The online training, “Media Production for Publicizing Community Products and Services,” under Khon Kaen University’s U2T Project, took place on 30 June 2021 from 9:00am-12:00pm. It was organized by Asst. Prof. Dr. Arunee Promkham, the head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University.

The training attracted 26 university students and recent graduates working for the U2T Project in Khok Sa-nga Subdistrict, Phon District and Ban Thaen Subdistrict, Chonnabot District in Khon Kaen. Media production knowledge and skills gained from the workshop will be applied toward publicizing the products and services already available in these communities.

The trainer, Mr. Paisarn Ekawat, a scholar in audiovisual media affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Systems, covered topics such as digital media design, media designing tools, and multimedia (VDO) production.

The event was a continuation of Asst. Prof. Dr. Arunee’s work as a U2T coordinator. While overseeing U2T work in Khok Sa-nga and Ban Thaen Subdistricts, she realized the benefits that enhanced media production skills would have for publicizing the high-quality products and outstanding people in the area. Not only would successful PR lead to market advantages, it would help to spread knowledge of project activities to the general public.

Topics included were: 1. Digital Design, 2. Design Value, 3. Principles of Quality Design, 4. Artistic Elements, 5. Media Designing Tools, 6. Multimedia Production, 7. Multimedia Scriptwriting, 8. Photography Techniques, and 9. Sequencing. In terms of workshop components, training participants practiced doing Mockups and E-Books.

Finally, the project would like to thank Mr. Paisarn for his collaboration and the support that he offered throughout the training. It is hoped that the session was beneficial to the graduates and students who attended and that all participants will be able to apply and build on what they learned to carry out media production for the project.

News: Miss Chonticha Phulakorn (Student from the Faculty of Science and U2T project worker in Khok Sa-nga Subdistrict, Faculty of Agriculture, KKU)

Photography: U2T Project Work Team, Khok Sa-nga Subdistrict, Faculty of Agriculture, KKU

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6 July 2021, 9:00 am

The online training, “Writing News for Public Relations,” targeted U2T project coordinators with the hope of strengthening knowledge relevant to messaging and publicizing activities under the project. The event was organized by Asst. Prof. Dr. Arunee Promkhambut, U2T leader at Khon Kaen’s Ban Thaen District in Chonnabot, and Mr. Chumporn Para, Director of KKU’s Communication Affairs Division. Mrs. Wadchara Noichompoo, public relations specialist, was the main trainer, and she was supported by Miss Jiraporn Pratomchai, a KKU publicist. There were 35 participants.

The field of public relations involves intentional management of the image and reputation of relevant public organizations and groups. The dissemination of messages and coordination of other activities are carefully planned to create understanding, acceptance, and a positive attitude toward the organization. This creates collaboration and support for the group’s mission and work, helping to meet their goals.

Mrs. Wadchara said that even without graduating directly in the field of news writing, one can write professional news stories as long as they learn proper news writing principles and techniques. She therefore believes that those working under the U2T project will be able to write quality stories that will help to disseminate information, as well as coordinating other PR activities.

Mr. Sakda Sayasone, a U2T project worker who attended the training, said that his participation at the event had helped him gain knowledge and learn good techniques for writing PR news. He believes that applying these techniques will help to create knowledge and a full understanding among readers.

Finally, the project would like to thank Mr. Chumporn, Mrs. Wadchara, and Miss Jiraporn for their hard work in organizing the training in order to spread knowledge among the participants. Aside from strengthening news writing skills among U2T coordinators, reinforcing their capacity to report on their work and project activities, the training was a personnel development opportunity for youth and created potential human resources for the news writing industry. The project truly hopes that the training was beneficial and that participants can apply what they learned, developing and building on the knowledge they gained in order to write useful news relevant to the U2T Project.

