informs projections and reduction scenarios, such as achieving over 50% emission cuts by 2030 through expanded solar power and waste reduction, guiding future actions.

• University-Wide Carbon Neutrality Framework: Thammasat is advancing its ambition with a university-wide strategy aiming for “Carbon Neutrality by 2050”. A dedicated “Thammasat Carbon Neutrality Taskforce” was established to drive this multi-phased plan (Green Shift, Impact Surge, Net Zero), signifying a high-level, structured commitment across the institution.

• Enhanced Energy Partnerships: A 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) focuses on co-developing clean energy innovations, improving building energy efficiency, further reducing GHG emissions, and expanding EV infrastructure, leveraging external expertise for greater impact.

• Strengthened Waste Reduction Efforts: The ongoing “Project Zero Waste” initiative, active through 2024, continues to tackle emissions from waste. The “Separate Before Disposing, Use the Right Bin” campaign, coupled with food waste diversion, composting, recycling, and minimising landfill contributions via a clear four-bin system, forms a crucial part of the current process.

Building on a Strong Foundation

These recent advancements are built upon Thammasat’s long-term investments in sustainability:

• Pioneering Solar Energy: Our commitment to renewable energy is long-established. The “Solar Rooftop Energy” project at the Rangsit campus, initiated back in 2016, has consistently expanded. It now covers 44 buildings with an installed capacity of 6.28 megawatts, generating 10% of the campus’s electricity and cutting CO2 emissions by over 21,000 tons annually.
• Early Green Mobility: For years, Thammasat has promoted sustainable transport through electric shuttle buses and shared bicycle schemes, demonstrating an early commitment to reducing transport-related emissions.

Thammasat University’s process for carbon management and emission reduction is both established and dynamic. By actively implementing new, data-driven strategies like formal carbon accounting and enhanced partnerships, while continuously expanding foundational initiatives in solar energy and sustainable transport, Thammasat reaffirms its leadership in environmental sustainability and its dedicated role as a leading green university.