LAND ON MSU OLD CAMPUS DEVELOPED FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

On March 3 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito inspected a new area on the old MSU camps which has been developed as a research unit for sufficiency in the sustainable development of vegetables.

Although the area may look like simply a large vegetable patch it will be used for practical research and development for MSU student studies of sustainable and continuously productive vegetable crop development.

Vegetables grown include papaya, sweet corn, sunflowers, rice, marsh peas and lemons.

The area is not only for student’s education. New research, agricultural integrated farming processes and local knowledge will be shared with the general community around the province.

The area is also designed as recreation and rest area.

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.

CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT MSU CELEBRATES CHINESE NEW YEAR (OF THE DRAGON)

On January 21 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito attended Chinese New Year festivities at the invitation of MSU Confucius Institute Director Mr. Lin Haoye.

Chinese New Year is traditionally the most important holiday in China and marks the start of the fifteen day Spring Festival. As the Chinese calendar is lunar based, the day upon which New Year falls varies from year to year. 

This year Chinese New Year falls on January 23 and in 2013 will fall on February 10. Thai and Chinese students alike joined in the New Year celebrations for the Year of the Dragon held at the Confucius Institute Cultural Center located on the old campus in downtown Mahasarakham.

The popular Confucius Institute has now been in operation at MSU for five years, having celebrated this milestone in December. 

BUN BOEK FA RED CROSS FESTIVAL OPENS WITH GRAND PARADE

On January 21 MSU Vice President for Special Affairs Dr. Suracha Amompan represented Mahasarakham University at the grand parade ushering in the opening of the annual Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Festival.

The grand parade is a not to be missed event with the parade featuring participants representing a cross section of the whole Maha Sarakham community. It is held in the centre of Mahasarakham and winds its way along the road next to the canal in the very centre of town, commencing at the main stadium of Burapha School to finish at the main stage in the centre of the grounds of the Red Cross Festival.

Besides many participants from MSU in the parade, local schools, colleges, villages and organisations also provide participants in this wonderful spectacle. 

The Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Festival was officially opened by the Honourable Mr. Jeerawat Chuenwarin, Governor of Mahasarakham and attended by a plethora of special guests. 

After the grand parade and official speeches made, there was a night full of entertainment on the centre stage lasting late into the night. 

The Bun Boek Fa Festival is a festival celebrated in Mahasarakham to honour the rice goddess Mae Pho Sop and to celebrate the time between the harvesting and selling of the rice crop. It is also a festival which recognises the importance of the Red Cross and is a major fundraiser for the internationally renowned organisation.

The Bun Boek Fa Festival Red Cross Festival this year runs from January 21 until January 30.

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NEW YEAR CEREMONY IN MAHASARAKHAM

On January 1 MSU Vice President for Special Affairs Associate Professor Dr. Suracha Amornpan attended the Maha Sarakham Provincial New Year ceremony held at the Clock Tower in central Mahasarakham. Dr. Suracha represented Mahasarakham University for the important ceremony which was also attended by Mr. Jeerawat Chuenwarin, Governor of Maha Sarakham Province.

The New Year ceremony is held in villages, towns, cities and villages all over Thailand early on New Year’s Day. Many of the townspeople will arise early and head to the community centre from about 6 am onwards bearing alms to give to the monks. All monks from surrounding temples attend and it is quite a spectacle to see the large number of monks and people showing respect and giving alms. There are also speeches by local government, business and, because Mahasarakham is a city of education, educational leaders.

On New Year’s Day in Mahasarakham the ceremony was attended by three hundred and fifty-nine monks from seventeen temples in and around the municipality. Government officers, business people and the general community numbering in their thousands prayed for His Majesty King Bhumibol, prosperity for themselves and their families before forming long lines where monks passed and received alms from the people.

The New Year ceremony is a wonderful time where the whole community comes together to wish each other prosperity and happiness for the coming year.

สุขสันต์ปีใหม่ - Happy New Year

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.

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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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. 

