MSU FACULTY OF ENGINEERING 13TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

On March 16 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito presided over the 13^th Anniversary celebrations of Mahasarakham University Faculty of Engineering.

The celebrations also coincided with a farewell to the former Dean, Professor Dr. Pradit Terdtoon and a welcome for the new Dean of the faculty, Professor Dr. Sumpun Ritthideck.

MSU Faculty of Engineering was established in 1999 and now offers undergraduate degrees in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Environmental, Manufacturing and Biological Engineering as well as Mechatronics. International programs in Masters of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Computer Engineering are also available.

MSU Faculty of Engineering has partnerships and collaborations with many national and international organisations through research and development projects in fields such as solar energy, power electronics, water and environment, thermal tools, mechatronics, robotics and food and post harvesting.

The celebrations were attended by many MSU administrators, teachers, staff and students who were thoroughly entertained during the evening by students from the MSU College of Music.

MSU FACULTY OF PHARMACY STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AWARDS

On February 19 students from MSU Faculty of Pharmacy students were presented with two national Pharmaceutical Research Awards for outstanding community research.

The awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Community Pharmacy (Thailand) on behalf of the Foundation for Community Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Forum (Thailand) and the Federation of Thai Pharmaceutical Students. The awards ceremony was held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition and Conference Centre.

MSU Faculty of Pharmacy was the second faculty in Thailand to offer the PharmD degree curriculum which delivers a high quality scientific and technical education in Pharmacy. 

Besides offering under and post graduate courses in Pharmacy, the faculty also offers Masters level courses in Medicinal Plants and natural products.

Research fields also include Thai herbal medicinal and natural products as well as the innovation and development of practical health care programs and policies aimed towards the creation of healthy communities.

FEBRUARY EDITION OF QS NEWS2WOWU – MSU GAINING INTERNATIONAL MOMENTUM

The latest edition of QS News2WOWU quarterly newsletter has just been published with Mahasarakham University once again prominent. 

The latest edition of QS News2WOWU quarterly newsletter has just been published with Mahasarakham University once again prominent. The front and second page article notes Sungkyungkwan University (SKKU) in South Korea and Mahasarakham University being the first universities in their respective countries, or in the case of MSU, kingdom, to be rated under the QS Stars system for excellence in higher education. Page two of QS News2WOWU provides an informative overall picture of Mahasarakham University and mentions some of its achievements and plans for the future.

The internationalisation process of Mahasarakham University is indeed gaining momentum. MSU International Relations Office staff have noticed a marked increase in emails received regarding international students, academics and institutions wanting to either study, work at or liaise with MSU. At the same time many faculties are busy with the process of preparing undergraduate courses in English for the future. Post graduate courses for international students are already available for most MSU faculties.

From its humble beginnings in the heart of the northeast of Thailand as a College of Education in 1968 with the mandate of extending higher education to the nation’s rural northeastern region, Mahasarakham University has now set its sights on becoming a world class university, its mandate extended to include students of all nationalities.

MSU DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS TRAINS VOLUNTEER STUDENTS IN RADIO

On February 15 twenty MSU students met before commencing a training program in radio techniques. MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Sujin Butdiswan (pictured bottom left) presided over the meeting.

The program has been developed by the MSU Division of Student Affairs and will train students in radio techniques for the purpose of informing and promoting the work and activities of the Department of Student Affairs from Mahasarakham University’s radio station, Thai Fm 93.75.

The students will be professionally trained in all aspects of radio production including news gathering, news reading, live and recorded interviewing techniques and creative broadcasting.

They will also be trained in behind the scenes production of radio shows. MSU has its own radio station as well as its own television station. Both transmit to audiences not only Maha Sarakham Province but also have feeds picked up and retransmitted in other Isan provinces.

The training will see MSU students kept up to date on news and events happening both on and off campus by fellow students enabling a more successful communication connection through engagement with their peers.

MSU PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENTS RAISE ENERGY AWARENESS

On February 1 MSU School of Journalism Students majoring in Public Relations partook in a one day publicity campaign project named Energy: Power House.

Held outside and around the grounds of the Faculty of Informatics the campaign targeted students and in turn their families in raising awareness and creating a positive attitude to energy saving.