News: Miss Onpriya Kriangsri, Miss Waraphon Sawasnatee, workers at Ban Thaen District, Chonnabot District, Khon Kaen

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On 8 June 2021, at 1:30pm, Khon Kaen University led the opening ceremony for the university’s U2T Project for Sustainable Development and held a meeting to exchange information about the project. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, gave the opening speech for the ceremony, and Prof. Thidarut Boonmars, Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise also reported. The university was honored to hear from Khon Kaen Governor Dr. Somsak Changtragul, who gave a speech in support of the project. About 100 meeting attendees included representatives from the Khon Kaen University Council Committee, Vice Presidents, Assistants to the President, deans, faculty, and project officers. The meeting was held at Sirikunakorn Meeting Room 3 on the 2^nd floor of Sirikunakorn Building.

Khon Kaen University was assigned by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to carry out the U2T Project for Sustainable Development (University to Subdistrict), in response to the Cabinet Resolution announced on 6 October 2020, which designates local universities as “System Integrators.” That is, universities should act as job creators for economic and social restoration while also facilitating comprehensive solutions in response to community issues and needs, or “Community Big Data.”

Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University

“The focus of the U2T Project for Sustainable Development is to apply knowledge, technology, and innovation to enhancing economic and social development in local areas via job creation. Aside from helping to solve unemployment and creating income among local people, those who are employed by the project will have the opportunity to develop their skills and gain knowledge that helps them to develop themselves and bring out their unique potential, as they understand the problems and circumstances in their own hometown. This project will also help to spread awareness among participants that the knowledge they gain from learning at the university or from local wisdom can benefit their local community and prepare their subdistrict to become self-reliant in a sustainable way. And I truly hope that Khon Kaen University, the universities in this network, and government, private sector, and local agencies, will collaborate to move forward on this project in order to solve poverty in our communities and to revitalize the foundation of our economy here in the Northeast in a strong and sustainable way.” – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University

Prof. Thidarut Boonmars, Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise

“The U2T Project for Sustainable Development aims to apply knowledge of technology and innovation toward enhancing economic and social development in local communities through employment. Aside from helping to solve unemployment, the project can be a conduit for creating income in communities and can help to enhance people’s skills and knowledge, improving their potential and channeling it to meet the goals of the project. The project will prove its worth by driving communities in each subdistrict toward sustainable self-reliance.” – Prof. Thidarut Boonmars, Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise

Dr. Somsak Changtragul, Khon Kaen Governor

Dr. Somsak Changtragul, Khon Kaen Governor gave a speech in support of the project: “This employment project, U2T, is going to be one more channel in support of revitalizing and growing the agricultural sector in our communities, opening up opportunities to drive the economy forward. I want to encourage everyone to help achieve the goals of this project, with Khon Kaen University serving as a source of knowledge and exemplifying economic development, from the community to the national level.”

Assoc. Prof. Darunee Jothityangkoon, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, said in support of the project: “This project, U2T, or University to Tambon, is an opportunity to prove the effectiveness of our alumni. It will push our graduates to be representatives of the university as they spread their skills, knowledge, and abilities throughout communities.”

This project grew from a multidisciplinary collaboration between many agencies, both internal and external to Khon Kaen University, including government and private agencies and members of the Northeast Thailand Higher Education Network from 8 different locations. Within Khon Kaen University, 16 working groups are responsible for the project.

In terms of how the project will be managed, the project is employing 20 people per subdistrict for 11 months, from February to December 2021, to conduct projects and activities in line with local needs. The U2T Project for Sustainable Development hopes to solve the problem of poverty in communities and revitalize the basis of Northeast Thailand’s economy in a strong and sustainable way.

News: Jiraporn Pratumchai and Miss Thitawee Karnram,
a student under the Cooperative Education Program
Pictures: Natawut Petchpraphai

The post KKU MOVES FORWARD WITH U2T IN RESPONSE TO NATIONAL POLICY AIMING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ISAAN PEOPLE appeared first on KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY.

In response to policy aiming to ensure economic and social restoration of the country, universities are focused on rebuilding community-based economies, from creating jobs to developing community-based livelihoods so that communities can become self-reliant in line with the idea of a sufficiency economy. To achieve these aims, 60,000 students, recent graduates, and members of the public are being paid to carry out local work that builds further jobs, solves problems, and improves the local economy of each subdistrict. The 1-year project, under the name of “University to Tambon” or U2T, targets skill development that will create opportunities for new supplementary income in communities and management of “Community Big Data,” which can be used to further extend and develop the project.