MSU TO CELEBRATE 44TH FOUNDATION DAY - NINE DAYS OF CELEBRATIONS

On December 1 - 9 Mahasarakham University will be having its 44th Foundation Day celebrations.
The celebrations will open just after lunch on Thursday December 1 with a traditional street parade commencing at 1300 in the afternoon. The main street running past the President's building will be closed to traffic for the duration of the celebrations.

During the celebrations the MSU campus is alive with exhibitions, talent contests and concerts which are organised by and participated in by members and staff of all MSU faculties.

There are many stalls open, including exhibition stalls created by MSU students from their relevant faculties and also by our Vietnamese, Cambodian and Chinese students. Here you can speak with students while sampling the delicious foods they have on offer.

As is usual with a festival event in Thailand there is a lively market atmosphere with many stalls set up where you can buy all sorts of foods and goods. It may be noted because there are many student 'customers' the prices seem to be a little cheaper than at your usual festival markets.

There is also a grand opening ceremony on December 1 and a closing ceremony on December 9 held opposite the President's building. Both are well worth attending. Both ceremonies include awards for academic excellence, speeches and extravagant entertainment of all types.

Mahasarakham University campus is the place to be for the nine days of December 1 -9. All are welcome to come along to help Mahasarakham University celebrate our forty-fourth birthday.

PS. For those of you in Bangkok it is not too late to join us. Thai Air operates three return flights a day to nearby Khon Kaen.


Note: Pictures are from previous year's festivities.

FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY EM BALL WORKING BEE

On November 9 over three hundred people attended a working bee at the MSU Faculty of Technology to make and pack Effective Micro Organism Balls (EM Balls).

The flooding in Bangkok has been widely reported in international news for the last month. Many people do not realise large tracts of farmland in Isan have been inundated for a much longer period of time. Whole villages have been displaced for well over a month with many still waiting for floodwaters to drain.

Many farmers are harvesting crops from boats , in chest or waist high water. Others  have nothing left to harvest.

Because of the huge influx of water many areas have ‘trapped’ water. i.e. Water has flooded over man-made barriers such as roads and cannot drain naturally leaving large areas which have to be pumped out or are draining very slowly. Besides ruining crops, the standing water runs the risk of stagnating, becoming contaminated from sewage and accumulated rubbish bringing with it greatly increased risks of disease and contamination of the land.

The EM (Effective Micro-organism) balls are the brainchild of horticultural expert Professor Yasuo from Ryuku University in Okinawa, Japan. EM or balls are cast into the water. They are not harmful to humans, help restore the natural ecological balance and increases oxygen levels in water while assisting in the process of decomposition of organic matter in the water.

KATHIN CEREMONY AT KANTARAWICHAI

On November 6 MSU Division of Student Affairs organised a traditional Kathin event which was held this year in Ban Don Nong in Kantarawichai led by MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Sujin Butdisuwan.

Kathin is a traditional Buddhist event which is normally held within four weeks of the end of Buddhist Lent. Kathin is also the name of the traditional robes worn by monks and the Kathin ceremony includes the giving of robes to the monks on this day.

MSU staff and students accompanied Dr’s Supachai and Sujin in the traditional ceremony which is a full day event commencing when the visitors  enter the village through a specially constructed gate. They then parade through the village bearing special krathin, gifts, food and money to be presented to the monks and villagers later in the day. Besides normal monk’s robes being presented, a special kathin is presented which has been hand made from pieces of cotton stitched together.

Participants join in meals, dancing and ceremonies together. This day is one of many community events illustrating the importance Mahasarakham University places on keeping traditional customs and ceremonies alive. It allows new students to meet community members and while attending MSU  feel a part of ceremonies they would normally participate in at their home towns or villages.

MSU STAFF AND STUDENTS ASSISTANCE FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Mahasarakham’s surrounding districts have not escaped the widespread flooding which has been affecting large areas all over Thailand for over a month. Mahasarakham students and staff have been donating food, water clothing and cash to a flood appeal for the last two weeks to assist flood victims in and around the Kantawarachai district.

