CAMBODIAN STUDENTS VIE FOR MSU SCHOLARSHIPS

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito accompanied representatives from MSU faculties to Phnom Penh International University in Cambodia to attend selection trials for Cambodian students applying for scholarships at universities in Thailand. Burapha and Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University were also amongst other Thai universities in attendance offering scholarships to Cambodian students.

The students undertook qualifying examinations before being interviewed by representatives of the faculties to which they were applying.

The scholarships are made available at the gracious behest of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn and presented on an annual basis. Successful candidates are given scholarships to study at a university in Thailand, not just for a single semester or two, but for the full term of their degree.

This year Mahasarakham University will be welcoming two Cambodian graduates to study their doctorates and sixteen students to commence undergraduate studies across various faculties commencing in June of this year.  ....more pics

MSU DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS JOBS SYMPOSIUM

On February 25 MSU Division of Student Affairs held a jobs symposium for MSU students. The symposium is a co-operation between outside companies and MSU, providing a common ground where students who are looking for work after graduation and companies who are looking to employ undergraduates can meet.

This year there were one hundred and twenty-seven companies represented which included recruitment booths, job interviews and even a registration service for students wishing to work overseas.

The jobs symposium is a collaborative initiative of the Mahasarakham Employment Office Skills Development Center,  Department of Labour and MSU’s Student Development and Welfare section of Student Affairs.  .... more pics

NORTH EAST THAILAND TOURISM SEMINAR

On February 23 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and Makasarakham Province Governor Thong Thawi Pimsen co-chaired the opening ceremony of a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conference held at the Takisila Hotel, Mahasarakham.

The conference  ‘ The Adjustment of the Tourism Industry in North East Thailand in a Changing World’ attracted more than two hundred participants from all sectors of the tourist industry. The Dean of MSU Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management  Surachet Chethanat  noted in his speech the importance of orientating academic practice towards the creation of environmentally sustainable tourism. He also informed the delegates of the critical role tourism plays in the economic and social development of the north east of Thailand.

Mahasarakham Province Governor Thong Thawi Pimsen told the audience tourism is a service industry which needs to have management systems with the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the tourism market. There also needs to be awareness within this system of the social, economic and environmental links which must be integrated into the growing future of the rich tourism resources available for development in the region as a whole.

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MSU ACADEMIC SERVICES LINKING WITH COMMUNITY PROJECTS

On February 21 MSU Divisions of Research Promotion and Academic Services held a signing ceremony of the ‘Promotion and Preservation Project’ MOU between Mahasarakham communities and MSU in line with the national focus on academic relationships with communities.

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito  and  Vice President for Academic Research, Dr. Preecha Prathepha headed the MSU representatives present at the signing.

The MOU aims to fulfill one of the mission statements of MSU in creating links between communities, their leaders, the corporate and community sectors to create social fairness and reduce social inequalities in and between local communities through education and sustainable self development.

Available under the MOU is funding for twenty-eight projects  under the MOU Working Group involving thirty-six community areas in Maha Sarakham Province. The involvement of Mahasarakham University is not confined only to Maha Sarakham Province. The ‘Promotion and Preservation Project’ also involves projects in Mukdahan, Kalasin and Roi Et Provinces. .... more pics

Movie fever seems to have gripped the campus of MSU over the last fortnight with the pending release of the movie ‘Love At Sarakham’.

The full length cinema movie Love at Sarakham is a collaboration between the Institute of Northeastern Arts and Culture with the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (Ministry of Culture). The movie is a romantic comedy set in and around Mahasarakham with many scenes shot on campus at MSU.

The dialogue and storyline is typically Isan, with language and costumes and character traits of the actors easily recognisable as from the north east. Local wags have suggested with typically lighthearted Isan frivolity the film will need to be subtitled in Thai language so those not familiar with Isan language can follow the storyline.

The underlying romantic story line is light and illustrates the light hearted and humorous side of young Isan people who really enjoy life, whatever it brings for them. It gives the viewer an outstanding insight into cultural aspects of the lives of young people living in the north east of Thailand. Love at Sarakham is due for national release in Thai cinemas on March 10. .... more pics          ...YOUTUBE TRAILER

MSU SCHOOLS COMBINED EVENING

MSU Demonstration School has a novel way of turning the boring business of delivering the Annual Director’s Report into an exciting and beneficial event.  On February 17 MSU Demonstration School’s Principal Dr. Maliwan Tuniapan delivered her Annual Report at a combined fundraising dinner event held in the gymnasium of Mahasarakham University.

The dinner was a co-ordinated fundraising event between Mahasarakham University, MSU Demonstration Elementary and MSU Demonstration Secondary Schools. 

MSU secondary and primary schools have affiliations with another eighteen participating institutions across Thailand.

