Khon Kaen University (KKU), through its Academic Service Office, took part in the closing ceremony of the project “Expanding the Higher Education Network to Develop the Potential of Persons with Disabilities for Employment through a Training and Internship Model” on 28 September 2026 at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. The ceremony was organised under the concept “From Learning to Earning”.
Associate Professor Dr Suwit Saetia, President of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, presided over the ceremony, which drew university executives, lecturers, representatives of higher education institutions, government agencies, local administrative organisations, employers, and project participants.
Over two years, the project received continuous support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the Fund for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, with a total budget of 24,045,371 baht. Across the higher education network, all 370 participants completed upskilling and reskilling training across 12 courses, and the network’s combined employment and income-generation rate reached 81.62 per cent.
KKU results: 80 participants, 100 per cent completion and income generation
This is the second consecutive year KKU has taken part in the project. Professor Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, assigned the Academic Service Office to represent the University, and its Director, Associate Professor Dr Chuchat Kamollet, presented KKU’s results at the closing ceremony.
KKU’s project focused on developing skills and expanding employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in Khon Kaen Province. All 80 participants completed the training – a 100 per cent completion rate – and all went on to pursue self-employment and generate income. Their average income was 413 baht per person per day, or approximately 12,390 baht per month.
- The training was designed around a needs assessment conducted with persons with disabilities, communities, and local administrative organisations in Khon Kaen. Two courses were offered across three locations:
- 1. Art from Fabric: Handicrafts for Sustainable Careers, delivered in Sila Municipality and Daeng Yai Subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen District. Participants learned to turn pha khao ma fabric and fabric scraps into value-added products and gift items.
2. Agriculture and Product Processing, delivered in Ban Dong Subdistrict, Ubolratana District. Participants learned to process locally grown mushrooms into fried and seasoned snack products.
The courses drew on expertise from several KKU faculties and units, including the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, and Faculty of Medicine, as well as legal experts. The training covered the entire value chain, from production and product development to value addition, distribution, and online marketing.
In Ban Dong Subdistrict, 40 persons with disabilities took part in the project, and the group is now being developed into a community enterprise to support collective entrepreneurship and the continued development of local products. The Academic Service Office also plans to explore further collaboration with the private sector, including Mitr Phol Group, to broaden the project’s impact.
During the ceremony, Mr Thanakrit Phimchak, Head of the Social Welfare Division of Sila Municipality, received a certificate on behalf of the partner organisation. The recognition highlighted the role of local administrative organisations in supporting fieldwork, coordinating with target groups, and jointly developing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The project also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it advances SDG 4: Quality Education through upskilling and reskilling training; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through employment and income generation; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities through wider access to skills development and career opportunities for persons with disabilities; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through cooperation among universities, government agencies, local authorities, communities, and the private sector.
Ultimately, the project demonstrates how community-based skills development can help persons with disabilities build careers, earn income, and become more self-reliant. It also reflects Khon Kaen University’s commitment to applying academic knowledge and expertise to create opportunities for communities, in line with its aspiration to be “a university dedicated to society”.
