A collaborative project elevates the capabilities of 80 participants in Khon Kaen through handicraft skills, agricultural technology, and enterprise incubation to foster long-term self-reliance.
The Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University (KKU) joined forces with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), public agencies, private sector partners, and local administrative organisations to stage an exhibition of vocational development outcomes for persons with disabilities in Khon Kaen Province. The event highlighted the progress of 80 participants trained in local handicrafts, agricultural technology, and food processing, and pointed to sustainable avenues for employment and household income.
On 14 September 2026, the Fountain Lawn, 1st Floor, Pimon Kolkit Building, Khon Kaen University, hosted the showcase for the Skill Development and Occupational Enhancement Project for Persons with Disabilities in Khon Kaen Province (Phase 2). Part of the broader initiative ‘Expanding Higher Education Networks for Empowering Persons with Disabilities for Employment through the KMUTT Training-Internship Model’, the event reviewed the project’s achievements and gave participants a public platform to showcase their products and vocational skills.
Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, MD, President of Khon Kaen University, presided over the opening ceremony. Associate Professor Chuchat Kamollerd, PhD, Director of the Office of Academic Service, reported on project outcomes, while Mr Thanasak Thuanthong, representing King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, outlined the background and role of KMUTT and its institutional networks in driving the initiative.
Associate Professor Kamollerd stated that Khon Kaen University had assigned the Office of Academic Service to lead this collaborative effort alongside KMUTT, partner universities, and external agencies, with the aim of expanding developmental opportunities for persons with disabilities. The project offered two independent vocational tracks: community handicraft skills development and the transfer of agricultural and food-processing technology. Between January and June 2026, 80 persons with disabilities completed the training, gaining practical knowledge and operational skills that help them generate income and become self-reliant.
Associate Professor Panthongviriyakul praised the project’s success in turning human potential into tangible opportunities. He noted that multi-sectoral collaboration had given participants practical skills, experience, and inspiration to improve their quality of life and contribute to the local economy. He also thanked KMUTT, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, public and private bodies, local administrative organisations, and internal KKU units – including the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, and the Science Park – for their key contributions.
A central feature of the event was a panel discussion entitled ‘From Giving to Co-Creating Shared Value: Network Power for Sustainable Livelihoods’. The first session gathered representatives from GSB Region 11, the Khon Kaen Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security, and Daeng Yai Sub-district Administrative Organisation to discuss access to finance, legal rights, and local mentorship. The second session featured first-hand accounts from project participants from Sila, Daeng Yai, and Ban Dong sub-districts, who shared their experiences of product development and enterprise building.
Live craft demonstrations and product exhibition booths let attendees and partners see the concrete results of the capacity-building process for themselves. The initiative illustrates how the Office of Academic Service deploys university expertise for societal benefit, bridging academic institutions, government bodies, and local communities. Aligned with Khon Kaen University’s core ethos of ‘Social Devotion’ and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the project charts a sustainable pathway from skill acquisition to economic independence and community-wide value creation.
