On 16 July 2026, the Research and Innovation Institute of Excellence (RIIE), Walailak University, held the 6th Research Steering Committee Meeting of 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wichitpan Rongwong, Director of RIIE, chaired the meeting on behalf of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Heads of research centers from the University’s academic schools joined the meeting.
First, RIIE introduced the draft Science, Research and Innovation (STI) Plan 2028–2032. The plan aims to align the University’s research strategy with Thailand’s national research and innovation priorities. The committee also discussed ways to increase research quality and encourage research that creates practical benefits for society.
Next, the committee nominated representatives for the AI Governance Council. The nominees came from three academic clusters: Science and Technology, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences and Humanities. The council will guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence in research and support effective AI governance across the University.
The committee also reviewed the nine-month research performance of each school and college. These updates will help the University plan future research funding and strengthen research performance.
Finally, the Digital Innovation Center introduced the Walailak University Research Support System (WU-RSS). The team demonstrated the system for research center directors and invited participants to share their feedback. The University will use these suggestions to improve the system before its planned launch during the 2026 fiscal year.
Written by: Research and Innovation Institute of Excellence
📅 July 16, 2026