3 universities brainstorm on 7 development concepts for country development

Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkhla University and Chiangmai University at the 5th  Traditional KKU-PSU-CMU Learning and Sharing to empower the nation in Pa Tong, Phuket  

           October 4, 2019 at Dunagchanok Room, Duangjit Resort, Patong District, Phuket – Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkhla University and Chiangmai University held the 5th Traditional KKU-PSU-CMU Learning and Sharing, this time to unite and empower the nation. Dr. Suwit Mesinsee, Minister of the Ministry of Universities, Science, Research and Innovation presided over the opening ceremony. Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Kaewpradap, President of Prince of Songkhla University conveyed the opening address. Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Nongkhai Campus was acting President Khon Kaen University to represent Khon Kaen University, whole Clinical Professor Niwes Nantajit, M.D. represented Chiangmai University. Over 508 administrators, lecturers and staff members from the 3 universities joined.

           The 5th Traditional KKU-PSU-CMU Learning and Sharing – 3 to empower the country was aimed to open up a chance for university administrators to exchange experiences and goof practices and to enable concrete collaboration between faculties in order to appropriately develop the universities according to the strategies in a leaping style. Moreover, the occasion also strengthened the relationships and friendship among the 3 universities.

           Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Kaewpradap, President of Prince of Songkhla University said that this time Prince of Songkhla University hosted the activity with support and cooperation of the other two universities. The opening ceremony featured watering of the seedlings of the 3 institution and it was hoped that the seedlings would grow with quality and creativity into the future.

           The event was honored by Dr. Suwit Mesinsee, Minister of the Ministry of Universities, Science, Research and Innovation who presented a special talk on “University Administration under the Ministry of Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. The talk was followed by small group discussions on 7 topics: Group 1 – Life-long Learning (Credit Bank), Group 2 – Research and Research System Modification to Accommodate Foreign Research Funds, Group 3 – Academic Service with Great Impact, Producing Outcomes from Services for Academic Position, Group 4 – Administration of Digital University (Smart Office, Digital transformation, Big data), Group 5 – Art and Cultural Nurturing, and Cultural Economy, Group 6 – Development of Smart Students, and Group 7 – University startup and Eco-System. It was believed that the learning and sharing would inspire all participants to bring key concepts from the special talk to apply in their jobs for national strengths.

            The MOU signing ceremony was also carried out followed by relation of each university’s present situation. Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Nongkhai Campus represented KKU in this respect, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supachai Patumnakul, Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise presented a talk on direction of university development.

             Assoc. Prof. Piansak Pakdee, Vice President for Student Development and Nongkhai Campus said, “Khon Kaen Univesity has a 4-year plan (2020-2023). The University Council has set 3 key goals, policies, and missions on: the “People” or our stakeholders, the “Ecological” and the “Spiritual” aspects.”

             “In order to achieve the said goals, policies and missions, there is now a big transformation in instruction, academic services, human resource administration and organization administration. 1) “People” – transformation of education for all ages, the teaching paradigm to the learning paradigm, the research from what researchers are interested in to what users or national issues require. 2) “Ecological” aspect – transformation of Khon Kaen University to be a pleasant work place by providing all equipment and facilities, developing the environment according to occupational health principles. As such, the university will be a challenging place for work, making lecturers and staff members want to carry out their work. 3) “Spiritual” aspect – aiming at finding development collaboration by producing a developmental flagship project that will build benefits in instruction, research and academic services. The university will be the practicum place for students of each faculty such as (1) a medical hub as the key project for the health science fields; (2) the smart farming as the key project for the science and technology fields; and (3) the creative economy for the social sciences and humanity fields,” Assoc. Prof. Piansak said.

              Prof. Dr. Supachai Patumnakul, Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise of Khon Kaen University said, “According to the policy to develop innovation, Khon Kaen University has separated the innovation and enterprise from the research section. The missions are to conduct research for developing innovation for the commercial sector and to enable students for the startup. For the past 8 months, we have attempted to build new ecological systems for students to make them become aware in entrepreneurship. For example, we have built a Maker Space at the main library where there are various supporting devices such as the 3D Printer. This helps students to form up their product with no cost. The maker space is now being interested by the students and already 700-800 products have been created.”

              “Besides, the Innovation and Enterprise Section also promotes learning promotion activities such as the IP Demo Day 2019 where students from different faculties join to design a product and make marketing plan. The outcomes will become Khon Kaen Univesity’s intellectual properties. This project has been well successful. There is also a module course offered, named Innovative Entrepreneur, which is under the general education. Students need to pitch by proposing what they want to do. The instruction is a module-based and is taught by KKU lecturers and those experienced in startup or successful in the field to assist the students. There are scholarships for making a prototype that can be further developed. Therefore, when the students complete the course, we will get a startup or a company that emerges from the students,” Prof. Supachai said.

               The 5th Traditional KKU-PSU-CMU Learning and Sharing – 3 to empower the country was held on October 4-6, 2019. The activity was first held in Chiangmai, hosted by CMU. The 3 universities have collaborated in continuously arranging activities that enable exchanges of ideas until the government lets the 3 institutions become the key regional universities to help develop the country through the government’s various policies, especially Thailand 4.0 policy, which is national development policy by means of research and innovation, preparation of graduates, and development of human resources with skills, knowledge and expertise in occupational fields. The goal is for strengthening economic development of communities and regions in the future.   

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News: Rawiporn Saisaenthong
Photos: Attapon Hampong 

[ Thai ]

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