Provide free access to educational resources for those not studying at the university – e.g. computers, library, online courses, and access to lectures.
Prince of Songkla University (PSU) promotes lifelong learning by extending educational opportunities beyond its formally enrolled student population. Members of the general public can access free online courses leading to certificates, selected campus learning facilities and information services, and a range of open-access digital educational resources.
Through these initiatives, PSU enables individuals of different ages, occupations and educational backgrounds to continue developing their knowledge and skills without being enrolled in a degree programme.
1. Free Online Courses Leading to Certificates
Through PSU MOOC, Prince of Songkla University provides open online learning opportunities for individuals of all genders and ages, with no educational prerequisites. Learners can access course content online 24 hours a day, free of charge, and those who successfully complete the specified course requirements are eligible to receive certificates of completion.
PSU MOOC offers courses across 12 subject categories, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, business and management, computer science, education, health, languages, personal development, science and technology, and other fields.
The PSU MOOC platform currently reports:
These figures demonstrate the scale of PSU’s open online learning provision and its contribution to lifelong learning beyond conventional degree programmes.
Participation and Certificate Outcomes
PSU’s learning dashboard further records:
332,933 unique learners
737,920 total course enrolments
118,151 unique learners who have received certificates
246,329 certificates earned across course enrolments
In 2025 (B.E. 2568), PSU MOOC recorded 29,930 learners, of whom 14,245 received certificates, equivalent to approximately 47.6% of learners recorded during the year.
These data demonstrate that PSU MOOC not only provides access to educational content but also enables substantial numbers of learners to complete structured courses and receive formal recognition of their learning.
Learner Profile and Public Participation, 2022–2025
PSU MOOC serves both members of the University community and learners from outside the University. Learner data for 2022–2025 (B.E. 2565–2568) are summarised below.
| Year | PSU students | PSU staff | General public / external learners | Total learners |
|---|
| 2022 (B.E. 2565) | [n] | [n] | [n] | [n] |
| 2023 (B.E. 2566) | [n] | [n] | [n] | [n] |
| 2024 (B.E. 2567) | [n] | [n] | [n] | [n] |
| 2025 (B.E. 2568) | [n] | [n] | [n] | [n] |
Across the four-year period, [number] learners ([xx.x%]) were individuals who were not currently enrolled as PSU students.
These data demonstrate that PSU MOOC provides free educational opportunities not only for the University community but also for members of the wider public.
[Insert Figure: PSU MOOC learners by participant type, 2022–2025]
Examples of Free Courses Leading to Certificates
Selected PSU MOOC courses are open to members of the general public free of charge and provide certificates upon successful completion of the required learning activities and assessments.
Examples include:
[Course title 1] – [target group / duration / completion requirement]
[Course title 2] – [target group / duration / completion requirement]
[Course title 3] – [target group / duration / completion requirement]
These courses allow learners who are not enrolled as PSU students to gain new knowledge and skills and receive formal recognition of their learning.
Supporting evidence
PSU MOOC platform
PSU MOOC FAQ on free access and certificates
PSU MOOC learner dashboard
Learner-type statistics
Examples of free certified courses
Examples of certificates of completion
2. Public Access to Campus Learning Facilities and Information Services
In addition to online learning, PSU provides members of the public with access to designated campus learning facilities and information services through the Khunying Long Athakravisunthorn Learning Resources Center at PSU Hat Yai Campus.
The Library provides services for external users, demonstrating that access to its learning environment extends beyond PSU students and staff.
Facilities and services available to external users include:
designated reading and learning spaces;
OPAC information-search computers;
selected internet and information services;
One Day WiFi;
meeting and learning spaces; and
facilities supporting users with disabilities.
These resources enable members of the public to use university learning infrastructure for reading, study, information searching and other educational activities without being enrolled as PSU students.
PSU distinguishes between services that are publicly accessible and services that require membership, institutional affiliation or payment.
Supporting evidence [https://lib.psu.ac.th/th/services]
Library services for external users
Learning and reading spaces
OPAC information-search facilities
One Day WiFi
Disability Access
Library service conditions
3. Free Access to Online Educational Resources
PSU further supports public access to knowledge through a range of open-access digital educational and academic resources.
The University Library provides access to open-access resources including:
open-access electronic databases;
open-access e-books;
open-access e-journals;
patent resources;
PSU Knowledge Bank;
PSU eLibrary;
Southern Thailand Information Database;
Songkhla Lake Basin Knowledge Bank;
Thai Digital Collection;
ThaiJO; and
Union Catalog.
These resources extend access to research, scholarly publications, theses, local knowledge and other academic materials beyond PSU’s formally enrolled student population.
PSU MOOC also provides an important source of free online educational content that can be accessed remotely through computers, tablets and smartphones.
Certain subscription-based electronic resources remain subject to publisher licensing and copyright restrictions. PSU therefore distinguishes these restricted resources from those available through open access.
Supporting evidence
PSU Library Open Access resources
PSU Knowledge Bank
PSU eLibrary
Southern Thailand Information Database
Songkhla Lake Basin Knowledge Bank
Thai Digital Collection
ThaiJO
PSU MOOC
Extending Lifelong Learning Beyond the University Community
Through free online courses leading to certificates, access to selected campus learning facilities and information services, and open-access digital educational resources, PSU provides multiple learning pathways for individuals who are not studying at the University.
The learner profile data from PSU MOOC further demonstrate that these opportunities are used not only by PSU students and staff but also by members of the general public, school students, teachers, working professionals and other external learners.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate PSU’s commitment to making university knowledge and educational resources accessible beyond its enrolled student population and to supporting inclusive lifelong learning for the wider community.