Charles Sturt University’s impact on an international career A recent visit to the Wagga Wagga campus prompted our catch-up with Dr Chittrapa Kundalaputra. Chittrapa was well-established in her career as the head of research and evaluation at the Thai Ministry of Education at the Office of the Rajabhat Institute Council when her academic journey with Charles Sturt began in 1998. Chittrapa speaks highly of her time visiting Australia after pursuing higher education through at Charles Sturt, a decision made after careful deliberation, noting Charles Sturt University as a leader in the field of distance education. Charles Sturt facilitated gaps in her English language skills and provided educational and psychological support systems for her during what would otherwise have been an anxiety-inducing and stressful period. Chittrapa says the University prioritised supporting her needs as a distance education student, allowing her to undertake her thesis and reach her full potential. This support allowed her to excel as a professional in her field. “Having the opportunity to present research at an international conference was a dream of mine from the time I pursued my master’s degree. Presenting research on the international stage has been quite challenging for Thai students and few have done so over the past 30 years or more. The subjects that Chittrapa undertook provided a framework for her thesis and she found that travelling to Australia and Bangkok for on-campus workshops provided a valuable resource for supplementary learning. Gaining valuable knowledge and skills that could be applied immediately and directly to her job at the Ministry of Education. Chittrapa found her ongoing learning both relevant and worthwhile and demonstrated the value of study by distance education to upgrade the qualifications of staff in new universities. 32
Thrive | Summer 2023
