You might mistake him for Gandalf, that old and wise wizard from the Lord of the Rings, with his graying beard and eyebrows and his eyes with those mischievous glint. But for his colleagues and students in Mahidol University International College (MUIC)—indeed its hundreds of alumni—he is one of the pillars of the college. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Smith is not just the longest-serving faculty member in MUIC, he was also there in the very beginning, a member of the committee that planned the establishment of Mahidol University’s International Students’ Degree Program (ISDP) which later on grew up into MUIC.

Armed with a Ph.D. degree in Sociology of Religion from the University of Lancaster in the UK, he came to Mahidol University in 1985 to teach at the Department of Humanities of the Social Science Faculty. With his pioneering work in helping form ISDP, he was soon teaching there and developing its initial course catalogue. “We were like a big family,” he reminisced. Everyone knew everyone else.”

As a lecturer, is he strict or lenient? “I set high standards but, at the same time, I try to be very approachable and funny. My main job is to encourage students to work hard, to answer their questions, and maybe entertain them a bit,” he said.

And just because he comes from an earlier generation does not mean he is a Luddite. In fact, he has his own blog, has a Facebook account, even created several Facebook fan pages to reach out to his students. He even produced scores of YouTube videos to supplement his lectures.

Aside from delivering lectures, Dr. Smith also held several administrative positions over the years—as Division Chairman and Social Science Program Director and as Deputy Director of MUIC.
“A good administrator brings out the best of the people he’s working with and treats them as colleagues, not as subordinates,” he said.

Dr. Smith retired from full-time status in 2013 but still teaches, albeit on a part-time capacity. As MUIC’s most senior academic, what would be his advice to lecturers who are just starting their own career? “Listen to your students. And have high standards. Don’t compromise your standards. Insist on high standards.”

How do you define a leader?
A catalyst.

How do you balance your studies and your extra-curricular activities?
It’s hard. Sometimes, I take more than I can handle, and I think it involves a bit of trial and error. I consistently have to monitor my own academic performance, extra-curricular performance, and – arguably, the most important – my mental health. Dips in performance or strains in your mental health can be indicators that can tell you whether or not you’ve got too much in your hands. I think everyone needs to find their own way, and it requires introspection.

Biggest challenge you had as a student leader? How did you cope with it?
I was the team leader of Polar Prim & Winions at a business case competition (KPMG). I took a term off to do my internship at a consultancy firm, so I had to juggle working from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and the business case.

I had great teammates that were both supportive and understanding of my circumstance. Through effective communication, the team was able to be on the same page. I remember sitting down with my team to discuss our approach to the competition only to discover that when you break down the issues into smaller, more manageable chunks, the problem will be less daunting.

Most memorable experience as a student leader?
I was team leader for ICtheFuture in the Invent for the Planet competition. It was memorable because I just had so much fun from throwing around ideas with my friends to coming up with solutions for issues that we genuinely cared about.

Three “must-have” qualities of a student leader?
Ability to empower others and work in a team, kindness, decision-making capabilities.

Your advice to students who also want to become a leader?
Be the kind of leader you want to work under.

At First, There Was Only Boom And His Friend Who Helped Out In Sales. Now, Six Years Later, Selvedgework Has Three Branches, 17 Staff, And A Brand That Has Quickly Established A Loyal Following. Such Swift Success Can Only Come With The Leadership Qualities That Boom Possesses. For Starters, He Has The Vision. “I’ve Always Dreamed Of Creating My Own Brand, Of Creating Something Out Of Nothing. I Wanted To Be The ‘Best Player In The Game.’” And To Learn More About This Young Business Leader, MUIC 360° Sat Down With Him In His Posh Outlet At Artisans’ Royal Club In Gaysorn Village On Ploenchit Road.

Are you the intuitive or scientific type?
I’m a combination of both. You need intuition and inspiration to get fresh ideas for your business but being scientific about it, like doing research, is also important.

But if you ask me to choose only one, then I’d choose intuition and inspiration. They will keep you going in the long run.

Why did you decide to establish a high-end jeans company rather than a mass-market brand?
For me, there is bigger money in mass-market jeans but I prefer developing a niche brand because it affords me to use my creativity. It gives me more space to develop my own brand (“I want my brand to be the best jeans”), have more control over the production process, have more focus, and more freedom.

