BUSY MONTH FOR MSU FACULTY OF NURSING

Nursing Public Relations

On May 18 MSU Faculty of Nursing took part in a public relations exercise at the Serm Thai department store in central Mahasarakham.

The event which coincided with the birthday of Florence Nightingale included free public screenings for breast cancer, eye disease, reflexology  and yoga sessions, food for good health as well as examples of simple exercises which can be done while at work.

The Faculty of Nursing regularly performs services such as these to raise public awareness on health issues, to encourage potential nursing students toward the benefits of a professional nursing career and to inform the public of how to access public health services.

The nursing students and teachers also gain self esteem in providing their professional services free of charge.

Nursing Certificates Presented

 On May 20 MSU Vice President for Human Resources Associate Professor Dr. Thiensak Mekkapan-opas presented seventy–seven nurses with awards for the successful completion of a Clinical Nursing Specialty Practice short course. The five month course was for the gaining of skills in the treatment of disease, screening patients, consultation advice and home health care. The course included meeting and collaborating with colleagues in other public health care agencies.

Mentoring Program for Nursing Students

On May 23 over ninety people took part in the commencement of a nursing mentoring program which will enable students from the Faculty of Nursing to gain invaluable hands on experience while studying for their degree.

The mentoring project focuses on learning in real life situations, including the use of robots in the laboratory, practical nursing in health care and community facilities while collaborating with health care professionals, support staff and services as well as assisting in real life interaction with patients.

An integrated part of the mentoring program is the inclusion of discussion groups to share ideas in applied teaching and nursing education. The program is designed to produce quality graduates as well as to strengthen cooperation and understanding between teaching and learning institutions in curriculum development relevant to modern nursing methodologies. ...more pics

CAMBODIAN STUDENTS PREPARED FOR UNIVERSITY LIFE

On May 21, MSU Vice President for Planning and International Relations, Dr. Nathanon Trachoo presented certificates to forty seven Cambodian students for successfully completing a preliminary English course before  commencing their studies at MSU. The students are on full time scholarships under a program provided by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Besides learning English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills the students were also given tuition in adapting to Thai culture and language and living skills to make their transition into mainstream student life at Mahasarakham University as enjoyable an experience as possible.  ...more pics

MSU PRESIDENT REVEALS FIVE YEAR DRAFT STRATEGY

On May 20 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito launched a five year draft strategic plan for Mahasarakham University after a series of brainstorming seminars and meetings held between May 11 to 18.

The series of meetings organised by MSU Department of Planning and held in accordance with the National Strategic, Economic and Social Development Plan resulted in the formation of the MSU Five Year Draft Strategic Plan.

The plan incorporates outlines, future policies and guidelines concerning vision, values, philosophy, mission, organisation and strategy for Mahasarakham University for the period 2012 until 2016.

The future philosophy includes making wisdom and technical services available to the public; a vision of ‘Wisdom of the North East and of the Country, of ASEAN and Greening the University’, expanding educational opportunities and the continued conservation of the culture and traditions of the north east. ...more pics

O.E. PROGRAM STUDENTS BOUND FOR UTM MALAYSIA

On May 15 twenty students and two staff members became the first participants in the innovative Mahasarakham University OE (Overseas Experience) Program.

Many students and staff are keen to travel overseas to study although a stumbling block for many has been the ‘fear of the unknown’ in travelling abroad to study.

Having recognised this factor as a major drawback in attracting students and staff to commit to a full term of study abroad, Mahasasarakham University in collaboration with UTM (University of Technology) Malaysia has devised the short OE Program.

The OE program is designed so students and staff can travel to UTM Malaysia for a two week period to gain exposure to Malaysian culture, language as well as participating in various classes and activities organised on and around the UTM campus.

The benefits of the OE Program are many. MSU participants will return with first-hand knowledge of overseas institutions which they can pass on to their peers, hopefully removing or allaying the ‘fear factor’ of overseas study. Secondly, the OE participants act as cultural ambassadors for MSU, hopefully creating an atmosphere whereby UTM students and staff gain more knowledge and confidence in the opportunities of student exchange on offer at MSU.

Even though the OE Program does not carry any academic credits, the personal experience gained by the participants and the passing on of this experience is invaluable for the internationalisation of Mahasarakham University.

