Asia-Pacific International University
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มหาวิทยาลัยนานาชาติเอเชีย-แปซิฟิก | |
Muak Lek (Main campus) , , Bangkok (Mission Faculty of Nursing) 14°40′28″N 101°10′37″E / 14.674417°N 101.176869°E | |
Campus | Muak Lek: rural (Main campus) Bangkok: urban (Mission Faculty of Nursing) |
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Affiliations | APHEIT ACUCA |
Website | www.apiu.edu |
Part of a series on |
Seventh-day Adventist Church |
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Adventism |
Asia-Pacific International University is a
The university is a union of three former institutions: Southeast Asia Union College in Singapore, Bangkok Adventist Hospital School of Nursing, and Mission College,
History
Southeast Asia Union College
Southeast Asia Union College (SAUC), the oldest of the three former institutions was first established as Singapore Training School (a
In 1996, the Singapore Government announced its intention to expropriate the College property for a major urban transport development project, thus suspending further development. Church leaders were obliged to look into relocating its center of higher education in Southeast Asia. By July 1998 remaining students had been transferred to other institutions and the College activities were terminated in Singapore. Moveable assets were sold or transferred to Muak Lek, Thailand.[8] The Seventh-day Adventist School, which was co-located with the College, merged with San Yu High School to form the present-day San Yu Adventist School at Thomson Road and some of the College's property, such as its auditorium seats, was donated to the school.
Mission Faculty of Nursing
The first attempts to initiate a School of Nursing in Bangkok occurred in 1941 in connection with the establishment of the Bangkok Adventist Medical Clinic. The outbreak of hostilities in the South-east Asia region during World War II, however, led to the evacuation of overseas medical personnel after a few months and the project was suspended.[8]
The cessation of hostilities in 1945 enabled the re-establishment of medical work. Bangkok Adventist Hospital relocated to a new site in central Bangkok on Pitsanulok Road, purchased in 1946. A year later a School of Nursing was opened on the hospital compound under the leadership of Mrs Ellen Waddell as Chief Nurse at the new hospital and Ruth Monroe as Director of the School of Nursing.[8] Their mission, "To train competent, caring nurses, and to teach young people about God's love." Dr & Mrs Waddell personally interviewed and chose the first 33 students for the program. Three years later in 1950 the School celebrated its first graduation awarding diplomas to 25 nurses.
During its first stage of development in the 1950s the School experienced rapid growth and the construction of additional facilities became necessary. The Hospital, School and its graduates became widely respected for their competence and care and the quality of their training.
Study programs were expanded in 1955 with the addition of a course in Midwifery followed later by programs in
In 1958 a new three-storey residence and classroom building was officially opened by Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Throughout ensuing years the College continued to receive the patronage of the Royal Family.[8]
Under the guidance of Mrs (now Dr) Salinee Navaratana (née Svetalekha) during the 1980s and in response to government initiatives and developments in the nursing profession the School restructured its pre-service nursing program and in 1986 introduced a four-year
Mission College Muak Lek Campus
The idea of developing a college campus at Muak Lek was developed by Church workers in consultation with the Thailand Adventist Mission to meet the needs of higher education among Thai Adventist youth. A rural setting was chosen because it was considered more conducive to study than a location in the city.[8] Opened in 1988 as a branch campus of Mission College in Bangkok, the institution also incorporated the Thailand Adventist Seminary, which for some years had been providing a non-accredited ministerial training program.
The early development of the new campus with limited financial resources was a venture of faith. Faculty and students worked together in building and developing facilities as their primary extracurricular activity. Development of the new campus was carried out largely by Mr Wayne Hamra with the support of Dr Helen Sprengel. Dr Siroj Sorajjikool and Dr Jon Dybahl established an academically sound four-year degree curriculum in accounting, management and english language which were approved by the Ministry of University Affairs in 1993.[8] The campus celebrated its first graduation in 1994.
The New Mission College
In 1996 with SAUC in Singapore facing closure, Church leaders undertook a nine-month intensive study on possible relocation options which concluded with a decision to create a new international institution based at Muak Lek. The new college would combine the quality international programs of Southeast Asia Union College and retain and develop the Thai-medium programs operated by Mission College to create a bilingual institution.[8]
The restructured Mission College at Muak Lek would be responsible for continuing the nursing program in Bangkok and Thai programs as required. The campus would be developed into an international standard educational center offering both undergraduate and graduate international programs. The ambitious plan envisaged the institution quickly maturing to university status and generating satellite campuses in various South-east Asian countries.
