Covid-19 might have quietened university campuses across the country, but Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus remains a hive of activity.
In late March, the campus unveiled the country's first Covid-19 field hospital. Providing 308 beds and utilising telemedicine and automated meal deliveries, the decision to convert the Dluxx dormitory was a very easy one to make, according to Assoc Prof Gasinee Witoonchart, the rector of Thammasat University.
After witnessing the healthcare system in some countries collapse and the number of Covid-19 cases in Thailand beginning to climb at the end of February and in early March, the university came up with a plan and, over two days, rehoused existing residents who were more than happy to help, said the rector.
On the third day, the building began receiving patients as medical personnel arrived to oversee the process.
"Executives of the university agreed that we should contribute to creating emotional security for people and society, so the first field hospital needed to be opened as fast as possible," Assoc Prof Gasinee told the Bangkok Post regarding the swift moves to contribute to the pandemic battle.
The field hospital has accepted recovering Covid-19 patients from five university hospitals in Bangkok as well as hospitals in nearby provinces such as Lop Buri, Ang Thong and Pathum Thani.
Assoc Prof Gasinee admitted the project saw her team entering uncharted territory as they, along with most medical professionals, had no experience in dealing with such a virulent disease.
"We are living in an unusual time. So the university had to depart from its 'business as usual mode'. Normally, our role is to educate our students so they can serve society. But now, we have also chosen to help in the fight against Covid-19.
"The key to managing the crisis is having the courage to make tough and timely decisions," she said.
"We must make our choices with the wider public benefit in mind," she said, adding that: "After all, Thammasat University is quintessentially a people's university. Our role has always been to serve society."
During the past two months, the university has summoned its resources to offer help in the fight against the disease on three fronts.
Firstly, ensuring that its own students and staff are healthy and protected from the effects of coronavirus.
Secondly, extending this level of care outwards into the local Pathum Thani communities.
And finally, through contributions such as the field hospital to help alleviate some of the strain on the country's medical infrastructure.
For the first task, the university has purchased health insurance policies for Covid-19 for 40,000 students and staff. The university also returned dormitory fees to some students and gave discounts to others, while also offering free internet packages to many of its enrollees.
For students whose families have been hit by Covid-19, the university gave out 5,000 scholarships.
The university decided to open its canteen and kitchen to let food vendors earn income from cooking cheap food to sell to nearby communities and using motorcycle taxis to deliver it at a cost of 10-30 baht.
Meanwhile, computer science students developed the "TU Covid-19" mobile app to help students and staff screen their symptoms and access information about the disease. They also opened chat channels so that members of the faculties could ask doctors questions about the disease in real time.
In terms of changes to the students' classes and lectures, Assoc Prof Gasinee said that the shift to a 100% online format had not been so difficult.
"Our university has a policy to become a 'market of academic knowledge'. We had already been planning to implement online learning even more widely and we have a new generation of lecturers and academics who have been able to help those not so familiar with the technology to adapt," she said.
At the community level, the university has been producing hand sanitiser which students have been giving out for free. It has also opened up its laboratory facilities for Covid-19 testing for samples taken from local hospitals. "This has reduced the waiting time for results from 24 to just six hours," said Assoc Prof Gasinee.
While the university's field hospital has already made headlines, the Faculty of Art and Faculty of Science and Innovation have also pitched in to the national effort by cooperating with the private sector for the "ThamMask" project, which has seen the production of 60,000 sanitary masks for donation to hospitals and medical staff around the country.
"This was made possible by a student funding effort to raise 1.65 million baht," said the professor.
At the same time, the Faculty of Law opened the "TU Pandemic Legal Aid Centre" to give advice to people affected by the outbreak, particularly regarding matters concerning employment.
"Our goal has always been to protect our students and staff while doing our best for the country too. We don't want anyone to be left behind," Assoc Prof Gasinee said.