On 2 April 2026, the Office of Academic Service (OAS) at Khon Kaen University, operating through the Social Academic Service Centre, visited Chai So Sub-district in Chum Phae District, Khon Kaen Province. The visit aimed to implement the “Elevating Creative Agricultural Products and Enhancing Business Leadership Personality for the Modern Market (Smart Agri-Entrepreneur)” project. The initiative is targeted at transforming the image of traditional “production farmers” into professional “business executives.”
The project featured Dr. Pongpan Sattathip, Associate Dean for Industrial Relations and Sustainability from the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy (KKU), as the guest speaker. Attendees included members of the meat frog farming and processing group, the safe vegetable farming group, Chai So community leaders, and personnel from the Mitr Phukhieo Sugar Factory.
Equipping “Soft Skills” to Mould Modern Agricultural Entrepreneurs
Field assessments revealed that while farmers in Chai So Sub-district possess robust production capabilities, offering diverse products like processed Namwa bananas, organic rice, and frog meat, there is a gap in vital soft skills and professional branding. Consequently, the training focused intensively on communication, product pitching, and personality development. The goal is to instill confidence for business negotiations and expand cooperative networks within modern consumer markets.
Synergising with the Private Sector for Sustainability
This operation represents an integrated collaboration with the Community Relations Division of the Mitr Phukhieo Sugar Factory, which provided the primary budget support. The partnership seeks to jointly drive the BCG (Bio-Circular-Green) Economy model. It places particular emphasis on the Bio-Economy, utilising local resources to create added economic value, and the Green Economy, ensuring that business growth advances concurrently with environmental conservation.
Addressing University Strategies and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The project serves as a key mechanism in Khon Kaen University’s mission to provide academic services that generate societal contributions. It aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 4: Quality Education: Fulfilled by establishing lifelong learning programmes that consistently focus on cultivating the skills of entrepreneurs and community leaders.
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promotes the enhancement of the community’s quality of life and income generation by transitioning traditional farmers into modern entrepreneurs equipped with international business acumen.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: Reflected through the robust alliance between an educational institution (KKU) and the private sector (Mitr Phukhieo Sugar Factory) to mobilise resources and knowledge for sustainable community development.
Propelling this project in Chai So Sub-district extends beyond mere knowledge dissemination; it establishes a resilient foundation that will empower the community to achieve self-reliance and maintain competitiveness in the forthcoming digital economy era.
Project Leads / Photos: Mr Chanachai Ritsongmueang (Project Head), Mr Praphaporn Khanchai, and Ms Saowalak Racham (Working Committee)