In January 1997 the development of the new facilities and academic programs commenced with much urgency. The first new degree following an international-type (English medium) curriculum received government approval in early 1999 and by early 2001 the College was able to offer a further eight international majors officially approved by the Ministry of University Affairs.[8] At the same, a number of faculty from SAUC were chosen and sponsored to complete postgraduate and doctoral studies at Andrews University and La Sierra University in the United States with the intent of sending them to Muak Lek to assist the further development of the newly implemented academic programs and curriculum.
A dramatic change in the physical outlook of the campus took place with a complete redesign of the campus and the erection of state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate and educate up to 1500 students.[8] The academic and physical re-development of Mission College Muak Lek campus between 1997 and 2001 has been the largest one-time development program for an Adventist institution in the entire 150-year history of Seventh-day Adventist education. The development involved the investment of over US$ 20 million.[8]
Southeast Asia Union Mission (SAUM) President Pastor Robin Riches encouraged the vision for quality education for Southeast Asia and made possible the financial commitment the new institution needed. Dr Siriporn Tantipoonwinai served as the first President of the institution during its metamorphosis and Dr Wong Yew-Chong as Vice-President of Academics oversaw the creation of the new institution's academic programs while SAUM Treasurer, Tom Massengill directed the building program. By July 2002 the last of the building developments and the extensive campus landscaping work was completed.
Asia-Pacific International University
Under the leadership of Associate Professor Warren Shipton and with an able team of helpers, including Drs Tantipoonwinai, Tennyson, Valentine and Arasola, an application for status was prepared. On 30 June 2009, Churin Laksanawisit, the Thai Minister of Education signed the documents conferring university status on the college. The name of the institution was changed to Asia-Pacific International University.[9] Despite the name change, the university is still popularly known to locals and alumni by its original name Mission College, or simply "Mission" (มิชชัน).
Presidents
- Dr Siriporn Tantipoonwinai (2001–06)
- Dr Warren Shipton (2006–10)[10]
- Dr Loren G. Agrey (2010–2015)[11]
- Dr Danny Rantung (2016–2019)[12]
- Dr Siroj Sorajjakool (2019-present)[13]
Academics
The university is organized into six faculties:
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities
- Faculty of Business Administration
- Faculty of Education & Psychology
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Religious Studies
- Faculty of Science
International Program
The international program is open to international and Thai students who meet the standard requirements, including proficiency in English, which is the medium of instruction.
Undergraduate
Bachelor's degrees are offered in business, biology, nursing, education, religious education and theology. There is an
As part of the worldwide
Postgraduate
Three master's degrees and a graduate diploma are offered in education. The Master of Education (
Thai Program
Students in the Thai program have the same degree options (except Education) as international students, the only exception being the medium of instruction.[16] However, the Bachelor of Nursing degree is taught on both English and Thai.[17]
Publications
The university publishes weekly newsletters called Newsbyte and two departmental journals: Catalyst (theology) and The Scriptor (Faculty of Arts and Humanities).
See also
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Seventh-day Adventist theology
- History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities
- Seventh-day Adventist education
- Adventist International Mission School
References
- ^ Kido, Elissa (15 November 2010). "For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists". The Christian Science Monitor.
the second largest Christian school system in the world has been steadily outperforming the national average – across all demographics.
- ^ "Seventh-day Adventists - Christian Denomination | Religion Facts". Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Department of Education, Seventh-day Adventist Church". Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- Adventist News Network. Archived from the originalon 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ Mission College Facts Archived 16 February 2007 at archive.today. Asia-Pacific International University. Retrieved 2009-08-12
- ^ "E.G.W. Heritage Research Center". www.apiu.edu. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ "Translation & Language Research Center". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m ".:Asia-Pacific International University". Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.. Asia-Pacific International University. Retrieved 2009-08-12
- ^ Avondale helps Mission College become university. Record. Retrieved 2009-08-13
- ^ "Asia-Pacific International University bid farewell to President Dr Warren and Mrs Jan Shipton in a grand evening event of food, good wishes and memories to remember for a lifetime" (PDF). Newsbyte. Vol. 10, no. 6. Asia-Pacific International University. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ "Asia-Pacific International University welcomes new president Dr Loren Agrey and Mrs Shelley Agrey" (PDF). Newsbyte. Vol. 10, no. 10. Asia-Pacific International University. 26 August 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- Adventist Review.
- ^ "Asia-Pacific International University". encyclopedia.adventist.org. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "ESL Program". www.apiu.edu. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ "M.Ed TESOL (Avondale College)". www.apiu.edu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ "หลักสูตรที่เปิดสอน" (in Thai). www.apiu.edu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ "Faculty of Nursing". www.apiu.edu. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
External links
- Asia-Pacific International University official website
- Facebook page of Asia-Pacific International University official Facebook page