Thammasat University’s College of Interdisciplinary Studies Translates Academic Expertise into Practice to Elevate the MSDHS “Gender Equality Centre” (GEC)

27 Jan, 2026
05, 17, Outreach

Highlights

Academia–Government Collaboration: CISTU partners with the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (MSDHS) to strengthen the Gender Equality Centre (GEC) as a national mechanism for advancing gender equality.
Strengthening Local Equality Mechanisms: The initiative builds knowledge and operational frameworks to support GEC’s role in eliminating discrimination, promoting safe workplaces, and empowering women.
Training Regional Change Agents: The workshop equips frontline officials across provinces with skills and tools to design gender equality initiatives tailored to local contexts.
Advancing Inclusive Society: The programme fosters cross-sector collaboration to promote human rights, dignity, and sustainable gender equality throughout Thai society.

The College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University (CISTU), is advancing its academic mission for society in collaboration with the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (DWF) under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS). Together, they organised a workshop to drive the Gender Equality Centre (GEC) at The Twin Towers Hotel, Bangkok. The primary goal is to elevate knowledge and establish robust gender equality working mechanisms that cover all regions.

Understanding the “GEC”: A Crucial Mechanism for Equality

The heart of this initiative lies in the Gender Equality Centre (GEC), which serves as a proactive local mechanism that began concrete operations between 2024 and 2025. Its main objective is to act as a central hub for coordinating integrated cooperation among the public, private, and civil society sectors.

The GEC’s mission encompasses several key areas:

Driving policy dimensions.
Eliminating unfair discrimination.
Creating safe spaces free from sexual harassment in the workplace.
Promoting knowledge and establishing role models.

These efforts aim to foster an environment conducive to women’s empowerment and sustainable equality within Thai society.

Uniting Government and Academia: Translating Policy into Practice

During the opening ceremony, Mr Kitti Intarakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, graciously presided over the event and delivered a special lecture. He emphasised the critical importance of creating an equal Thai society through integrated cooperation from all sectors.

Representing the academic institution, Associate Professor Dr Saifon Su-indramedhi, Dean of the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, highlighted the robust academic collaboration between the university and government agencies. Furthermore, Dr Kosum Omphornuwat, Director of the Master of Arts Programme in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, delivered a special lecture entitled “Why is Gender Equality Important in the Modern World?” to lay the foundation for understanding gender dimensions and human rights among the attendees.

Cultivating Regional “Change Agents”

This event specifically targeted frontline personnel to serve as change agents. The attendees included:

Officials from the Provincial Offices of Social Development and Human Security (OSDHS) across various provinces.
Representatives from the Office of Academic Promotion and Support (OAPS).
Staff from Women and Family Development Learning Centres.
Personnel from Occupational Protection and Development Centres.

The objective is to equip these professionals with a profound understanding, enabling them to develop their skills and local working mechanisms. This will allow them to design projects tailored to local contexts and step up as the primary drivers in promoting gender equality and empowering women at the provincial level.

The atmosphere at the event was filled with dynamic knowledge exchange, with high-ranking executives and women’s affairs experts participating in extensive brainstorming sessions. Notable attendees included Ms Kurupin Singnoi, Women’s Affairs Expert; Ms Kannika Charoenlak, Director of the Gender Equality Promotion Division; and Ms Amornrat Sricham, Director of the Strategy and Planning Division. Their presence reflects a shared commitment to building a society that truly respects human dignity.