“Women and Development” and “Gender and Development” are core policy concepts to develop society. It has been continually by applying the science of women studies related to the knowledge network in social sciences and interdisciplinary for using to enhance capacity and extract the talents of women as well as bringing the power of women to use in the development of various dimensions. For example, movement to maintain the balance of the environmental response to the right to access resources and preserve natural resources for equitable and sustainable use, which is an important part of the national economic development related to women’s strategic gender needs, including other important issues in the development of human security. i.e., the provision of health services and the ability to access basic welfare, Understanding and accessing women’s civil rights, etc.
The above conceptual framework has been analyzed for use in policy formulation. However, academics of Social Sciences and Women’s Studies have criticized the limitations and issues needed to ponder for further development. Especially the analysis of unequal power relations and social-cultural structures related to practice. For this reason, plans to improve gender equality and the status of women must align between policy proposals and action plans (policies to meet practical gender needs). It passes knowledge management and developing new skills that come from research and innovation development according to the conceptual framework obtained from the study as well as the context of each society.
The university has a main mission to create academic knowledge and innovation. It has the goal of being a source of knowledge through research or study systematically and academically as well as focusing on providing knowledge to communities including public and private organizations. Therefore, upgrading and extending the body of knowledge through a new set of explanations related to the global society’s changes that focus on building sustainable human security and the direction of Thailand’s adaptation according to the National Strategic Plan 20 years. The work of women and social security is important to accelerate awareness continuously. This can be seen from the situation of the country and the daily news that reflects the image of Thai society facing the problem of women being sexually harassed. Effects of unrest in the southern border provinces on social, political, economic, and educational of women and children and being subjected to various forms of violence due to gender discrimination bring in an unstable and stable society.
As an institution of good governance to meet the vision of the institute on “to unfailingly address community needs, and to strive for international recognition for excellence.”
Walailak University’s personnel, lecturers, academics, researchers and students are interested and committed to the development of work in dimensions of gender equality, women development, stability of human beings and society.
They plan to lay out the direction of academic work continuously both regionally, nationally and internationally, e.g., the development of academic services with civil society in the southern region, Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Institute Office of the National Human Rights Commission Southern Border News Agency and Oxfam.
And co-authored and presented a parallel report of Thailand in Geneva, according to the 2017 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), includes research and teaching related to women’s potential and gender, such as gender and society, women and politics, and women’s studies.
Establishing a Center of Excellence for Women and Social Security is an important step of the university into respond and implement the national development strategy in line with the social context that requires data sources, fair knowledge, rapidity, and accuracy to fill the gap that society lacks the data connection, analyzing and composing of the status, role and condition of women who are crucial in the development of the nation and conform to the needs of Thai economic and social development.
