HIGHLIGHTS

• Thammasat University is set to implement the revised General Education programme (2027 edition) for new students, shifting its educational approach towards Outcome-based Education that emphasises the practical application of knowledge and skills.
• The core curriculum structure is designed under the ‘TU IMPACT’ graduate competency framework, covering the development of future skills, including smart technology literacy, coping with a low-carbon society, and financial literacy.
• The university has forged strategic partnerships with the private sector and government agencies—namely IBM, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), and SCB—to integrate specialised industry knowledge into the education system.
• Students who study via partner organisations’ e-learning platforms and accumulate 15 credits according to the structure can transfer these credits to record a minor degree on their academic transcript in up to four fields.

On 31 March 2026, the Thammasat University Council approved the revised General Education programme (2027 edition), which will come into effect for new undergraduate students commencing in the 2027 academic year. This curriculum restructuring aligns with the university’s educational philosophy of cultivating liberal intellectuals and responsible innovators to become global citizens dedicated to society and committed to sustainability.

Transforming Learning and Assessment Methods Towards Outcome-based Education

The new General Education programme transforms the teaching and learning process towards Active Learning and Outcome-based Education. This process establishes six General Education Learning Outcomes (GELOs) that students must achieve by the end of the programme, transitioning from traditional content-based teaching to a focus on measurable skills, knowledge, and attitudes—embodying the principle of “knowing, doing, and being”. Learners are required to engage in practical application, critical analysis, synthesis, and the independent construction of knowledge.

The TU IMPACT Competency Framework: Building 21st-Century Life Skills

The curriculum structure requires students to complete a minimum of 24 credits, comprising 15 credits of university core courses and at least 9 credits of faculty-specific courses. All core courses are designed in alignment with the future graduate competency framework, or “TU IMPACT”, which consists of Interpersonal Skills, Mindful Self-Development, Progressive Thinking, Agility, Competencies in Technologies, Digital and AI Literacy, and Thrives in Global Citizenship and Financial Literacy.

The core elective courses in Part 1 reflect strategic demands that learners can practically apply, such as,

• TU110 Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Smart Technology for Sustainable Development: Studies fundamental concepts, data collection, analysis, and AI ethics to address global challenges.
• TU111 Low-Carbon Society Technologies for Sustainability: Explores life cycle assessment, environmental ethics, energy conservation, alternative energy, and carbon emission and sequestration technologies.
• TU123 Sustainable Global Citizenship: Cultivates awareness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, alongside the development of essential skills for citizens in a democratic system.
• TU140 Financial Literacy: Covers lifelong financial planning, credit management, debt administration, tax planning, and the application of modern investment platforms, including Finance on Blockchain.

Integrating Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Elevating Courses to Minor Degree Level

A key strategy of the 2027 revised curriculum is expanding the scope of learning beyond the university campus by collaborating with leading national and international organisations. Students who opt to enrol in courses and accumulate the required 15 credits according to the specified structure can transfer this knowledge and immediately have a “Minor” recorded on their academic transcript. This is available in four fields:

• Minor in Well-being in Artificial Intelligence: In collaboration with IBM Thailand Co., Ltd., learning is delivered via IBM’s e-learning platform. Students will study enterprise data science, building trust in AI usage, organisational culture management, and cyber threat monitoring centre operations.
• Minor in Finance and Investment: In partnership with the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) via the SkillLane platform, this focuses on business planning, stock market investment, digital asset investment, and sustainable portfolio management.
• Minor in Digital Entrepreneurs: In cooperation with the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) via the HackaThailand platform, this covers Python programming, application development, the Internet of Things (IoT), and startup business creation skills.
• Minor in Investment and Entrepreneurship: Through the SCB e-Learning platform, this provides education on innovative thinking processes, crafting business plans to secure funding, and applying blockchain knowledge to strengthen businesses.

Integrating the General Education programme with private sector learning platforms enables students to access up-to-date knowledge without the constraints of traditional timetables, and to utilise e-Certifications for actual credit transfers. This new curriculum structure thus serves as a crucial mechanism in creating a flexible learning ecosystem, driving innovation, and producing highly capable graduates ready to face future challenges.