STAMFORD Hua Hin closes its doors

[Chas]

This bit of local news has been a long time coming but it is now official.

Stamford Hua Hin will close at the end of this semester, that is in about six weeks. All operations are being moved to the Bangkok campus.

The faculty were informed of this just yesterday. Many of them have homes in Hua Hin and are now faced with either a wicked commute or moving to Bangkok. The administrators have made absolutely no arrangements for moving or any provisions for assisting faculty to cope with this move, but that is typical of their management "style". (Anyone who who has worked there ( as I did for six years) can tell you management stories that you will just not believe . . .or that will make you laugh out loud.)

I just checked their website and find that in addition to my name, ten other lecturers who were either fired or quit, some as long as a year ago, are listed as current faculty. This gives you a measure of the place.

Saddest of all, they have yet to meet with the staff or the students. .all of whom will be profoundly affected by this closure.

This is SO sad. There were times in the past when there were real hopes of building Stamford Hua Hin into a world class "niche" university with connection to universities in the US and UK, students coming for a semester, developing an Asian studies program to draw international students, expanding to include an international English language high school, developing a golf based program etc. Now all gone.

Stamford (without the "International")University will now join the Bangkok educational hordes and Hua Hin will be the poorer for it. . . and yet I am certain that Bangkok will not be the richer. The way that this was handled will give you a small hint as to the management "style" of the people responsible for this destruction of a Hua Hin institution.

[little imp]

Glad to see that another american university fail. As a Thai if I'm going to speak English I wan't to speak UK English. And spell properly. Not American soap opera jargon. Nothing more annoying than speaking to another Thai with robot US accent. We know our Thai degree is not the highest but still better than American one.

[Randy Cornhole]

Ouch...

[STEVE G]

It seems amazing that they can make a decision like that for six weeks time; just how many students does Stamford have?

[The understudy]

[quote="Chas"]This bit of local news has been a long time coming but it is now official.

Stamford Hua Hin will close at the end of this semester, that is in about six weeks. All operations are being moved to the Bangkok campus.

The faculty were informed of this just yesterday. Many of them have homes in Hua Hin and are now faced with either a wicked commute or moving to Bangkok. The administrators have made absolutely no arrangements for moving or any provisions for assisting faculty to cope with this move, but that is typical of their management "style". (Anyone who who has worked there ( as I did for six years) can tell you management stories that you will just not believe . . .or that will make you laugh out loud.)

I just checked their website and find that in addition to my name, ten other lecturers who were either fired or quit, some as long as a year ago, are listed as current faculty. This gives you a measure of the place.

Saddest of all, they have yet to meet with the staff or the students. .all of whom will be profoundly affected by this closure.

This is SO sad. There were times in the past when there were real hopes of building Stamford Hua Hin into a world class "niche" university with connection to universities in the US and UK, students coming for a semester, developing an Asian studies program to draw international students, expanding to include an international English language high school, developing a golf based program etc. Now all gone.

Stamford (without the "International")University will now join the Bangkok educational hordes and Hua Hin will be the poorer for it. . . and yet I am certain that Bangkok will not be the richer. The way that this was handled will give you a small hint as to the management "style" of the people responsible for this destruction of a Hua Hin institution.[/quote]

Thank you very very much SHas for informing us all about this long outstanding News of it's closeure Stamford Hua Hin Campus/ I'm devastated but yet expected that to happen as the mangaement of that place was so outdated it's beyond beieve.
It was the Good of Times and it was worst of Times but what's important it was the best of times for me and other Senior Students as well.
I can still remember my first "Rab Nong Perty" seeing all the new the drunk Studnets greeting me and pulling me through the mud and all the greasey stuff all day long and unitl w'all new studnets where covered in it.
and the following year to finally be a "run Phi" and pull them new batch of Students through dirt was even more funny.
You had probably missed it Chas but @ 1998 until a few years after the New Century (year 2000) had started there was something we called the inofficial Stamford drinking Club. more than half a dozen Students got toether after 10 PM and where starting drinking under 2nd building until the wee hours. @ certain Times there where over 30 something students who where drinking and Chilling along. It has happened that some where drinking anc Chilling away until dawn cause they don't have claases on that day! It all happened in a Safe environment if you are allready drunk and cannot handle more you can go back to you room which is like 5 Min.s away and with no hard feelings form the others. But we had also a code of conduct within the drinking Club. Woever participatede in the drinking and Chilling around that night and if you have classses the next morning you have to attend that class nomather waht state you're in. If the one gets caught missing class they they hafta pay more drink share to cover the cost. In short great Memroies had been made overthere @ Stamford Hua HIn CAmpus and I will try to call and round up all avaialble Senior Students for a final farewll week @ the Campus.