The campaign included raising awareness through music, comedy and a game/quiz show. Students also took to the MSU trams to promote their campaign show using loudspeakers and banners especially created for the campaign.

The campaign seemed to be successful as a large crowd of students and faculty members were drawn to hear, see and receive the Energy: Power House message broadcast by the School of Journalism students.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE VISIT TO GUANGXI UNIVERSITY OF NATIONALITIES

MSU students from the Faculty of Fine Arts College and College of Music paid a goodwill visit to Guangxi University of Nationalities in the People’s Republic of China from December 9 – 14. MSU has close ties with Guangxi University through the Confucius Centre located on campus.

Vice Presidents for Student Affairs Dr Sujin Butdisuwan, International Relations and Planning Dr. Nathanon Trachoo and General Management Dr Piyapun Santaveesuk and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr.  Somkiet Poopatwiboon accompanied the forty-six students on the cultural exchange visit. 

MSU recognises the important social dimension of sharing art, music and cultural expression between students of different nationalities. 

Students may not speak the same language but enjoy sharing cultural elements of art, dance and music.

A highlight of the visit was a spectacular evening of performances of both Thai and Chinese traditional music and dance.

The goodwill visit is part of the continuing cultural exchange program between MSU and Guangxi University of Nationalities.

MSU HOLDS HUGE NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

On December 29 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito on behalf of Mahasarakham University hosted a New Years Eve Party for all MSU personnel in the forecourt in front of the President’s building.

The celebration is traditionally held a few days before New Year so people can travel back to their homes to spend the New Year holidays with family.

The theme of the evening was ASEAN, promoting unity and the sharing of cultural heritage at all levels throughout the MSU community. A highlight of the evening was the competition for the best Assocaiation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) costume with many MSU personnel dressing up in traditional costumes of one of the ten ASEAN countries.

Dr. Supachai thanked all MSU personnel for their efforts this year and handed out new year’s gifts. Many prizes were won in the free raffle and all partook in an evening of plenty of fine food, fun and frivolity.

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MSU STRATEGIC MEETING FOR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

On December 28 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito chaired meeting on strategic policy for fully engaging with community and agricultural agencies in the transfer of agricultural technology.

Mahasarakham University Farm and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, besides educating students, play a pivotal roles in the transference of modern agricultural technologies to the large farming communities in Maha Sarakham and surrounding Isan provinces.

Over fifty MSU staff, faculty and community leaders attended the strategic planning project meeting which included a brainstorming session on how best to create a future strategy consistent with the real needs of the community i.e. strategy into action.

The goal is to create a sustainable strategy whereby successful networking relationships are created between acadaemia, agricultural communities and agricultural agencies in research and development projects consistent with the real world needs of the agricultural community.

The strategic policy meeting was held in anticipation of the completion of the partially constructed Royal Agricultural Technology Transfer Center. The three storey laboratory and classroom building will also include an animal hospital providing clinical treatment for animals.

MSU SUCCESS AT WAPI PHATUM ISAN LONG DRUM FESTIVAL

Students from MSU College of Music Performing Arts Department have won the competition for best performance at the annual Isan Long Drum Festival held in Wapi Phatum from December 23 to 25. The successful MSU team was honoured for their win by the Governor of Mahasarakham.

The three day annual event is held in the district of Wapi Phatum , located about forty kilometres from Mahasarkham. The event is well known to Thai people and each year long drum bands travel from all over Isan to attend and compete.

A long drum performance is not confined only to a performance featuring the traditional Isan long drums. It also includes traditional Isan dancers. A long drum troupe can have few or many performers. There is really no limit to the numbers. Performers at the Isan Long Drum Festival are from Isan Universities, High Schools and even from members of the general population of a village.

A feature of this festival, as is similar to many other Isan festival events, is the parade of performers before meeting together at the ground on which they will perform. From the smallest villages to the largest towns, performers will start from a point some kilometres away and walk, dance, perform and generally have a fun time while parading through the village streets to where the actual event will be held. Everybody in the streets along the way turn out to watch and/or join in for a little while.

The best part is everybody is free to join in. One can walk along with the parade, join with the dancing or just sit and watch the colourful, loud and joyous procession pass by.

