INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON QUALITY ASSURANCE, QUALITY BUILDING AND QUALITY CULTURE (ICQA 2014) Bangkok, 8th – 10th December 2014 Venue: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) Bangkok, Thailand Welcome to International Conference on Quality Assurance, Quality Building and Quality Culture (ICQA 2014) in Bangkok! We are honored to welcome you to Bangkok for our ICQA 2014 event. The following pages will provide you some information and tips for your stay in Bangkok. Some quick notes: Please be on time for the scheduled program The program is subject to change without prior notice In case of an emergency or for further assistance, please contact our staff at the information center Welcome to Bangkok Rationale In less than two years, Thailand will become part of the single market system under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). One of the ONESQA’s strategies is to disseminate information to all concerned to recognize the importance of educational quality assurance. However, in order to achieve highest efficiency as an external quality assessment agency to ensure quality education, ONESQA has realized the value of establishing an international conference as a means to distribute to the p ublic all publications, ideas, and information relating to external quality assessment which is considered beneficial for educational evaluators, assessors, researchers, and other interested academics. This conference will establish a network of updated kn owledge and innovative ideas shared by educators and evaluators in the field of educational quality assurance, and of the external quality assessment. It is believed that the outcome of the conference will provide efficient and effective assessment methods and criteria for the practice of quality assurance. Important Dates First Announcement Second Announcement Submission of Abstract & Full Papers/Posters Closing date Notice of Acceptance Early Bird Registration Closing Date Inclusion of Abstract and Full Papers/Posters Closing Date 15 August 2014 30 August 2014 30 September 2014 15 October 2014 30 September 2014 31 October 2014 Program Day 1: Monday 8th December 2014 9:00-9:45 Opening Ceremony 9:45-10:15 Opening Address by Prime Minister of Thailand 10:15 – 12:00 Premier Keynote “Quality Culture: Cultivate Citizens & Nurture Nations” by Prof. Dr.Channarong Pornrungroj Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment, Thailand 12:00 – 13:00 Luncheon 13:00 – 14:00 Keynote #2 “The ABC’s of Building Quality Cultures for Education in a Global World” by Dr. Carol L. Bobby, President and CEO, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) 14:00 – 14:15 Coffee Break 14:15 – 17:00 Paper Presentations (Breakout Sessions) Day 2: Tuesday 9th December 2014 9:00 – 09:45 Keynote #3 “ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework” by Prof. Zita Mohd Fahmi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Malaysia 09:45 – 10:30 Keynote #4“Quality Achievement”, Dr. Haroon Rashid, CEO, National Testing Service-Pakistan (NTS), Pakistan 10:30 – 10:45 Coffee Break 10:45 – 12:00 Paper Presentations (Breakout Sessions) 12:00 – 13:00 Luncheon 13:00 – 14:30 Paper Presentations (Breakout Sessions) 14:30 – 14:45 Coffee Break 14:45 – 17:00 Paper Presentations (Breakout Sessions) 17:00 – 18:30 Cocktail Day 3: Wednesday 10th December 2014 ------------------------------------------Cultural Visit (optional) ----------------------------------------------------*Please note that an additional charge will be applied and please find the available program on http://www.wts-thailand.com/index.php Accommodation and Venue Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) 88 Bangna-Trad Road (Km.1), Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand Tel: +(66 2) 726 1999, + (66 2) 366 9797 Fax: +(66 2) 726 1919 http://www.bitec.co.th/ The centre is accessible via 3 entrances: 1st and 2nd are along Bangna-Trad Road (km.1) and the 3rd entrance is along Sukhumvit Road via the expressway. By BTS (Skytrain) Bang Na Station (Exit 1) A shuttle service that transports passengers from the Sukhumvit road entrance to the exhibition halls is also available for some events held at BITEC. By Car 15-minute drive from the Suvarnabhumi International airport Directly linked by the expressway to the Centre Business District (10 km.) Links the Outer Ring Road that extends to other parts of Bangkok to avoid traffic jams during rush hours, which is 7 km. from BITEC. By Bus Entrance 1 and 2 can be reached by bus: Number 38, 46, 46A, 48, 132, 133, 139, 180, 552, 552A which arrived along Bangna-Trad Road (km.1) Entrance 3 can be reached by bus: number 2, 23, 45, 102, 116, 142, 507, 508, 511, 513, 536, 544, 552A which arrived along Sukumvit Road. Taxi For your convenience and comfort, Taxi service will be available for your pre-bookings at Business Centre. The Taxi stand is also available by the drop off area in front of EH 103. Please show this map to the driver for the conference location Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) 88 Bangna-Trad Road (Km.1), Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand Tel: +(66 2) 726 1999, + (66 2) 366 9797 Fax: +(66 2) 726 1919 ศูนย์ นิทรรศการและการประชุมไบเทค 88 ถ. บางนา-ตราด (กม.1) บางนา กรุ งเทพฯ 10260 โทรศัพท์ 02 726 1999 , 02 366 9797 แฟกซ์ 02 726 1919 General Information The City Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon pronounced or simply about this sound Krung Thep. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in Central Thailand, and has a population of over eight million, or 12.6 percent of the country's population. Over fourteen million people (22.2 percent) live within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, dwarfing Thailand's other urban centres in terms of importance. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a major regional force in finance and business. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and is emerging as a regional centre for the arts, fashion and entertainment. The city's vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its notorious red-light districts, have given it an exotic appeal. The historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the nightlife scenes of Khaosan Road and Patpong. Bangkok is among the world's top tourist destinations. It is named the most visited city in MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index, and was named "World's Best City" for four consecutive years by Travel + Leisure magazine. Weather The weather in Thailand is generally hot and humid: typical of its location within the tropics. Generally speaking, Thailand can be divided into three seasons: “hot” season, rainy season, and “cool” season, though Thailand’s geography allows visitors to find suitable weather somewhere in the country throughout the year. Located just 15 degrees north of the equator, Thailand has a tropical climate and temperatures typically range from 19 to 38 degrees C (66-100 F). Thailand Time Thailand Standard Time is +7 GMT. Thailand does not observe daylight savings. Business Hours Generally speaking, Bangkok and the major tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket generally have longer opening hours for most services; however, operating hours for most businesses and government services in Thailand are not dissimilar to those in most other developed nations. Banking Hours Thai bank hours are typically Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, though some Thai bank branches, particularly those inside of shopping malls, are open on weekends. Currency exchange booths in Bangkok and other tourist destinations are open on weekends and evenings. Clinics and Doctors’ Surgeries Major hospitals in Bangkok have 24 hour emergency rooms, but typical doctors’ appointments should be scheduled between 8.00am and 18.00, Monday - Friday. Some larger hospitals offer off-hours and weekend services. If you have a medical emergency you should go to the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital. Emergency services can be reached by dialing 191 on any phone. Emergency Services Emergency services, which can be reached at 191, are generally available 24 hours. Shops and Department Stores Most shops are open seven days a week from 10 am to 10 pm. Local “mom and pop” convenience stores may open earlier and remain open until after midnight. Thai markets are open various hours depending on the wares they sell, with wet-markets selling food products from the wee hours of the morning until around 10am, while night markets typically open around sunset and remain open until 10pm or occasionally midnight. Museums and Galleries Thailand museums and galleries are typically open from 9.00am to 4:00pm daily. Times may vary and some museums and galleries may close one day during the week and/or on public holidays. Post Offices The Thailand postal service is reliable and efficient. Thailand post offices are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm. The Bangkok Central GPO on New Road is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm. All Thai post offices are closed on public holidays, though most major hotels can arrange to mail letters and parcels on your behalf. Restaurants Restaurant operating hours are highly variable and, as Thai people love to eat, streetside restaurants frequently stay open well past midnight. Restaurants have typically later closing hours in Bangkok and tourist destinations than in the rural provinces. Supermarkets Supermarkets are typically open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm. 7-11 convenience stores, located throughout Thailand are generally open 24 hours. BTS Skytrain The BTS skytrain runs daily between 6:00 am and 12:00 midnight with frequent service throughout the day, increased during rush hours. MRT Subway The MRT underground Blue Line operates from 6.00 am to 12:00 midnight daily. Frequency - Less than 5 minutes during the peak hours 06.00 - 09.00 am and 04.30 - 07.30 pm. Electricity Electrical outlets in Thailand are charged to 220v at 50 cycles per second, which is compatible with appliances from the U.K. but not those from the US and many other nations. While most computer cables have adaptors for voltage, visitors from the U.S. and those not on the 220/50 v. will have to bring adapters to run most other appliances. Outlets in Thailand generally feature flat, two pronged plugs, though some feature holes for round plug ends. Few outlets feature three holes (grounded outlets) so it is often necessary to have a three to two prong adapter for using notebook computers in Thailand. Type A Type B Type C Currency and Exchange The Thailand currency is the baht. One Thai baht is divided into 100 satang, though the tiny golden satang coins are rarely taken or given outside of shopping malls and convenience stores. Bank notes are in denominations of 1,000 (beige), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue), 20 (green) and the less common 10 (brown) baht. Coins consist of 25 satang, 50 satang, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht and 10 baht. Both Thai baht bank notes and coins are sized according to denomination, with larger value notes and coins correspondingly larger than lesser value ones.Any amount of foreign currency may be brought into the country. Visitors may take foreign currency out of Thailand, but no more than the amount stated in the customs declaration made on arrival. Travelers leaving Thailand may take out no more than 50,000 Thai baht per person in Thai currency. Thai bank hours are generally Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, though certain banks have shorter Saturday hours and currency exchange booths are open considerably longer hours in Bangkok and other tourist destinations. For more information on updated exchange rates, please visit http://www.x-rates.com/table/?from=THB Credit Cards Credit cards are widely accepted, though using a credit card may incur a usage fee of 2-3% which the vendor will typically inform you of before running your card. Furthermore, while most cards give reasonable exchange rates, many credit card companies charge an additional fee for foreign charges. For lost cards: American Express Tel : Diners Club Tel : 66(0)2-273 5100 or 66(0)81-559-5888 66(0)2-238 2920 or 66(0)2-238 2680 Master Card Tel : Visa Tel : 66(0)2-256 7326 to 7 66(0)2-256 7326 to 7 Arrival Guide Arrival passengers must fill in their personal information on the Passenger Arrival Document no.6 which is issued by the Immigration Bureau. Thailand’s Visa Information: General Information 1. Generally, a foreign citizen who wishes to enter the Kingdom of Thailand is required to obtain a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate-General. However, nationals of certain countries do not require a visa if they meet visa exemption requirements as follows: (1) they are nationals of countries which are exempted from visa requirements when entering Thailand for tourism purposes. Such nationals will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days. (2) they are nationals of countries which hold bilateral agreements with Thailand on the exemption of visa requirements. 2. Nationals of certain countries may apply for visa upon arrival in Thailand. Travellers with this type of visa are permitted to enter and stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 15 days. For more information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Kingdom of Thailand, please visit http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15405-General-information.html accordingly. Airport Transfer: From Bangkok Airport to City/Hotel There are many alternatives for airport transfer from Bangkok airport to the hotel upon traveler’s convenience, for more details please visit http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/transportation Public Transport The Skytrain (BTS) and underground (MRT) rail systems connect the main shopping, entertainment and business areas of the city, while river taxis and express boats can be used to explore many historic sites and attractions at the riverside. Taxis are cheap and appear on virtually every corner at almost any time. Tuk-tuks, once a big Bangkok attraction, are slowly disappearing in favour of more comfortable transport, but are still worth a ride at least once. For further information on the transit guide in Bangkok, please visit http://www.transitbangkok.com/ Bangkok BTS Sky Train BTS Map BTS Fare Source: http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/main.aspx Bangkok Metro: Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Ticket and Fare 1. Single Journey Token • Adult Token - Issued from both Ticket Vending Machine and Ticket Office • Child / Elder Token - Only issued at Ticket Office 2. Stored Value Card - a smart card which can be stored and topped up value for multiple rides: 2.1 Adult Card 2.2 Child/Elder Card 2.3 Student Card 2.4 Business Traveller 2.5 EmployeeCard 2.6 Co-Brand Card 3. Period Pass - a smart card which can be used for multiple rides in limited day period: 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 One Day Pass 3-Day Pass 15-Day Pass 30-Day Pass Premiere Pass MRT Map Source: http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/ Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Tourist Information Centres There are Thailand tourist information centers at most airports and in most towns and cities that also have a tourist information centers at their airport. The following is a list of convenient locations to get Thailand travel information. TAT Head Office on New Petchburi Road Open daily 08:30 - 16:30 (including weekends and public holidays) Address: 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand Tel: +66 2 250 5500 TAT Call Center: Open daily 08:00 - 20:00 Please call 1672 24-Hour Audio-Text & Fax on Demand Service: Please call 1672 E-mail: [email protected] Thailand Tourist Information Centers in Other Locations: Ratchadamnern Nok Avenue Arrivals - Building 2 Open daily 08:30 - 16:30 Open daily 08:00 - 24:00 Bangkok International Airport: Arrivals - Building 1 Open daily 08:00 - 24:00 Source: http://www.tourismthailand.org/ For Emergencies: Tourist Police Dial 1155 (24-hours round the clock service) Useful Contact for Tourist
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