The evening was to strengthen relationships between administrators, lecturers, students and parents; all of whom were well represented at the popular evening during which entertainment was provided by students from MSU Demonstration Elementary. From all accounts the evening was an outstanding success.  .... more pics

INTERNATIONAL DATABASES ACCEPT MSU JOURNAL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Mahasarakham University may be classified in the western world as a young university having been in existence as a university proper for only forty-three years. It could safely be assumed few people would know that for the last twenty of these years MSU has been publishing a journal of Science and Technology, Mahasarakham University, both in English and Thai language. Those involved in the publication of scientific journals are well aware of the high standards required for any journal to be accepted into any reputable international journal database.

It is indeed an honour to be able to announce that the Journal of Science and Technology Mahasarakham University has recently been accepted as being of a standard worthy to be included in the following International scientific journal databases: EBSCO, Asian Science Citation Index (ASCI), DOAJ, Index Copernicus International, Academic Index, The Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek EZB, Open J-Gate, Google Scholar and EISRJC.

Other databases upon which assessment is pending are: SCOPUS, ISI Thompson Reuters, Pubmed Central (PMC), MedLine, ProQuest, BASE,   SciTopia Index and Scientific Commons.

The Journal of Science and Technology Mahasarakham University is published quarterly and edited by Sawitree Chowtivannagun and Pradit Terdtoon. ...more pics

The journal can be accessed  free online at  http://thailand.digitaljournals.org/index.php/JSTMU/index

MOU SIGNED WITH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MALAYSIA

Following a successful visit from representatives of UTM (University of Technology Malaysia) last month MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito led a delegation of MSU representatives on a return visit to sign an innovative MOU.

MSU faculties and departments  represented in Malaysia included Human Resources Development, General Education, University Affairs and Planning and International Relations.

Innovative agreements were made between UTM and MSU in that the MOU not only caters for student exchange but also for academic and ancillary staff exchange including accommodation. The first exchanges are expected to commence as early as May, 2011.

Besides touring the UTM campus the delegation from MSU were also visited UTM’s Centre for Teaching and Learning which conducts E-learning programs such as MyLine (English online) as well as the UTM Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant. ...more pics

JUNIOR ART CAMP AT MSU DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL

Mahasarakham University not only caters for tertiary education. MSU also has a Primary and Secondary Demonstration School. The Primary School, located within the grounds of the old campus, recently held its three day, two night Junior Art Camp #2  from the 4th to the 7th of February.

The Art Camp was opened by MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and MSU Primary Demonstration School Principal    Dr. Maliwan Tunapan.

Approximately one hundred and fifty primary school students from Grades one to six attended the camp which aims to give students opportunities to use art to ‘sustain the spirit, dream to use imagination, create an atmosphere of unity, realise the social value of their artwork and understand the benefits of creating art in their free time’.

The students were assisted during the camp by the MSU Primary Demonstration School teacher resource team. ...more pics

MSU EDUCATION SERVICES ACTIVE IN KHON KAEN EDUCATION MARKET

For those of us unfamiliar with Thai culture, the markets are an integral part of everyday life in Thai society. People shop at markets all over Thailand to purchase all sorts of goods from fresh meat, fish and vegetables to clothing, footwear and furniture. The markets are a place where many home made/grown goods are sold by individuals/families. Besides the shopping where prices are fair and competitive, the markets are a place where Thai people congregate socially to meet, eat and generally enjoy themselves.

Therefore it should come as no surprise to see MSU Education Services Division representatives recently making their presence known at a two day educational exhibition ‘market’ held at Khon Kaen University at the end of January.

More than eighty-five educational institutions exhibited at the market to showcase their respective wares to a large number of prospective students who travelled from all over north east Thailand to attend. Just like any typical market you see in Thailand, people met, stallholders spruiked the benefits of their product (in this case educational institutions) to attract a crowd and the shoppers or prospective students all had a wonderful time meeting with each other while ‘shopping’ for their future educational institutions.

Showing no disrespect to this event; it is wonderful to see so many educational institutions get together at the ‘educational market’ to give prospective students an opportunity to make serious comparisons while simultaneously providing an entertaining and fun atmosphere of the marketplace. ...more pics

UNIQUE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF NORTH EAST THAILAND

On February 3 MSU Faculty of Science hosted a seminar attended by academics and representatives of the Science Association of Thailand. The technical discussions concerned matters of scientific interest pertaining to the north east of Thailand. Subjects such as rare plants (including mushrooms), biological resources and the dinosaur valley were discussed. Another reason for the seminar was to encourage people of science at Mahasarakham University to discuss projects with members of the Royally Patronised Science Society of Thailand.

Mahasarakham University Faculty of Science is very pro active in biological research in north east Thailand. Research institutes under the Faculty of Science are specifically devoted to biological and paleontological research of subject matter unique to the northeast of Thailand. ...more pics