St. Theresa Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Prospects of Islamic Finance in Thailand

MD Abdus Salam — 2025-05-10

As demand in Shariah-compliant financial services grows both domestically and internationally, Islamic finance in Thailand is expected to experience significant expansion. This study aims to examine the status, future, and challenges of Islamic finance in Thailand. Domestically, the demand for Islamic banking and financial goods is being driven by the growing knowledge among Muslims in Thailand, especially in the southern districts. Market accessibility is further improved by government assistance through regulatory frameworks and programs like the Islamic Bank of Thailand. The study showed that three financial sectors—Islamic banking, Islamic insurance, and the capital market—represent Islamic finance in Thailand. Thailand is positioned as a possible center for cross-border Islamic financial services due to its advantageous ASEAN location and strong relations with neighboring countries with a majority of Muslims, namely Malaysia and Indonesia. Thus, Thailand might take advantage of the opportunity to become a regional and international hub for Islamic finance. The chances for foreign investment are also improving, as more Middle Eastern investors show interest in Southeast Asian opportunities that are Shariah-compliant. Furthermore, as Islamic finance inherently prioritizes social justice, transparency, and ethical considerations—principles that both Muslim and non-Muslim investors are increasingly seeking—responsible investing and ESG-aligned finance present encouraging opportunities. Thailand can establish itself as a competitive participant in the global Islamic finance ecosystem and promote financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth by leveraging these convergent trends.

The Development of Learning Activities on Statistics in Everyday Life Course through Authentic Project Based-Learning Approach for Undergraduate Students in Private University

Surarak Onpan — 2025-01-03

The research objectives were (1) To develop Learning activities on Statistics in Everyday Life Course through Authentic Project-Based Learning (APBL) approach for Undergraduate students in a private university. (2) To compare learning achievement of Undergraduate students before and after participating in learning activities on Statistics in Everyday Life Course through APBL approach. (3) To compare the abilities of project work and the criteria of 70% of Undergraduate students after participating in learning activities on Statistics in Everyday Life Course. The sample for the study was 97 first-year students in different majors of St Teresa International University who enrolled in Statistics in Everyday Life Course in the 1st semester of academic year 2023. The research instruments included five lesson plans of learning activities for the Statistics in Everyday Life Course using the APBL approach, pre-test and post-test of learning achievement, and an evaluation form of abilities of project work. Mean, Standard Deviation, t-test-dependent, and t-test-one samples were used for data analysis. The results were (1) The five lesson plans of learning activities using APBL approach were evaluated by experts at the high level (x ̅ = 4.38, S.D.=0.35). (2) Post-test of learning achievement scores (x ̅ = 24.40, S.D.= 3.43) were significantly higher than pre-test (x ̅ = 10.53, S.D.= 5.60) at the level of .05. (t = -27.4), and (3) The scores of abilities of project work (x ̅ = 43.36, S.D = 3.04) were significantly higher than the Criteria of 70% at the level of .05 (t = 21.47).

Accentuation of Brand through Slogan Rebranding: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Preethy Rose M — 2025-01-03

Rebranding aims to reshape customer perceptions by altering a brand's name, logo, or slogan. This study unveils how slogan rebranding accentuates and transforms brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand re-identity, and brand repositioning, driving a refreshed narrative for the brand. The study collected data from 203 respondents who were individuals confirmed to be aware of the rebranding campaigns of the three brands through a preliminary screening question included in the questionnaire and whether they are consuming those brands. The results revealed that Perceived Quality significantly influences Brand Loyalty, and Brand Re-identity positively affects Perceived Quality, while Brand Repositioning had no significant impact on Perceived Quality. The findings suggest that rebranding efforts should prioritize improving Perceived Quality and Brand Re-identity to enhance brand loyalty. Successful rebranding aligned with customer preferences and market trends can strengthen brand attachment and loyalty. Socially, rebranding can shift public perceptions and foster stronger customer-brand relationships, contributing to sustainable business practices. This study provides empirical evidence on the effects of rebranding slogans, offering valuable insights for brands seeking to improve loyalty and market positioning.

