In a bid to foster global collaboration and cross-cultural understanding, the College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University initiated a comprehensive seven-day Student Exchange Program on December 21 to 27, 2023 with participants from the host institution and the College of Economics, Law, and Government, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, uniting under the shared theme, “Roadmap towards sustainable development.”
The program has been designed with various activities and immersions in the provinces of Khon Kaen and Loei. These activities aim to provide participating students with an opportunity to learn and appreciate the culture of Thailand, understand environmental issues, and learn about local economic development initiatives, social enterprises, agrotourism, and the local economic development of coconut products.
This first day started with an opening ceremony graced by the presence of Associate Professor Dr. Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, dean of COLA, who reminded the participating institutions about the partnership that started in 2019 during an international conference that was attended by some COLA professors. He encouraged the participants to use this opportunity to learn more about sustainable development and to also improve their proficiency in the English language.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Van Du, Vice Dean of CELG, expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the students, faculty, and staff of COLA. He also shared his insights on how the program was conceptualized, together with Assistant Professor Dr. Sirisak Laochankham.
After the speeches and introduction of the participants, faculty, and staff from both institutions, lectures immediately followed to provide an overview of Thailand’s political, administrative, economic, and societal systems. The speakers were Dr. Pattanapong Toparkngam, Dr. Narongdet Mahasirikul, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirisak Laochankham, Dr. Krisada Prachumrasee, and Dr. Panpun Ronghanam.
Moreover, Associate Professor Narong Kiettikunwong grouped the participants into three and assigned them tasks to consider while visiting the sites. They are expected to present their findings by the end of the program. Finally, as part of the opening ceremony, the delegations from CELG, led by Dr. Du presented their token of appreciation to the faculty and staff of COLA before the participants went out for a campus tour.
Ban Pho Take Social Enterprise and Nam Phong National Park
On the morning of the second day (December 22), the participants visited the social enterprise in Ban Pho Taek, Nong Ruea District, Khon Kaen to understand how the group manages their business and to witness how they process their fish products such as fish noodles, fish balls, and dried fish to generate income.
Currently, the group has 26 members and has been successful in providing high-quality products to both residents of Nong Ruea District and other provinces. According to Ms. Pacharaporn Houta, the leader of the group, they have gained recognition through word-of-mouth promotion without relying on any forms of advertisements. She added that they became well-known because of their commitment to maintaining quality products and helping in community development.
This initiative started in May 2021 with support from the Rattanapha Development Center in Khon Kaen. Initially, the members earned 50 Baht per day, which only covers their transportation and food costs; but now, they earn more due to the increasing popularity and demand for their products. It is important to note that the group is selling their products directly to consumers without relying on middlemen, thus, increasing their profit.
In the afternoon, the participants had the chance to visit Nam Phong National Park and talk to a forest ranger. Overlooking Ubolratana Dam, the ranger discussed the benefits the residents are gaining from the dam in terms of fishing as their source of income and hydroelectric power generated from the dam.
Moreover, the ranger also spoke about the environmental issues and challenges that the park is facing. He explained that forest fires are currently the main problem they are dealing with, and they have limited staff to look after the vast area of the park.
After the discussion, the participants went for a walk on the 1.7-kilometer trail while learning about forests and geology through the informative signboards placed along the paths.
Leadership Training Program
Joining the COLA and CELG students on the third day (December 23), were students from the Faculty of Political Science and Law, Burapha University (POLLAW). Even though it was not part of the original plan of the exchange program, the coming together of the three universities birthed a new partnership as reflected in the synergy among the participating students. The interactions of the students were surprisingly remarkable, and it was evident that language was not a hindrance as they tried to communicate with one another.
This was further enhanced through the activities facilitated by Dr. Xenia Garnace, lecturer at COLA, which made the participants more comfortable with each other. In the “Community Walk”, the students were grouped into six and all the members walked at a specified distance while their feet were tied to each other. Although challenging, the purpose of the activity was for team members to learn to walk together and ensure no one was left behind.
In the “Dress Your Leader” activity, the students were given the task of selecting a model from their group and transforming them into an ideal leader using the materials provided. This activity helped the students to reflect on their perceptions of leadership qualities and to identify the characteristics of a leader they aspire to become in the future, both locally and globally.
In the afternoon, the students visited the Treasury Museum of Khon Kaen. They learned about Naga, the life of the earlier inhabitants of the Northeastern Land, coins, and the rich history of Khon Kaen.