How would you describe your management style? Are you the hands-on type? Or do you give your employees a wider room to operate? Why?
A combination of the two. I appreciate the importance of giving my staff more freedom in performing their work but I have to give them guidelines. Too much freedom, too much chill, might cause the quality of our products to suffer. I give more leeway to staff who have been working longer in my company and who are more responsible.

Pointers in Leading and Managing Gen Z
First, be willing to use your emotional intelligence. Since each generation grew up with different values and upbringing, learning how and why they think the way they do can be fun, surprising and eye-opening. For example, Gen Z may feel less aware of how technology influences their lives simply because they were naturally born into technology. Hence, designing how technology should be used in each organization can be a good starting point to practice learning-unlearning-relearning about different generations.

Second, leaders will need to influence more and direct less. Long gone are the days of the ‘yes sir boss’ workplace. Call it ‘transformative leadership’ or ‘charismatic leadership.’ It all comes down to simply convincing someone to do something with good reasoning, effective listening and mutual respect. Selling rather than telling will be the new way to go.

Third, leaders must master their gardening skills – nurture their Gen Z newbies and help them grow. Being the first boss will be the most challenging and valuable role for he or she is laying down the imprints for the young and inexperienced.

Generational Cohorts by Names and Birth Years

Gen Z: Digital Natives

Most Used Device: Smart Phone (average use: 15.4 hours / week)
Preferred social media platforms: Snapchat and Instagram
70% of Gen Z watches two hours of YouTube per day.
Source: https://www.visioncritical.com/generation-z-infographics/

Mahidol University International College (MUIC) also believes in the need to equip and empower women and also protect their rights particularly in the workplace. Aside from a policy that addresses sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and equality in the college, MUIC has also started offering a course on women and gender studies to educate students in this crucial field.

Filipino Teachers Who Received Teaching License from the Teachers’ Council of Thailand (Khurusapha) (2004, 2007-2010)
Females: 2,126
Males: 1,319

Source: Asst. Prof. Dr. Analiza Amurao, “Race, Gender, and Politics of English Language Education in Thailand: The Filipino Educators in the Kingdom” (Unpublished Dissertation)

MUIC’s Gender Equality Policy
“MUIC Announcement: Guideline to Prevent and Correct the Issue on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, and to Promote Gender Equality Through the Prevention of Gender Discrimination”

ICCU 301 Women and Gender Studies
“An interdisciplinary course that provides a learning platform for students to understand ‘gender’ and issues associated with it, including issues related to women that are otherwise overlooked.”
– Dr. Anjana Warren
HLD faculty member who developed ICCU 301 course

What are the main external challenges confronting MUIC?
The gradual reduction in the number of high school students who intend to enroll in higher education is a well-recognized phenomenon. Other challenges include the changes in education systems all over the world. As disruptions become a normal part of our daily lives, there is a definite move towards a more fluid and integrated education. This is in response to the need to provide well-rounded, global graduates who are flexible and have the knowledge and skills to transition between disciplines with ease.

How are you and the executive team currently addressing them?
The MUIC executive team is poised to meet these challenges by re-equipping our teachers with new tools for teaching and learning, as well as updating the way we manage curricula. We are also working towards streamlining the way we provide knowledge, to appeal to both the typical young learners as well as the mature learners who are looking to un-learn and re-learn in order to stay in the workforce. By being the first to move, we can ensure that we stay competitive locally and internationally.

In your view, what are the inherent strengths of MUIC?
MUIC derives its strength from the academic and social diversity of its faculty members, as well as the multitude of students from many nations resulting in a rich cultural variety. Together, these factors blend to create a vibrant international community that allows individuals to work, study, and live together harmoniously.

Suppose you’re addressing a group of senior high school students, what would you say to convince them to study at MUIC?
Here at MUIC, we believe in creating an international environment where people from various academic, social and cultural backgrounds can interact, innovate and create for the betterment of our society and for the benefit of mankind. We do that through what and how we teach, research, and service to the local and global community. If you believe in an education that can transform people into extraordinary citizens who would seamlessly transition into the international arena of business, professional careers or higher education, MUIC is the place for you.