In Huai Toei Subdistrict, Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen, this project is being carried out by 15 recent graduates and overseen by Asst. Prof. Donruetai Kovathanakul and Prof. Kamonpa Wangkuanklang of KKU’s Center of Excellence in MICE and Business Events Industry under the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy. During the second week of the project, on 10 March 2021 from 8.30-16.00, the team went to Huai Toei Village to gather information from a silk weaving group in the community. Via this meeting and with help from community leaders, they put together a list of names in order to gather more information related to local weaving practices and to support the community in striving to be recognized globally as a Creative Craft City.

As for subsequent weeks of the project, meetings were held between the project supervisors and the team for planning and organizing, drafting a budget, carrying out related paperwork, and delegating tasks for the first phase of the project, which would take place in April 2021. The team also made plans to put together a weekly publication for the subdistrict.

By the fifth week of the project, from 29 March to 2 April, 2021, the team was in a place to carry out PR, presenting information about the project. They presented the news stories they had gathered highlighting positive aspects of the subdistrict’s identity. During this week, information was also collected for a database on the local products in the subdistrict, which will be applied toward further implementation of the project.

Written by: Udomchai Supanavong

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On 4 April 2021, Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Agriculture held a workshop called “Adding value to buffalo manure through vermicompost production,” under the U2T Project for Sustainable Development at Mueang Phia Subdistrict, Ban Phai District, Khon Kaen Province. Prof. Patcharapron Phumchantuk and her working group led the project. The workshop used technology provided by Khon Kaen University’s Learning and Research Development Center on Earthworms for Agriculture and the Environment, headed by Asst. Prof. Chuleemas Boonthai Iwai, one of the workshop’s honorable speakers. The ultimate purpose of the workshop was to increase the value of buffalo manure, a plentiful resource in the community, in order to increase income among community members.

The workshop was initiated after a survey of the Mueang Phia area was conducted by Prof. Patcharapron’s working group. The survey identified the district as having an agricultural economy, with main livelihoods of rice farming, cotton and mudmee silk handcrafting, brackish water fishing, and cow and buffalo ranching. They found that parts of the area were characterized by saline land, limiting certain agricultural activities to the rainy season when there are lower levels of salinity. Some areas of the district are adjacent to a large water source, the beautiful Kaeng Lawa Lagoon. The lagoon is used for local fishing practices, and the surrounding area for livestock grazing, especially buffalo. The 2,000-plus buffalo are raised to sell, and farmers also sell their dung in fertilizer sacks, getting a price of only 20-30 baht per sack.

The workshop was held at Wat Pho Chai, a temple located in the subdistrict. Thanks to PR and coordination carried out with the helpful collaboration of community leaders from the subdistrict’s administrative organization, the leader of the subdistrict, and the village chiefs, more than 100 participants from 14 villages attended the workshop. The workshop was divided into 2 main parts:

1. In the lecture portion of the workshop, topics related to vermicompost production technology, including its origin and importance, outputs and benefits derived from raising earthworms, its applications, organic compost made from earthworms, and market values of earthworm manure production. Other topics related to the fertilizer production process, covering the lifecycle of earthworms, earthworm species that are popular for making earthworm manure, production time requirements, and the necessary materials and equipment for raising earthworms. Workshop participants were active and showed interest throughout the lectures.
2. In the practice portion of the workshop, Asst. Prof. Chuleemas and her team of assistants led a demonstration of the steps for raising earthworms so that participants could get a clear picture of how it is done. Participants were divided into smaller groups so that everyone would have the opportunity to try the activities. At the end of the training, each participant received a set of materials, equipment, and earthworms, allowing them to continue on with the activity in the long-term. Participants were very interested in this part of the workshop.

Community members who participated in the workshop were extremely cooperative. A working team was set up to be responsible for following up with community members who continued to raise earthworms. The team will collect data on the number of earthworms raised, create a marketing plan, develop a market for the product, and found a farmers’ group for raising earthworms in the future. This will help to increase the income of community members, as determined by U2T goals.

U2T Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University/ 26 April 2021 

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