On Saturday October 8 MSU Vice President for Student Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Sujin Butdisuwan accompanied over fifty MSU volunteer staff and students to deliver the donated goods to three flood affected villages in Kantarawichai district.

Dr. Sujin and the volunteers picked up the goods from the President’s building and delivered them to the villages. The volunteers also stayed and spoke with families to boost morale. 

The Isan area is no stranger to flooding. Whole villages will move their belongings to the upper floor of their homes and move out to live in temporary accommodation on higher ground nearby.

Communities not flooded pitch in to help those that are. The giving nature of the Isan people comes to the fore in situations such as these where people help each other expecting nothing in return. 

The strength of communities illustrated by the amount of donated clothing, water and food is incredible when you realise they do not have much themselves. Nobody complains; they just get on with it. Even though the floods are devastating large areas, one cannot help but feel that everybody is looking out for and caring for everybody else. What a comforting feeling.

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SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY MODEL PROJECT AWARDS AT KANTARAWICHAI

On September 14 an award ceremony honouring five villages who have successfully implemented a village based model of sufficiency economy was held at Kantarawichai City Hall.

Deputy Governor of Mahasarakham Mr. Sutthinan Boonmee, MSU Vice President for Personnel Development and University Council Affairs Associate Professor Dr. Thiensak Mekkapan-opas and head of the Sufficiency Economy Project Model Assistant Professor Dr. Cheerasak Charoenpan from MSU Faculty of Public Health were present at the ceremony.

The Sufficiency Economy Model Project has been developed by Mahasarakham University. It is a village model based on the underlying concept of King Bhumibol’s sufficiency economy philosophy and contains three phases spread over three years.

The first phase introduced by the working group two years ago focused on the development of partnerships and networks between the five villages to gain rapport and provide network administration.

The second phase introduced last year focused on the development of a sustainable society through strategic planning to strengthen the communities as a whole.

The third phase focuses on strengthening and developing various groups within the community.

Emphasised through all stages of the project are learning efforts, participation and co operation leading to self reliance and the production of a stronger, more efficient  community in turn increasing revenue and savings while using less resources and unnecessary expenditure.

Evaluation results showed strong community participation, an eighty five percent satisfaction level in management of the community with increases in revenue and career paths. There are now learning centres set up in each of the five villages which can provide the tools for individual households to adopt the sufficiency economy model.

These villages are now positioned as prototypes based on the concept of the sufficiency economy philosophy and are ready to become centres of learning and experience for surrounding communities.

More pics here

MSU CONFERENCE ON STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Between September 9 and 11 Mahasarakham University Division of Student Affairs in collaboration with MSU Student Development Office held a three day seminar and conference pertaining to the future organisation and development of MSU Student organisations at the Golden Gold Resort and Spa in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat).

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito presided over the opening of the Student Leadership Development Conference at which reports of the previous year’s student organisation’s activities were provided, budgets reported and allocations given.

 Mahasarakham University believes it is good corporate management to engage with and include student representatives of their respective organisations in the process. The conference aims to discuss, develop and share in knowledge to provide the best and most equitable outcomes for the future needs of MSU students.

This attitude of sharing knowledge cultivates leadership, good organisation and planning for future student projects from within student organisations. MSU student organisations are very community minded and projects designed for the improved education, knowledge sharing and benefit of the general Isan community are evident in most programs MSU student organisations plan and execute. Too many to name individually, faculty or student organisations provide benefit to many different parts of Isan. It is also evident in many programs the students are very aware and mindful of the promotion and development of   HM King Bhumibol’s self sufficiency economy model.

The inclusiveness shown by Mahasarakham University through planning and sharing of knowledge at the all the way from the President through to the student base illustrates the strength of community awareness within MSU management. This inclusiveness will no doubt be passed on to the outside general community through the future deeds of the student organisations. It is from seminars such as this a successful future for both Mahasarakham University and the general population can be assured.