 Mahasarakham University welcomes enquiries from any other tertiary institutions who would like to participate in the innovative OE Program. ...more pics

INVITATION TO JOIN MSU JOURNAL CLUB – MONTHLY ADDRESSES

MSU Division of Academic Affairs and Research have recently created an MSU Journal Club. The Journal club has been created to provide an academic forum among MSU academic staff with Academic Affairs and Research Vice President Assoc. Prof Dr. Preecha Prathepa kindly volunteering to take charge.

MSU Journal Club will be inviting guest speakers from MSU as well as special international invited guests to address members on the last Monday of each month from 10 a.m. until noon in the staff clubhouse located near the President’s Building.

Subject matter is not confined to journalism as the name suggests; any academic topic may be addressed so it is well worth your while to keep an eye on who will be speaking each month.

 For more information you can join the MSU Journal Club on Facebook where information on future speakers and events can be found. ...more pics

JournalClub Msu can be found here on Facebook.

MURRAY STATE USA ALUMNI AWARD TO DR. PORNLAPAS SUWANNARAT

Congratulations to senior lecturer from MSU School of International Business Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dr. Pornlapas Suwannarat who has recently received a TSM Distinguished Alumni Award from Murray State University USA. The award is for students who have brought credit to themselves and Murray State University.

Dr. (Paul) Pornlapas received his Msc Telecommunication Systems Masters degree from Murray State University in 2001 and completed his PhD from Nottingham Trent University in 2010.

Dr. Pornlapas is active in research and publication on subject matter multinational enterprises while at the same time passing his knowledge and expertise on to students studying at the International Business School at MSU. For more information on Dr. Pornlapas click here.

MAHASARAKHAM - ONE OF THE TOP TEN CREATIVE CITIES IN THAILAND

On May 11 Mahasarakham was named as one of the Top Ten Creative Cities in Thailand at a ceremony hosted by the Department of Intellectual property at Government House in Bangkok. Mahasarakham was selected sixth (described as a city of learning and community development) on the list of one hundred and eight cities from all over Thailand. The list was shortened to thirty cities before the top ten were selected.

The selection guidelines included intellectual capital, stakeholders, products and services, system planning and management working towards a creative economy.

Government agencies including Provincial Development, Tourism and Sports, Chamber of Commerce, Public Works and Planning, Industrial Planning as well as many scholars from Rajabhat Mahasarakham and Mahasarakham University are to be thanked for their combined efforts in achieving this great honour.

Maha Sarakham is known throughout Thailand as a city of learning towards community development. more pics

SIX GOLD FOR MSU AT 30TH COWBOY GAMES IN CHIANG MAI

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Sujin Butdisuwan were invited guests at the opening ceremony of the 30^th Annual Commission for Higher Education Staff Cowboy Games held at Cowboy Stadium, Inthanin in Chiang Mai Province.

Afterwards  Dr. Supachai and Vice President for Special Affairs Dr. Suracha Amornpan showed their support by attending one the MSU football teams first round games.

The games, an initiative of the Ministry of University Affairs and hosted this year by Maejo University from May 1 to 8,  attracted over five thousand competitors representing higher education staff from one hundred and thirty four universities across Thailand. 

The motto of the games was Healthiness, Harmony and Creativity through exercise and sport.

A delegation of one hundred and fifty athletes and sports managerial staff represented MSU at the games with MSU finishing fourteenth overall in the medal tally with three gold, six silver and six bronze medals. ...more pics

100 DAYS RECOGNITION OF THE PASSING OF THONGBAI THONGPAO

A commemoration ceremony marking one hundred days since the passing on Jan 24, 2011 of Professor Thongbai Thongpao was held at MSU in the conference room of the College of Politics and Governance.

Well known in Thailand as a respected journalist/lawyer, Prof. Thongbai Thongpao was born in 1926 in Mahasarakham, receiving his early schooling at Wat Klang. In 1951 Thongbai graduated from the Faulty of Law, Thammasat University and in 1953 began his career as a journalist. Thongbai had long been inspired by monk’s values of simplicity and compassion and had a lifelong dedication to the people. Thongbai took up many legal cases for people who were in no position to pay as well as defending the rights of those he felt were unfairly treated.

Thongbai was awarded the  Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1984 which is the Asian equivalent of a Nobel Prize. A legacy he has left all Thai people is the Thongbai Thongpao Foundation.

The ceremony was a reminder of Thongbai’s determined efforts later in his life to transfer his knowledge and experience to young people and for young people to remember to try to continue to pass on his legacy to future generations. ...more pics