One of us will be forever missed by us all who was the ultimate Chairman of drinking Club when he calls, evertone show up. He was President of SGA (Student Governemt Association) for 2 conscutive terms and with his team he bough major improvements to the campus and to the Wellfare of the Studnents there.who couldn't cope with the new environment. The SGA was jokingly called also the "Student Gay Assocation" by them Members who Graduated Stamford.

He sadly surcomed to his pain and passed away in early 2006 after suffering a horrible Motorcycle Accident on his way Home in Hua Hin!
His Name will forever engraved in our minds and thoughts when ever we think of the Good times we had with him @ Stamford!!!

I could go on with stories about our Campus way deep inside Palm Hills if its in interest to anyone.

Your's devastated but braced this expected News
Your's The understudy!!!

[The understudy]

[quote="STEVE G"]It seems amazing that they can make a decision like that for six weeks time; just how many students does Stamford have?[/quote]

Hi there Steve The number of Studnets must be 175 to 250 Max. When I was there we had not more than 300 students. The last count when I Graduated back in lSeptember 2004 was 276 Students!!!

[MrPlum]

Glad to see that another american university fail. As a Thai if I'm going to speak English I wan't to speak UK English. And spell properly. Not American soap opera jargon. Nothing more annoying than speaking to another Thai with robot US accent. We know our Thai degree is not the highest but still better than American one.

I know this is veering off topic but I'm interested in why little imp has this view.

Is that Estuary or Oxbridge English? Thanks to the media, most of the UK population now speak the former. Are you familiar with the difference? Where did you learn your English?

Might I ask if your anti-American English view is shared by many Thais or is it just a personal view? Since I find the less educated Thais still admire America and can't wait to pour fattening diet sodas down their children's throats, even when they see how fat foreigners are on it, why do you feel this way?

I notice that at Yamsa-ard the English language books come from America. Kindergarten stories, both Thai and English, are usually laced with images and scenarios which incorporate hot dogs, ice cream, Disney characters, cows milk, white bread, sodas and so on. The corporate brainwashing starts early, even in Thailand. I wonder why the Thai owners/governors allow this? Perhaps they or the government are receiving funding or sponsored educational materials from the U.S.? Or could it be that Thailand traditionally has had a closer relationship to the U.S., than the UK and the school system is simply reflecting that?

[sargeant]

Being English / acclimatised Thai i finks little imp is a person studying the violin cos on account of likkle imps standard of english goes up and down like a fiddlers elbow wiv every post

[The understudy]

[quote="little imp"]Glad to see that another american university fail. As a Thai if I'm going to speak English I wan't to speak UK English. And spell properly. Not American soap opera jargon. Nothing more annoying than speaking to another Thai with robot US accent. We know our Thai degree is not the highest but still better than American one.[/quote]

Hallo there Mr. Imp.

FIY: STAMFORD International College was originally founded in Malaysia in the 1980's and opened it's Bangkok office in the early 1990's and in 1996 opended Stamford College and later University Hua Hin Campus as a part of Educational Co operration between Thailand and Malaysia!
It has no ties to STANFORD University in Berkeley, California whatsoever and further more the Name STAMFORD comes from Sir Stamford RAffles who was a Comander for the Royal British Navy and under the Command of her majesty the Queen of England.
If you place your comment please do a little more research before you Jump into a wrong Judgement that this University is American

Your's The understudy!!!

[little imp]

[/quote]I'm interested in why little imp has this view.

Actually I'm not anti American people. Most Thai would rather learn UK English than the American form. Most large company here look at where the English degree came from. Some friends of mine are American that they are not so proud of their nationality.
The way they think, the way they act is absolutely not natural.
By Thai traditional, we are closer to UK. I was working in multinational company. Experienced with many many foreigner. Most of American colleague only had one side of opinion. It's a pity that a lot of new generation of Thai like to learn the easy way of them.