Effects of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learnings on Secondary School Students’ Academic Achievement in Chemistry

Avwiri H.E. — 2025-01-21

The study looked at how Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) affects secondary school students' academic performance in Chemistry. There were two research questions, and two hypotheses were examined at the 0.05 alpha level. The design used was quasi-experimental, specifically a pretest-posttest nonrandomized control group. The study population of the study was 3,441 SS2 chemistry students. Samples of 103 students were chosen using purposeful and random selection approaches. The data-gathering instruments were the Chemistry Achievement Test (CAT), which was validated by three specialists. The reliability of CAT was determined using the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20, which resulted in coefficients of internal consistency of.88.Mean and standard deviation were utilized to answer research questions while the hypotheses were tested using analysis of covariance. According to the study, students who received chemistry instruction using CSCL outperformed those who received instruction by DTI in terms of mean achievement scores. There was also a substantial difference in mean achievement scores between students taught Chemistry utilizing CSCL and Direct Teacher Instruction (DTI), with CSCL coming out on top. The study found no significant influence of gender. It was suggested that chemistry educators should provide a rich learning environment and experience for their students by utilizing instructional group studies, which may be accomplished with the help of computers and collaborative software tools.

The Causal Relationship between Small Entrepreneurial Skills and Innovation Competencies Affecting the Survival of Small Businesses: Empirical Evidence from Thailand

Wanlee Putsom — 2025-01-31

This research aims to study the influence of small entrepreneurial skills and innovation competencies on the survival of small businesses. The sample group is 364 small business entrepreneurs. The tools used were questionnaires and statistics used in data analysis including frequency, percentage, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The research results found that the CFA of all latent variable indicators showed consistency between the research framework and empirical data. In addition, the SEM analysis found that three areas of small entrepreneurial skills, namely digital skills, leadership skills, and management skills, directly influence small business entrepreneurs' innovation competencies, and innovation competencies have a positive direct influence on the survival of small businesses. The finding shows that small entrepreneurial skills lead innovation in small businesses, driving them to expand efficiency, reduce costs, enhance product quality, and improve alignment with consumer demands. By leveraging innovation competencies, small entrepreneurs can anticipate consumer requirements, develop new ideas, and quickly deliver products and services, ultimately ensuring the business's survival and success.

The Priority Needs for Developing Trustworthy Leadership of Primary School Administrators in Thailand

Sittipong Somdetch — 2025-03-14

This article explores the framework of trustworthy leadership and the trust levels of school administrators in Thailand through three key studies: (1) the conceptual framework of trustworthy leadership and leadership development, (2) the level of trust among school administrators, and (3) a needs assessment for developing trustworthy leadership in Thai primary schools. A multiphase mixed-methods approach was employed, with a sample of 1,185 participants (directors, deputy directors, and teachers) selected through multi-stage random sampling. Research instruments included two five-level rating scales: one for measuring trust in school administrators and another assessing the realistic and expected conditions of trustworthy leadership. Data analysis included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD), and PNImodified. Key findings: (1) Trustworthy Leadership Framework – Four core aspects were identified: Management Competence, Integrity, Openness, and Caring and Concern. Two learning areas were proposed: individualized learning (mentoring, coaching, e-learning) and group learning (action learning, networking, residential/off-site learning), (2) Trust Levels – The highest trust score was for Caring and Concern (𝒙̅ = 4.57, SD = 0.697), followed by Integrity (𝒙̅ = 4.55, SD = 0.648), Openness (𝒙̅ = 4.51, SD = 0.688), and Competence, which had the lowest score (𝒙̅ = 4.48, SD = 0.661), And (3) Priority Needs Index – Group learning had a PNIModified of 0.067 (with four sub-learning areas), while individual learning had a PNIModified of 0.046 (with five sub-learning areas). These insights offer valuable guidelines for strengthening trustworthy leadership among primary school administrators in Thailand.