Isan people just enjoy enjoying themselves and are willing to share their happiness with visitors following the parade. If you are a tourist with a camera you receive many invitations to join in with the fun in the parade or to stop and snack with people sitting watching the parade pass. It leads to much local fun and frivolity when a foreigner stops for a quick bite of som tam (spicy papaya salad) and some sticky rice.

In typical Isan hospitality style it is your choice whether you dance, eat, sit and watch or even find a shady spot somewhere for a quick catnap... and this is just for the parade which may be likened to a warm up event before the serious enjoyment of watching the long drum performances at the main venue. Even though this parade passed mainly through the main streets of Nong Saeng, the hospitality is the same as in any small Isan village when a festival parade is held.

Hospitality and welcoming is not confined solely to Isan culture, but when combined with the excitement and liveliness of Isan music and dance in a traditional parade, makes for a truly unique Isan cultural experience. Unfortunately many tourists visiting Thailand miss out because they do avail themselves of the opportunity to travel to the north east and experience the wonders of traditional Isan culture.

Congratulations to the successful long drum performers from MSU with special thanks to MSU College of Music Performing Arts teachers Mr. Sarawut Chotijamrat and Mr. Kedsiri Noknoi for their hard work in preparing the MSU performers. We look forward to seeing you defend your title in twelve months time.

MAHASARAKHAM UNIVERSITY GRADUATION DAY 2011

On December 21 Mahasarakham University held its annual graduation day ceremony. It is estimated close to one hundred thousand people were on and around MSU’s Khamriang campus during the day. An influx in numbers of people was noticeable in Mahasarakham as early as the weekend before the Wednesday of the 21^st. 

Graduation Day is a very important event for the many friends and relatives of the graduating student.

It is not uncommon for graduates to have ten or more well wishers make the journey from their homes in one of the twenty provinces in north east Thailand to join in the celebrations. The added bonus of catching a glimpse and paying homage to the much loved Princess Sirindhorn makes the journey all that much more worthwhile.

The highlight of the day is naturally the graduation ceremony where graduates are personally presented their respective degrees by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. 

Over eight thousand graduates are presented with their degrees on the day over a morning and afternoon session as the five thousand seat MSU gymnasium is not big enough to accommodate them all in one session.

Outside the gymnasium and spreading out across the campus are family, close relatives, friends and fellow students relaxing in a picnic atmosphere. Photographs are taken in their millions with many background spaces set up especially for photos. All MSU faculties also have backgrounds of various types set up at which the precious memories of the day can be recorded.

Mahasarakham University heartily congratulates all those graduates receiving their degrees on December 21. We are also very grateful for Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn to have come to attend the ceremony and give us all the opportunity to pay homage to our beloved Royal Patron and King’s representative to Mahasarakham University.

Click here for pictures from MSU Facebook (Thai)

Click here for pictures from MSU Newsletter

FULL DRESS REHEARSAL FOR MSU GRADUATION DAY

Today Mahasarakham University is holding a full dress rehearsal for Graduation Day 2011 which is to be held on December 21 at the gymnasium on the new campus at Khamriang.

Graduates in full graduation regalia, students, parents, relatives and friends have all turned out in force on a beautiful clear winter’s day to attend the rehearsal.

The road leading to the new campus is lined with red, white and blue Thai national flags, yellow flags bearing HM the King’s emblem and purple flags bearing the emblem of  the much respected and loved Princess Sirindhorn, Royal Patron and the King’s representative for Mahasarakham University.

Also lining the streets leading to the campus are stalls set up selling graduation day gifts. The streets are alive with colour, cars and motorcycles, students and others alike.  The roads leading to the Khamring campus are in pristine condition, having been swept and manicured over the last week in honour of the King and in preparation for the visit on December 21 of HRH Princess SIrindhorn.

The area around the gymnasium is a hive of activity and one could be forgiven for mistaking it as actually being graduation day. Throngs of ‘almost’ graduates in their colourful academic gowns make the brightly coloured garden beds pale into insignificance. There are graduates weighed down with gifts being filmed, photographed and applauded by family fellow students everywhere. Meanwhile the gymnasium is filled to capacity with graduates seated for a full dress rehearsal of Wednesday’s ceremony.