The third day culminated through an observation of the Khon Royal Performance, which is a traditional theatre form of Thailand that portrays the heroic deeds of Rama, who is believed to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Farm-to-table: Experiencing Healing at Mekin Farm
On December 24, the participants of the exchange program had the opportunity to witness a real-life example of sustainability at Mekin Farm which is located approximately 30 minutes away from Khon Kaen City. This experience took place before they headed to Loei province for further discussions and explorations on sustainable development.
“At Mekin Farm, we offer healing,” said Pu-Jongrak, owner of Mekin Farm as she discussed the humble beginnings of the organic farm. Pu-Jongrak narrates that she started the farm after working for several years abroad when she felt the longing for home; thus, creating a farm where customers feel at home. Indeed, it is an escape from the buzz and bustle of the city as it serves as a sanctuary for those seeking healing, peace, and a unique farm-to-table experience.
During the question-and-answer session, students asked about the challenges being faced by the farm. One of the major problems identified by the owner was inaccessibility due to the non-existence of the public transport system, making it difficult for those who don’t have a car to visit her place.
After the lecture, the students had a walking tour of the farm wherein they were introduced to the smooth integration of organic farming, arts, cookery, and tourism while being one with nature as they had the opportunity to actively engage through creative workshops on leaf painting and dying.
A workshop on cooking integrating traditional Isan culture was also conducted by the owner, emphasizing simple cooking techniques that would bring out the natural flavors of the herbs, vegetables, and poultry that were grown on-site.
Khut Khu, Tai Dam Village, and Mekong Institute
The next day, the participants were given the task to explore the Khut Khu souvenir shops and interact with local business owners to gain an understanding of the local economic development, specifically related to coconut products.
During their interactions, the participants discovered that some local business owners faced difficulties in obtaining raw materials, such as coconuts, as they had to purchase them from other provinces, which made them more expensive. On the other hand, some business owners used the household business model, which allowed them to process their products on their own and offer them at a cheaper price.
After this, the participants visited the Tai Dam Village, where they were introduced to an ethnic group originally from Vietnam. The participants not only learned about how the Tai Dam people managed to preserve their culture and ethnic identity despite difficult circumstances, but they also had the opportunity to dance with them. This human interaction is essential in creating a sense of community where differences are recognized and celebrated.
Before returning to Khon Kaen, the participants got the chance to wear the traditional Tai Dam attire, concluding the productive and engaging encounter.
On the sixth day, December 26, the focus was a discussion of Sustainable Development and Subregional Cooperation Mechanics conducted by the Mekong Institute. After the lecture, the participants had a group discussion on the challenges and opportunities of attaining sustainable development through Subregional Cooperation Mechanics where they were tasked to propose a program or a project.
Group Presentation and Cultural Presentation and Socialization
On the last day, December 27, the participants started the morning by finalizing their presentations based on the tasks given to them during the first day. This was to sum up all the data they gathered from the dialogues with locals and the hands-on experiences they had.
On the same morning, the CELG delegation, together with some COLA staff and lecturers, had a courtesy visit at the Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, Thailand. This is for the CELG students to understand Vietnam’s foreign policy and consulate operations. During the visit, the CELG delegation exchanged dialogues with the Consulate General on their programs concerning Vietnamese students and migrants in Khon Kaen.
In the afternoon, the groups presented their outputs before a panel of critics composed of Assistant Professor Dr. Grichawat Lowatcharin, Associate Professor Narong, and Dr. Du. This is then followed by cultural presentations from CELG students and the COLA Cultural Dance Group.
Indeed, the participants of the exchange program gained so much knowledge on sustainable development as reflected in their presentations. According to Giang Nguyễn Huỳnh Như, a third-year Public Management student from CELG, this exchange program is important because the concern now is about environmental problems and finding solutions for sustainable life. “Now, we learned more about the similarities and differences between Thailand and Vietnam and local economics so we can find solutions for Vietnam and Thailand” she added. Sally, as her friends call her, also expressed her interest in pursuing further studies in COLA.
Meanwhile, reflecting on what had transpired in the seven-day intensive exchange program, Phitchayathida Thipphaya, a third-year Local for Governance student from COLA and the team leader of their group, expressed her sincerest gratitude to the program as she learned a lot about culture and issues concerning the environment and local businesses. She added that this experience not only challenged her to be a better student in order to be of good help to society in the future but also allowed her to practice her English-speaking skills. “I am more confident now,” she said.