Sharing when the ‘publish or perish’ ethos for some academics isn’t the most impactful, and how he became a leader within the university that his grandfather founded, Professor Ruth Banomyong from Thammasat Business School tells us about his career and thoughts on business education.

Here’s what he had to say:

Tell us about your career and how you arrived where you are today

“As an academic, I specialise in logistics and supply chain management, particularly in multimodal transport, trade facilitation and logistics policy, at Thammasat University. I was formerly the Dean of Thammasat Business School, which is triple-accredited. My PhD is from Cardiff University. I have consulted for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank.

“I have lived around the world and never imagined returning to Thailand, let alone to the university my grandfather founded. Born in France to a family of political refugees, I was brought back by a combination of legacy, luck, and chance. It was never the plan, but I am proud to continue my grandfather’s ethos of education and accessibility.”

What are you focusing on at the moment?

“We established the Center of Excellence in Connectivity at Thammasat University in 2022 to support education, applied research, and innovation in response to global trends in connectivity and digital technologies.

“Last year I have consulted for the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLSS) on trade and transport costs for landlocked countries. The work done provides LLDC policymakers with a practical, scalable framework to diagnose where trade costs arise, why they persist, and how targeted institutional, regulatory, and corridor-level reforms can reduce them. I am now starting a new project with a foundation on humanitarian corridor resilience in Southeast Asia. We’re looking at how to improve infrastructure that’s impacted by natural disasters, focusing on preparedness, response and recovery.

“Much of my work with organisations such as the UN and OECD has had real policy impact, it is often not counted as academic research. This reflects the broader “publish or perish” culture in academia, which favours journal publications because they are simple to quantify. Yet the reality is that many academic papers are read by very few people, while policy reports may directly shape decisions and practice but receive little formal recognition.”

It sounds like you are advocating for a more balanced approach to research and societal contributions. Tell us more about that.

“The reality is that business is an applied discipline. This means that the advancement of business knowledge requires close interaction with practitioners, where theory informs practice and practice, in turn, shapes and strengthens theory.

“People contribute to society in different ways, and institutions must move beyond one-size-fits-all models of assessment if they are to recognise the full range of meaningful contributions.

“Based on my research, I have learned that governments engage with policy when they can clearly see the consequences of their choices. I have therefore developed analytical tools that simulate both the effects of proposed development policies and the counterfactual outcomes of doing nothing.”

Beyond the classroom and your work within society, you coach the university’s rugby teams. Does that give you additional insights into students today?

“Yes, working with students through sport gives me a deeper understanding of how they learn and grow today. In the classroom, you see their analytical and technical abilities; on the field, you see their resilience, discipline, and capacity to work collectively under pressure.

“Students open up in ways they often do not in formal settings. I always tell them that if they need advice, academic or personal, they can come and see me. These interactions remind me that learning does not happen only in classrooms. Sport teaches teamwork, leadership, respect, and perseverance, qualities that matter long after university.”

See Professor Banomyong travelling in Southeast Asia on YouTube here.

For additional insights, announcements and perspectives, visit the conversation on Business Education.