Author: Natetida Bunnag

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.

HIGHLIGTS

• University-Wide Zero Waste Strategy: Project Zero Waste drives a holistic approach to waste management, aiming for “Zero Waste to Landfill” through source separation, system design, and community participation.
• Innovative Behaviour Change Campaigns: The “Double Digit Days” initiative successfully turns waste separation into an engaging, lifestyle-driven activity, fostering long-term environmental awareness among students and staff.
• Proven Scalability at Major Events: Implementation during Thammasat Games 2025 demonstrated the project’s effectiveness at scale, diverting significant amounts of food and recyclable waste from landfills.
• Next-Step Climate Action: The initiative now expands into carbon credit accumulation, integrating waste reduction, tree planting, clean energy, and real-time transparency through the Thammasat Carbonfootprint platform.

Thammasat University is accelerating its transformation into a truly sustainable university, guided by a clear vision to reduce its environmental impact and embed sustainability into everyday campus life. At the forefront of this effort is the Property and Sports Management Office (PSM), which leads the university’s flagship environmental initiative, “Project Zero Waste.”

This comprehensive programme addresses waste management through a holistic, end-to-end approach—from encouraging waste separation at the source to achieving the ambitious long-term goal of “Zero Waste to Landfill.” Rather than focusing solely on waste disposal, PSM drives behavioural change through creative engagement, systematic processes, and community-wide participation. As a result, environmental responsibility has become a shared value across the Thammasat community, including students, staff, vendors, and event organisers.

From Waste Crisis to Sustainable Goals

The urgency behind Project Zero Waste emerged from a clear and pressing reality. In 2023, Thammasat University generated an average of 250 tonnes of waste per month, reflecting the scale of operations of a large, urban university campus. PSM recognised that conventional waste management methods would no longer suffice.

In response, the university established a clear and measurable target: “Zero Waste to Landfill.” This goal shifts the focus from simply managing waste to systematically reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills, while maximising reuse, recycling, and recovery. The initiative aligns closely with global sustainability frameworks, including the circular economy concept and climate action goals, positioning Thammasat as an institution willing to confront environmental challenges head-on.

“Double Digit Days”: A Strategy for Engagement

Understanding that lasting change begins with individual behaviour, PSM designed an innovative engagement strategy under the campaign “Separate Before You Throw… Bin it Right.” The campaign reframes waste separation not as a rule or obligation, but as an accessible and engaging daily habit.

To connect sustainability with student lifestyle, PSM drew inspiration from popular online shopping sales days and introduced activities on “Double Digit Days” such as 11.11 and 12.12. This creative concept emerged from close collaboration between PSM and the TU100 (Civic Engagement) course, led by Asst. Prof. Dr Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, which integrates civic responsibility into student learning.

The campaign debuted with the “11.11 Big Pro, Green Heart” event and quickly gained momentum, evolving into a highly anticipated monthly activity. Students and staff bring 1 kilogram of recyclable waste and exchange it for essential household items. This gamified approach transformed waste separation into a positive social activity, fostering cooperation, enjoyment, and shared responsibility rather than enforcement or compliance.

Scaling Up: Waste Management at “Thammasat Games 2025” 

The principles of “Separate Before You Throw” were put to the ultimate test during a mega-event: the “Thammasat Games 2025,” held earlier this year from 9–18 January 2025.

Managing waste for a major sporting event is a logistical challenge. PSM implemented a comprehensive waste management system covering 14 sports stadiums, market zones, and food service points.

Post-event data processing was rigorous. After the competitions ended each day, waste was immediately sorted and processed systematically. The results from the 10-day event provided clear, measurable data:

• Food Waste: 2,790 kg (Diverted from landfill and sent for animal feed production).
• Recyclable Waste: 2,045 kg (Sent to recycling facilities).
• General Waste: 55,952 kg (Sent to sorting plants for proper disposal).

This success proves that Project Zero Waste is scalable. Whether it is daily campus life or a national-level sports event, the system works when managed effectively.

The Next Step: Carbon Credit Initiative 

The Property and Sports Management Office is not stopping at waste. It is now steering the university towards a Carbon Credit Accumulation Project.

