Curriculum of the Office of General Education
General Education Courses, Khon Kaen University New Revision 2010
Thai name: ËÁÇ´ÇÔªÒÈÖ¡ÉÒ·ÑèÇä» ÁËÒÇÔ·ÂÒÅÑ¢͹á¡è¹
English name: General Education Program, Khon Kaen University
Responsible Organization: The Office of General Education, Khon Kaen University
The Significance of General Education Progra
Principle and Logic
The General Education Program is an important program in higher education. Also, it is taught in conjunction with Professional Education in order to develop and produce perfect graduates. In 1989, 1999, and 2005 respectively, The Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education has remodeled the program standard of the Bachelors level and has designated “General Education” to be instead “General Foundation”. The Office of the Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education also definesthe “General Education Program” as “subjects that place an emphasis on promoting the learners to have extensive knowledge and a broad vision, and to have an understanding of the nature of themselves, others and the nature of society. The learner should be eager to study, have critical thinking and an ability to communicate well, and should be a well-rounded person both physically and mentally. Additionally, the learner should have morals and realize the value of both Thai culture and global culture. It also means that learners have the ability to apply what they have learned to lead their lives in the society.” For these reasons, the management of General Education is clearly visible. The expectation for General Education is that the learners are able to connect to their knowledge and integrate it into their lives for the global changes in the present and in the future. This is well-matched with the objective of General Education: studying is not the only foundation because it also prepares the soul of the learners for life-long learning.
Philosophy of General Education
Based on the 2005 standard of the Bachelors degree level as outlined by The Ministry of Education, General Education means those subjects that place an emphasis on promoting the learners to have extensive knowledge, wide vision, to understand the nature of themselves, others and society. The learner should be eager to study, have critical thinking, have the ability to communicate well, and should be a perfect (well-rounded?) person both physically and mentally. Additionally, the learner should have morals and realize the value of both Thai culture and global culture. It also means that learners have the ability to apply what they have learned to lead their lives in the society. The philosophy of General Education is based on the idea of human development which means the development in both the absolute and the balance of human nature which is physical and mental (emotions, thoughts, the mind, and the soul). This knowledge includes the 3 sciences: the Humanities, Social Science, and Science. Generally speaking, General Education should be integrated with these subjects above and they should be specific for only major.
Objectives of the Program
- To promote and develop the learners to have academic knowledge, perspective and broad vision, to understand the nature of themselves, others and society, and to and to assist them in happily applying their knowledge in their daily lives.
- To promote and develop the skills learners need for work—adaptation, life-long learning, communication, technology, and an international standard of skills for computers and information technology. Also, to promote and develop within the learners the processes in science and mathematics, in conducting research and in carrying out administrative and management skills.
- To instill within the learners morals, ethics, discipline, honesty, responsibility, leadership skills, an understanding the cultural differences, team-work, love, and a pride in their communities, institutions, and in their country.