The annual graduation ceremony at Mahasarakham University is one of many similar held at all universities throughout Thailand. It is a spectacular event at which one cannot help the feelings of pride shared by all in the achievements of the graduates. One thing is for sure; it will all be worth the effort when a lifelong memory is created for every single MSU graduate when they receive their degree; handed to them in person by the gracious, benevolent and much loved Princess Sirindhorn in two days time.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MSU STUDENTS WHO WILL RECEIVE THEIR DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY!!!!

We are all very proud of you and wish you all the very best now and in the future.

For those who will be in Mahasarakham on Wednesday, December 21 it would be worth your while to make the journey to the new campus at Khamriang to join in the festivities of congratulating the latest MSU graduates. All welcome!

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Click here for pictures from MSU NEWS (Thai)

CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS AT MSU

On December 16 the Confucius Institute held the fifth anniversary of its establishment at Mahasarakham University.

MSU President, Dr.  Supachai Samappito chaired the opening ceremony which was attended by many MSU Executive staff, Faculty Deans, students and staff.

The Confucius Institute is designated as part of MSU Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with Faculty Dean and Director of the institute Dr. Somkiet Poopatwiboon giving the opening address.

Special guests, students and staff were treated to an exhibition of traditional Chinese music, song and dance during the celebrations.

The Confucius Institute at MSU may be described as a satellite institute of Guangxi University for Nationalities of the People’s Republic of China. It provides not only for MSU students but also for those interested in learning Chinese for communicative or business purposes within the local community and other provinces.

The Confucius Institutes offers Chinese language and culture courses, cultural exchange programs, calligraphy, Chinese song, dance and music. The institute also trains instructors in Chinese and provides information and consultation regarding Chinese education.

Many volunteer teachers from China come to Mahasarakham and surrounding provinces where Chinese language and culture is taught to over four thousand secondary and primary school students in Mahasarakham and surrounding provinces.

Visitors to MSU and Mahasarakham are welcome to visit the recently opened Confucius Cultural Experience Centre located on the old campus in downtown Mahasarakham. 

HANDS ON OPPORTUNITY FOR MSU STUDENTS IN MICRO BUDGET FILM MAKING

MSU Students are invited to participate in the making of a micro budget film to be shot on location in and around MSU campus.
MSU collaboration in the project has the approval of MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito.


Micro budget film maker KM Lo and producer Jean-Philippe Ury-Petesch (JP) are seeking volunteer students from MSU to act as film crew and extras for the project. 

Students selected to be part of the film crew will be paid an allowance of 300 baht per day shooting which will be paid in a lump sum at the end of the shooting, expected to be from December 22 - 31 and January 4 - 7 next year.


MSU Students! - Click here to go to the Micro Budget Film Information Page 


The film is entitled “Le Temps de Cigales – The Time of the Cicadas” which is a reference to Jean De La Fontaine’s fable. Click here for link 


Famous French Indie star Mr. Didier Wampas , lead singer of famous French punk rock/psychobilly band Les Wampas has agreed to come to Thailand at his own expense and donate his valuable time to appear in the film. (Click here for Wikipedia link to the band Les Wampas)

Mr. Didier will be in Thailand  for filming for a short time in early January.

The film will be submitted to all big European and Asian film festivals in 2012. Hopefully it will be released Thailand in August/September 2012 and then possibly in Europe.

Interested students will first attend a two hour lecture on micro budget film making given by Hong Kong born film maker/producer KM Lo on December 19. 





In KM Lo’s own words;

 “I've been invited as industry expert to lecture in many universities and I always tell students, class room is not fit for film lecturing. Just go on the set and you learn much faster.”

Film maker KM Lo is a great believer in hands on learning; urging students to take what they learn from his workshops outside to immediately put into practical use what they have learned. He has previously been involved in similar projects in Cambodia and spent time living the part when producing films on homeless in Japan.

KM Lo was accompanied to MSU last week by French born writer JP (Jean Philippe Ury-Petesch) who wrote the script for the film for initial film location selection.

It is expected the film will be shot on location in and around MSU campus.

KM Lo is also a proponent of tuk tuk cinema, a concept whereby a mobile cinema is set up using a tuk tuk, a very mobile form of cinema which can easily travel from village to village.

