March 19, 2024 – The Special Affairs Section and Law Division, Office of the President, Khon Kaen University, organized an event that enhanced knowledge and understanding of personnel on the Anti-Corruption law on the topic: “Accepting asset or benefit other than the asset or benefit one is legally entitled to”. The opening ceremony was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University. The training was honored to have Khun Witoon Wimonset, Deputy Chief Justice Region 4, as the distinguished speaker. There were 194 attendants at the event, which was held at Sirikunakorn Room 3, Office of the President, Khon Kaen University.
Ajarn Natsamol Tanakulrungsarit, Assistant to the President for Special Affairs reported that Khon Kaen University is an autonomous university where policies and administration have been set with awareness of the importance of the national master plan on anti-corruption and wrong doing. This is so that the administrators and personnel do their work with integrity and transparency and under the good governance.
Khon Kaen University has also set the administrative strategies for 2024-2027, especially the 10th strategy on good governance and social indication, based on the integrity and transparency assessment criteria (ITA) of the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The specific emphases are on “No Gift Policy” and “Anti-Bribery Policy”, which have been transferred and applied in all faculties and organizations.
This project was arranged for administrators and personnel of Khon Kaen University to increase their knowledge and understanding related to “Accepting asset or benefit other than the asset or benefit one is legally entitled to”. The objective was for the operations at all level follow the good governance and meet the University’s strategy.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that this event was another time when Khon Kaen University people received an important chance to enhance their knowledge and understanding about the law related to accepting asset or benefit other than the asset or benefit one is legally entitled to, so that they would be able to use this in their operations and follow the principle of good governance.
“The training today is an important step that all sections will become aware of the ethics and good practices, as well as precautions and things to avoid in their operations. I do hope that after the training, all of the attendants will better understand the principle in accepting asset or benefit other than the asset or benefit one is legally entitled to.”
The training was very intensive from the start. Khun Witoon Wimonset, Deputy Chief Justice Region 4 talked about the information about the principles, criteria and laws that have been modernized with examples of different study cases to increase knowledge and understanding of the attendants in considering the wrongdoing in accepting asset or benefit other than the asset or benefit one is legally entitled to. In addition, there was a learning and sharing activity in the afternoon on “Practices under the No Gift Policy and report about legal acceptance of assets or other benefits.”
“Regarding procurement, if relevant staff is not careful in the inspection, the damage that may occur can be categorized as a civil fault, caused by serious carelessness. In the case of one knowing what happened, or the case of one receiving benefit such as money, then the fault can be considered under the criminal law. It is therefore a risk of disciplinary wrongdoing. Thus, it is important to check everything in details, of all materials in a project, for instance, checking the prices, and planning the budgeting. All of these are very important.”
Asst. Prof. Sompong Sitthiprom, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Security and one of the trainees said that the training was very useful for both the administrators and the personnel of Khon Kaen University so that they know what is correct and will be able to cautiously apply the knowledge in their work and so that the work will be efficient. What is more important is that the law is being regularly developed; therefore, it is necessary that everyone updates the information.
“The central section of Khon Kaen University should be precise in all of these principles so that faculties and organizations can rely on when they need recommendations. If there are clear principles, all organizations would carry out their duties with integrity, transparency, and accountability, with no conflicts of interest. This is very important especially for administrators who are the final people in different decisions, for it will lead to effectiveness in operations and happiness among all personnel.
News: Phanit Khatnak