The Quality of E-services and E-filing Website Satisfaction that Affect the Intention of Individuals’ Personal Income Tax Payment Online in Saraburi, Thailand

Subin Putsom — 2025-04-09

The purpose of this research is to study the causal relationship between the quality of e-services and satisfaction with the e-filing website that affects the intention of individuals' personal income tax payments. Data were collected using a questionnaire from a sample of 409 income-earning individuals within Saraburi Province, Thailand. The statistics used were frequency, percentage, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results showed that the Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the consistency between the measurement Model and the empirical data for all variables. The study found that e-service quality has both direct and indirect effects on the intention of income-earning individuals to pay taxes online, with satisfaction with e-filing websites serving as a mediating factor. In addition, the quality of e-services directly influences users’ satisfaction with the e-filing website, which in turn directly influences the intention of income-earning individuals to pay taxes online. As for the results of the analysis of the Structural Equation Model and the total influence values revealed that e-service quality has the strongest influence on the intention to pay tax online, primarily through satisfaction with the e-filing website (TE = 0.97). Then, e-service quality has a total influence on satisfaction with the e-filing website (TE = 0.92), which is statistically significant at the 0.01 level. Additionally, satisfaction with e-filing websites has a total influence on intention to pay taxes online (TE = 0.35), statistically significant at the 0.05 level.

The Mediating Effect of Motivation on the Relationship between Work Passion and Job Satisfaction in Selected Private Secondary Schools in Nakhon Nayok Province

Wilaiwan Krimjai — 2025-04-29

This study explores how motivation mediates the relationship between teachers' work passion and job satisfaction within the academic environment. It specifically addresses the lack of clarity in understanding how work passion influences job satisfaction when motivation serves as a mediating variable. Using a cross-sectional, correlational, non-experimental quantitative research design, the study analyzes data from 200 teachers in four schools in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand, through descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., correlation, stepwise multiple regression, and mediation analyses). The results indicated that R² = 0.762, suggesting that approximately 76.2% of the variance in job satisfaction can be explained by changes in factors within work passion. Among these factors, Sense of Learning is shown to be a strong predictor (β = 0.5263, p < .001), highlighting its critical role in enhancing job satisfaction. Additionally, motivation fully mediated the relationship between work passion and job satisfaction, as evidenced by a significant indirect effect (β = 0.6001, bootstrapped 95% CI [0.5333, 0.6747], p < .001). The study underscores the pivotal role of motivation as a mediator, emphasizing that work passion enhances job satisfaction primarily through its influence on motivation. However, its cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and future research could adopt a mixed-methods approach, combining longitudinal quantitative data and qualitative insights to examine how these relationships evolve. The findings offer practical implications for educational institutions, highlighting the need to cultivate professional learning experiences that sustain teachers' motivation and job satisfaction.

Fostering Morality in accordance with the St Teresa Way for Students at St Teresa International University

Vichian Puncreobutr — 2024-05-15

This mixed-method study aimed to examine how morality was fostered according to the St Teresa way, as well as the moral characteristics of students and graduates at St Teresa International University.

The research was conducted in three phases. The first two phases involved qualitative methods, including document analysis, focus groups, participant observation, and in-depth interviews. The third phase employed a quantitative approach using a researcher-designed questionnaire. The data were analyzed using mean scores.

The study's findings revealed that: 1) Three elements made up the morality of the St Teresa way as practiced by the students at St Teresa International University: Peace, Love-Kindness, and Public Consciousness. 2) Fostering morality in accordance with the St Teresa way was accomplished through two stages: the design phase, which focused on developing meaningful morality, and the implementation phase, which focused on attaining the expected learning outcomes (ELO) and developing the desired characteristics of stakeholders.

3) Among first-year to fourth-year students from the academic years 2015–2024, the morality level in accordance with the St Teresa way had a high average value with a tendency to continually increase. The degree of graduate characteristics that stakeholders desired from the 2020–2024 academic years also had a high average value and tended to rise steadily.