Bangkok Post : Virtual university boosts mobile learning

Assumption University has adopted mobile technology to enhance the communication channel of its virtual community, U-Town, which was set up last year.

AU students try online shopping on the virtual university. SASIWIMON BOONRUANG

The university has teamed up with AIS to offer AU U-Town SIM, the special SIM card, exclusive to AU students, to access the virtual university.

Students can also check their grades, class schedule, exam schedule, instant messages and access the education portal as well as make deals with mPAY service for payments.

Santithorn Bunchua, director of AU's IT Services Office, noted that since U-Town completed its trial run, which was launched in November, students and external users can set up shops in the virtual campus.

He noted that mobile education is likely to grow rapidly. "U-Town is classed as an online game but we try to make it educational, as it contains an e-commerce platform," the director said, adding that the virtual university does not yet have full features.

AIS executive vice president marketing Somchai Lertsuttiwong said the service provider has worked with AU to customise technology, allowing students to access the university's information more efficiently.

For 149 baht a month, the SIM allows users to call free of further charge for one year.

AIS has applied the infrastructure to serve the education sector, Somchai said, noting that in the near future, students could carry out e-learning on mobile phone.