College of Local Administration (COLA KKU) joins the meeting and opening ceremony for preparation of Youth Volunteer Project in Kalasin
Assigned by Dr. Suvit Maesincee, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), COLA KKU is in charge of Youth Volunteer Project in 14 areas together with other academic institutes in Isan. On December 16, 2019 at Kalasin University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Supawatanakorn Wongthanavasu, Dean of College of Local Administration, therefore led administrators, lecturers, supporting staff, and undergraduate students to attend the meeting for the project in phase 1 with Dr. Suvit Maesincee, heads of governmental offices, Federation of Thai Industries, and executives of Local Administration Organizations.
The minister mentioned the project objectives and ideas helping to achieve the new national goals as well as responded to inquiries. His response can be concluded as follows: The 3 ideas that help to achieve the new national goals are 1) moving the country forward with the inner strength passing to the outer strength; 2) leaving no one behind; and 3) adopting sufficiency economy for sustainable development. The concept of leaving no one behind is aimed to reduce the gap of inequality with the help of local wisdom. As a result, Kalasin Province was selected for the pilot project because it has potential for growth, but its poverty level appears in the national top rank. However, Kalasin University and students have showed potential to solve poverty problem, so they have been encouraged to use their power and knowledge outside the classroom in Youth Volunteer Project.
In addition, “youth” is the power of the nation, so it is important to allow them to think for society. To achieve that goal, we need to let them learn outside their classrooms by working at the real sites for 1 semester. They will be evaluated by how well they can apply what they have learned to community development and find the way to develop local wisdom further.
Then opening ceremony for preparation of Youth Volunteer Project started and was presided over by Dr. Suvit Maesincee. Among 9 universities, COLA students were one of the representatives of 2 universities presenting “the Project of Environmental Management Based on Community.” All 9 institutes consisted of Kalasin Univerrsity; College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University; Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Nakhon Ratchasima; Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen; Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin; Kasetsart university, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Campus, Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, Sisaket Rajabhat University, and Sripatum University. Finally, there was an informal and heartwarming meeting between Dr. Suvit and students from the 1st group of Youth Volunteer Project. He also saw exhibition by students from various universities. All 14 projects in 14 areas in Kalasin which was selected by MHESI as pilot areas, COLA students take the key role to proceed these projects. Totally, there were 160 COLA students who are in their 3rd year and studying in 3 different programs: 1) Local Governance, 2) Fiscal Management, and 3) Urban and Infrastructure Management.
News/ photos: Public Relations, College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University
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