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The spotlight is on Dr. Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak, Head of Computer Science Program, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand.

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is an institution committed to academic excellence, with the development of knowledge and learning as guiding principles.

Founded in 1949, SWU was the first higher education institution in Thailand to concentrate solely on teacher training. Today, it continues to emphasize self-improvement within the teaching body, along with the desired outcome — preparing students to deploy their skills and talent for the benefit of Thai society. The university has four colleges and seventeen faculties at two campuses: the Prasarnmit Campus in downtown Bangkok, and the Ongkharak Campus, located 70 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. More than 25,000 students are enrolled in degree courses in the fields of medicine, dentistry, nursing, education, humanities, science, engineering, and other disciplines.

SWU’s Department of Computer Science, created in 1989, provides courses in information technology, data science, AI/ML, mobile technology, cloud computing, networking, and cybersecurity. The Computer Science Program is headed by Dr. Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak, who designs and supervises the curriculum, organizes classes, and drives key academic activities.

Dr. Trakunphutthirak joined SWU in 2003, began using Oracle textbooks and Oracle-related free resources as of 2012, and in 2020 was responsible for SWU becoming an Oracle Academy member. He has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Srinakharinwirot University; a master’s degree in Information Technology from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang; and a PhD in IT from Monash University, Australia.

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us which degree courses are taught in your department?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: Certainly. We have three main programs: A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a bachelor’s in Data Engineering, and a master’s in Data Science. Computer science and data science are taught in Thai, data engineering in both English and Thai. We also have a non-degree program called Data Science for Industry 4.0. That’s part of a government reskill and upskill program. It attracts people already working in other fields who need to know more about data.

Oracle Academy: And what parts of Oracle Academy curriculum do you teach?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: We make use of the resources for teaching the fundamentals of databases and Java programming. In addition, we are enrolled in the Oracle Academy Cloud Program. The emphasis is on database, where I have seamlessly integrated Database Foundations into my course structure. Students learn the fundamental concepts and collaborate in hands-on activities.

In the past few years, SWU has shifted from passive to active learning, what’s known as outcome-based learning. In that context, it is great that the Oracle Academy curriculum contains real-world projects to work on, with tangible results. This gives students the chance to apply their skills in practical situations and develop a deeper understanding of database systems.

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us about your student base, number of faculty employing Oracle Academy resources, and the delivery system?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: Out of 400 students in my department, around 200 are exposed to Oracle Academy curriculum and resources, 150 in computer science degrees, and 50 in data engineering. So that’s 200 Oracle Cloud accounts. For the people enrolled in the Data Science 4.0 program, I use Oracle APEX in online teaching.

I also am designing a general database course for students outside of computer science, those studying business, humanities, social science, or other disciplines outside the Faculty of Science; that will increase our use of Oracle Cloud accounts for delivering the materials.

We are six instructors, divided among database, Java and cloud, and between bachelor’s and master’s degrees. We keep up-to-date through the Oracle Academy Member Hub, and Oracle Thailand shares information on innovation and new functionality with us and all other member institutions across the country.

With Oracle Cloud we now have two learning management systems: Moodle as primary LMS and the Oracle Academy Member Hub, which I use for organizing and delivering course content, for accessing lesson plans and quizzes, and for student progress tracking. An added advantage of the Member Hub is that it can be considered as a digital library. It is packed with free career development courses for learners to explore at their own pace.

Having access to Oracle Cloud is fabulous. It’s also an equalizer. Thailand is a developing country and not every student has a PC on which to install Oracle Database. Today we equip lecture rooms with a laptop for every student, connected to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) — which does away with any discrimination between well-off students and others.

Oracle Academy: Presumably, they all strive to obtain Oracle Academy course completion awards?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: Absolutely. I’m pleased to say we get good pass rates. In the last semester 98% of our cohort succeeded in the Database Foundations exam and 92% in Java Foundations. They all got course completion awards. Students are highly motivated in these final year exams, because they have real impact when it comes to job applications later on. Currently, I’m working on incentives that should yield 100% pass rates this year.

There is a huge Oracle install base in Thailand and Asia generally, and we stress the career paths where Oracle database skills will be a valuable asset.

Oracle Academy: What about Oracle professional certifications?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: I guide and encourage students to pursue Oracle professional certifications, enhancing their resumes and preparing them for future career opportunities. Last year 40 of my cohort passed the OCI Foundations certificate exam. Apart from professional credentials, students get at least six months of real-world industry experience, two months of internship, and four months of cooperative education in the final year, when they work half of the time and study half of the time. Often those same companies where they work end up hiring them.

Oracle Academy: What other interaction do you have with the Oracle ecosystem?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: Recently Oracle Academy ran a webinar to show how university faculty can utilize the free Oracle Academy Cloud Program to develop students’ cloud computing skills. The online seminar included a demo session featuring how we at SWU use OACP hands-on labs and practice. Attendees gain a knowledge of OCI and how to apply its components as teaching resources. The session got strong feedback from university instructors all over Thailand.

In addition, at Easter break we had a guest speaker from Monash University in Australia, where I studied, who gave a two-day lecture on the use of SQL Developer Modeler Tools and Oracle APEX for low code apps development. That session was attended by both teachers and students.

To conclude, we also invite speakers from industry in Bangkok and elsewhere, to share their experience of using Oracle Database technology.

Oracle Academy: Excellent. Anything else on your radar in terms of events or leveraging of additional resources?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: One thing that’s in conceptual stage concerns ways to attract more high school students to SWU. Surveys have ranked our Computer Science course in the most popular degrees in Thailand. Computer science has become a rage, as more people want to become programmers, software developers, data scientists, and other profiles. To capitalize on this, I’ve been discussing with Oracle Academy the idea of organizing a hackathon for Thai secondary schools that already have computing classes.

It would be a social coding event, limited to 50 participants, in which our instructors will provide them with the foundational knowledge of data management such as data cleansing, data modeling, APEX, and SQL. With these tools, the students will compete to design, build, and present the most innovative solution to a problem. My agenda, so to speak, would be to identify exceptional talent during the event and encourage those individuals to apply to SWU. It’s work in progress!

Oracle Academy: Good luck with that project! Can you share with us any feedback from students?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: We have had highly positive feedback regarding the curriculum. Students appreciate the relevance of the content, the practical applications, and the opportunity to earn badges and certifications.

I believe that the real-world relevance of the practical exercises and projects has given them strong database-related skills and the ability to grasp complex concepts. And I’ve seen increased student engagement. The interactive nature of the curriculum keeps them actively involved in the learning process. And that’s what SWU is about: outcome-based learning.

Oracle Academy: And for Srinakharinwirot University?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: The Oracle Academy Cloud Program is a valuable resource for our students to develop their skills in database technologies and pursue a career in this field. For the university, having access to these resources for free is something we are grateful for. Naturally, it’s a win-win situation. The more our students — and students globally — become proficient in Oracle Database and Cloud, the more Oracle itself benefits by consolidating its leadership position, and increasing its turnover.

Oracle Academy: And what are your interests outside of teaching?

Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak: My overriding interest, and this is why I am at SWU which places prime importance on pedagogy, is to continuously enhance teaching, so that students learn more willingly and have better learning outcomes. That’s an ongoing passion of mine.

Otherwise, I would say... cooking! Yes, from my time in Melbourne, living on a low budget during my PhD, unable to eat out often, I taught myself to cook. And still do. It’s a great enjoyment!

Thank you, Dr. Ruangsak Trakunphutthirak, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.