In early December KM Lo and JP will be giving a two hour lecture/information/recruitment session to interested students. After this there will be evening workshops where students will learn about producing a professional product on a micro budget. Shooting on location will then take place in late December and early January.

KM Lo is not bringing a film crew with him. MSU students will be directly involved in camera work, sound, costume etc. MSU students will be the film crew.

Looking into the future it is possible the micro budget film concept introduced by KM Lo opens up possibilities for the low cost production of Isan movies. There are thousands of wonderful Isan traditional folk stories, culturally significant sites whose story can be told.and traditional cultural values which can be passed on to the younger generation. Not to forget the significance of sharing Isan music and dance. Coupling micro budget film making with the concept of tuk tuk (or even song thaew) cinema and the support of the MSU business incubator and knowledge base of Mahasarakham University opens up many possibilities for the formation of a community based indigenous film industry.

It is perhaps one answer to the question of how traditional Isan cultural traditions and values can be given relevance using modern technology.

Click here to go to the Micro Budget Film Information Page 

Click here to go to KM Lo's You Tube Channel

MSU PREPARING FOR ASEAN 2015

Visitors to the President’s Building at MSU will notice something new.

On November 23 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and Vice President for Planning & International Relations Dr. Nathanon Trachoo oversaw the erection of twenty flagpoles comprising two sets of ten flanking each side of the entrance to the President’s building.

Each flagpole bears the flag of one of the ten members of the Association of South East Nations (ASEAN); Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The flagpoles are a symbol of the commitment of Mahasarakham University to be well prepared when the proposed AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) is formed in 2015.

MSU is pro active in engaging with educational institutions across the ASEAN University Network in promoting collaborative research and student exchange programs.

First established in 1967, the ASEAN motto is ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community’. Much  more information on ASEAN 2015 can be gathered from the publication Roadmap for an ASEAN Community 2009 – 2015.

FACULTY OF FINE AND APPLIED ARTS CHARITY BALLET CONCERT

On November 18 and 19 the MSU School of Ballet in collaboration with the North Eastern Ballet Company of Thailand and the Siri Ballet Company of Mahasarakham staged ballet performances to raise funds for flood victims in Central Thailand and Bangkok.

The performances were aptly named “Lend a Hand. Shall We Dance to 2011”

The charity performances were held in the MSU Ballet Concert Studio with two performances each night commencing at 6 pm and 8 pm respectively. The entrance fee for the performances was two hundred baht per person with staff, students and visitors given the opportunity to donate more if they wished.

The charity event raised 21,909 baht which was duly presented to MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito on November 25 at the President’s Building.

MSU CELEBRATES LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL

On November 8 MSU Students celebrated the annual Loi Krathong festival. The actual celebration day this year is on November 10 but it is celebrated at MSU a little early as many students return home to celebrate with family. The festival included a parade, dancing competition, an address to the students by MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and the tradtional floating of Loi Kratong and khomb.

The Loi Krathong Festival takes place on the evening of the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar.  People either make or buy the loi (float) krathong (raft) which may be described as a lotus shaped raft designed to float on water. Although scholars argue the origins of the Loi Krathong festival it may be safe to say the loi krathongs are created as an offering to  the Goddess of the water, Phra Mae Khongkai and in honour of Buddha. When they are floated on the water it is symbolic of a person letting go of their grudges and floating them away.

A traditional Loi Krathong is made from a base cut from the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily. Decorations are made from woven banana leaves and flowers and topped with a candle and joss sticks to honour the Buddha. They can also contain some food, candles and even fingernail clippings and hair. A small coin is often put in the base as an offering to Phra Mae Khongkai .

This is why you see many young children waiting around until after the festivities are over to collect the Loi Krathongs looking for the coins.

It is also traditional at this time to float khom loi (floating lanterns) as a symbol of merit making. A khom is a lantern made from thin rice paper and similar to a hot air balloon. It has a small kerosene/compressed paper burner wired into the base which is lit. When the air inside is hot enough to float the khom it is released to float off into the night sky.  The floating of khom loi is not restricted to Loi Krathong festival. They are also floated at other Buddhist festival events.

The night of the Loi Krathong festival with the candle lit loi krathong combined with many khomb floating in the sky is an event which, once seen, will be remembered for a lifetime.