Well, I have to apologized in the miss understanding of Stamford.

I know my writing is not good, I didn't know this is an examination!
Still be Mrs. Imp "not yet sex change"

[sargeant]

Oh you little imp not an examination just an observation

[Chas]

Understudy, thanks for correcting the impression that Stamford is in any way an American university. It is thoroughly Thai managed and owned. . .top to bottom and we have often here on HHAD discussed Thai management styles and Thai business sense, usually in a negative rather than a positive light.

As a matter of fact, one of the very best semesters we ever had while I was there was when an Ajarn from the UK was entrusted with the position of dean for a semester. He was kind, considerate, eager for our opinions and input, hardworking and well-organized. ..all traits we NEVER saw from the Thai administrators. . . who were quick to get rid of him.

The faculty was always a nice friendly mix of nationalities, and Thai and farang professors got along with each other very well. There was no British-American language conflict at all. . .ever. And in my years of teaching here in Thailand, I never met a Thai student who preferred British English over American English. .or who in fact even cared which "brand" was being peddled. The differences are so minor as to be not worth discussing. The English program I managed there had teachers from both the UK and the US.

As for student numbers. . .it never topped 200 undergrads at best and, though this info was kept secret from us ( and inflated numbers provided to the government) it dipped to less than a hundred a couple semesters ago and is probably between 100 and 150 this semester. Incoming freshmen usually numbered between 30 and 50.

Well, Understudy, we did have some really great times there! I agree. It was a place where, every so often you could see the promise and imagine the possibilities in the right hands and that was exciting. But the corresponding reality was always difficult to accept.

[heretostay]

The faculty was always a nice friendly mix of nationalities, and Thai and farang professors got along with each other very well. There was no British-American language conflict at all. . .ever. And in my years of teaching here in Thailand, I never met a Thai student who preferred British English over American English. .or who in fact even cared which "brand" was being peddled. The differences are so minor as to be not worth discussing. The English program I managed there had teachers from both the UK and the US.

Chas are you an American, who did a 40 hr Tefl course, I would hate to see your spelling, if you think there are no real differences between English and American.

I have lived in the UK, USA and Thailand, I would not let anyone study American, Its like watching sesame street. I have good American friends with degrees from so called top universities, and they know shit.

Is that why 10 million Americans cant read and write.

Even here most kids get some sort of education.

And why do all the rich Thai/Chinese kids go to study in the UK not USA!!!!

[Chas]

Steve G asked in amazement about the six weeks notice given to the faculty. They are lucky to even get that.

This semester's incoming freshmen thought they were coming to Hua hin. . they found out the truth( that they would be studying in Bangkok) just the week before or the first week of classes. Lots of unhappy parents & students I understand and several demanded refunds based on false promises.

The Stamford website, set up for prospective students, still promises:

The Stamford main campus is located in Cha Am – Hua Hin area and is comprised of uniquely designed buildings for academic and residential purposes. The campus is set on a picturesque landscape of more than 100 rais of natural beauty overlooking mountains and the Gulf of Thailand.

The campus, coupled with the splendor of the Green Mountains and the panoramic landscape, offers a superb environment in which to learn, to recreate, and to grow. The Administrative Building is a three-story building which houses most of the college functions including classrooms, The Academic Affairs department, the Student Affairs department, faculty offices, Vice President and President offices, and the Health Center. On the ground level is the Library and Learning Resource Center, Mini Store, College Bookstore, the canteen, and meeting areas. The sound lab and computer facilities, including the internet service, located on the third floor, provide support for all students.

It also lists the Intensive English Language Program, a description I wrote when I directed this program. This program was totally scrapped last October.

You can check all this out for yourself at stamford.edu.

[Chas]

Heretostay, I am not going to get into an argument here and thus waylay a rather specific forum other than to tell you that the Thai students I taught over the years were quite capable of learning the tiny spelling differences and dealing with them easily. Dont underestimate them or overestimate the importance of spelling "honor" with a "u." ( There is another forum on HHAD discussing both TEFL and grammar. ..please use it. Interesting how this has turned into a "dump on Americans" thread . .completely off topic! God bless HHAD! )

By the way, I never took a TEFL course. I hold three university degrees ( one in teaching) and I am a lifelong English teacher and university professor. As well, I taught for many years in the British system preparing students for O and A levels.