This advanced phase integrates waste management with tree planting initiatives and the transition to clean energy. The aim is to systematically reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. In the spirit of transparency, the university has launched the Thammasat Carbonfootprint website, allowing the community to track and audit the university’s environmental data in real-time.

Cultivating a Culture of Sustainability 

Project Zero Waste has proven that solving environmental problems starts with small, individual actions that ripple out to create massive change. By fostering cooperation across the entire community, Thammasat University is ready to stand as a model educational institution that is genuinely committed to the planet.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Formal Mechanism for Employee Representation: Thammasat University ensures the freedom of association through the official establishment of the University Staff Council — a democratically elected body representing support staff, serving as a bridge between employees and management.
• Promoting Dialogue and Fair Employment: The Staff Council plays a vital role in fostering constructive dialogue, offering policy recommendations, and safeguarding fairness in employment practices across all university units.
• Equal Labour Rights for All: Thammasat upholds equal rights and non-discrimination for all staff — ensuring gender equality and guaranteeing that international employees receive the same welfare and benefits as Thai staff under University regulations.
• Building a Culture of Listening and Inclusion: Through its commitment to participatory governance and respect for labour rights, Thammasat University strengthens a culture of listening, fairness, and shared responsibility — laying the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive academic community.

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Thammasat University believes that its people are the driving force behind its pursuit of excellence. Guided by this conviction, the University places the highest importance on promoting the freedom of association and ensuring that every employee’s voice is heard through formal and transparent mechanisms. While the University’s approach may differ from traditional “labour union” models, it has established the University Staff Council as an official employee representative body under University regulations. This council serves as a bridge between employees and management, fostering constructive dialogue and ensuring fairness in employment practices across the institution.

A Foundation of Respect for International Labour Rights

Thammasat’s employment policies are grounded in the recognition and respect of international labour rights. The University is committed to cultivating an organisational culture in which all personnel are treated fairly and can meaningfully participate in institutional decision-making. This includes upholding the freedom of association and the right to collective consultation through official representation mechanisms, ensuring that the voices of all staff—regardless of gender or nationality—are heard and integrated into the University’s sustainable development process.

The University Staff Council: A Guarantee of Participatory Rights

Thammasat University provides a tangible guarantee of employees’ freedom of association through the establishment of the University Staff Council—a democratically elected representative body for support staff. This process not only enables staff to elect their own representatives but also empowers those representatives to act as the collective voice of employees.

• A channel for consultation and dialogue with management
  The Staff Council plays a vital role in advising and providing policy recommendations to senior management. This process represents a powerful form of “collective consultation”, allowing employee representatives to influence decisions related to workplace policies and conditions.
• Protecting rights and fairness
  The Council has a key mandate to safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees in accordance with laws and University regulations.

Equal Labour Rights for All

The principle that labour rights must extend to every member of staff lies at the heart of Thammasat’s policy framework. The University ensures equal treatment and non-discrimination through clear and formal guarantees.

• For Women
  Thammasat promotes gender equality across all dimensions of employment. Female staff have equal opportunities for career advancement, leadership, and representation within the Staff Council.
• For International Staff
  Equality in rights and benefits for international employees is formally enshrined in the Thammasat University Regulation on the Employment of Foreign University Staff, B.E. 2560 (2017).
  Clause 14 explicitly states that:
  “Foreign university staff shall be entitled to the same welfare and benefits as prescribed in Clause 40 of the Thammasat University Regulation on the Personnel Administration of University Staff, B.E. 2559 (2016).”
  This regulation provides a legally binding guarantee that international staff receive the same entitlements and benefits as their Thai counterparts, affirming that nationality is no barrier to fair and equal treatment at Thammasat University.

A Culture of Fairness, Inclusion, and Mutual Respect

Thammasat University is committed to building a community in which every employee has the right to be heard and is treated fairly and equally. This commitment rests on two key pillars:

1. Freedom of association, through a democratically elected Staff Council that represents employee voices; and
2. Equal rights and fair treatment, formally guaranteed through written University regulations that cover all categories of personnel.

These pillars form the foundation of a culture of listening, respect, and participation—essential to nurturing a sustainable and inclusive Thammasat community for the future.