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 PRIMARY HOLDS TWO DAY ART CAMP

On February 4 MSU Primary Demonstration School held a two day Art Camp. Both Primary and Secondary Schools in Thailand hold events such as these which are not to be confused with the western idea of camping i.e. going into the wilderness and living in tents for a few days.

The ‘camps’ whether they are art camps, English camps or other specialty camps give students an opportunity to completely immerse themselves in a particular subject matter for a few days providing knowledge and experience in a large group atmosphere. Many people not necessarily involved with the school come along and donate their time and energy to assist, whether it be a weekday or on a weekend. The camps are a good example of community sharing and involvement, typical of Isan society. No notes are sent home, word is spread through the Isan grapevine, a particularly efficient method of communication.

The Art camp held at MSU Primary provides opportunities for children to develop their artistic abilities in a fun and friendly group atmosphere, to allow children to express themselves through art and to appreciate the social values and importance of art in Isan society.

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito took time out from his busy schedule to address the children on the social benefits of creative artwork and stayed on to offer encouragement and inspect the children’s works in progress. MSU Primary School Director Dr. Maliwan Tunapan (pictured left) takes a keen interest in her students and was also available to speak with students throughout the camp.

Over one hundred and seventy students, teachers, parents and specialised art ‘trainers’ took part in the two days of fun and creative activities. 

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WORLD WETLANDS DAY AT MSU

On February 2 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito presided over the ceremony marking World Wetlands Day.

February 2 is the day the Ramsar Convention (on Wetlands of International Importance) treaty was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. World Wetlands Day (WWD) was first celebrated in 1997 with just under two thousand Ramsar (wetland) sites of importance currently listed. Contracting parties from over one hundred and sixty countries, including Thailand, are signatories to the Ramsar Treaty.

The slogan for WWW in 2012 is Wetland Tourism: A Great Experience.

MSU Office of Academic Services, Division of Building, Department of Visual Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Veterinary Science and Medicine, Medical School, Centre for Book Research and the Department of Fisheries and others collaborated with fifteen neighbourhood schools and thirteen local villages in holding events raising awareness on World Wetlands Day.

Events held included fishing, rice planting , painting and dancing competitions as well as many other community activities. The focus was on raising awareness among young people of preserving wetlands (and forests) along the rivers of northeast Thailand and the important role they play in the ecological balance of nature.

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MSU EXHIBITION AREA PROVES POPULAR AT RED CROSS FAIR

Mahasarakham University faculties are making their presence felt at the annual Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Festival which runs until January 29.

Mahasarakham University has a large exhibition area close to the centre of the fair with many faculties exhibiting at various times during the festival as well as showing their wares or performing on the MSU stage.

Many examples of the ‘university community’ will be on show including a life size formula one type racing car,  products for sale produced as a result of MSU faculties research and development, massage for health, artistic portraits caricatures and many more.

The MSU exhibition area is always a popular site and well worth the trouble investigating. You never know what interesting things will be on display or what will be happening live on stage. One thing which can be guaranteed is there will be something at the MSU exhibition of interest to engage any member of the community, whatever their age.

The students manning the exhibitions are knowledgeable and more than happy to engage with the general public in providing explanation on their particular fields of endeavour.

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US CONSULAR OFFICIALS ATTEND OPENING OF AMERICAN CORNER AT MSU

On January 18 Mr. Michael Honnold, US Embassy Cultural Attache and Ms. Wendy Zaman, US Embassy American Corner Coordinator were welcomed MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito to the new temporary home of American Corner on the ground floor of the RN Building in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

For the opening a special exhibition celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King was on show kindly supplied by the US Embassy (Bangkok).

Many students at MSU are fascinated by American culture and way of life. American Corner is a student orientated space with facilities designed for students to create their own space. In other words the students are empowered to use the space as they see fit; they are the owners of American Corner. MSU teachers and staff are on hand to give advice and provide little supervision per se.

This opening of American Corner at MSU has been classified as a ‘soft’ opening. Soft in the way it is the opening before the official opening. American Corner at the moment is a temporary space and will be moved to a new permanent home in the near future when an official opening, hopefully attended by the US Ambassador to Thailand will take place.

MSU is very grateful to the US Embassy Consular staff for their continuing interest and for making the creation of American Corner possible. The best thing about American Corner is MSU students have it as their own to create a space where students can come to learn about American culture at their own pace and on their own terms while still having the option of kindly advice from contact with US Embassy Consular staff.  

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 BIG CLEANING DAY IN HONOUR OF H.M. KING BHUMIBOL

On December 13 the MSU Big Cleaning Day in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol was held. More than three hundred people met on the lawn in front of the MSU condos before heading out to give the university campus a Big Clean. Trees were pruned, gardens were weeded, streets were swept and rubbish picked up on and around streets in and leading to the campus.

The event was opened by MSU Vice President for General Management Dr. Piyapun Santaveesuk. The Big Cleaning Day gives students, faculty and staff members an opportunity to pay homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol. It is also an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and to create solidarity within the Mahasarakham University community. The results of the Big Cleaning Day are now on show all around MSU campus.

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MSU 44TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS DECEMBER 1 – 9

 Mahasarakham University celebrated its 44^th Anniversary from December 1^st to the 9^th. MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito and Vice President for Special Affairs Dr. Suracha Amornpan gave the opening addresses at the opening ceremony. MSU held nine days of celebrations with the main road into the Khamriang campus closed nightly.





Faculties set up stalls along the road and a party atmosphere was present every night with thousands of students coming to shop, watch the nightly talent shows or concerts and generally get together to have a good time.

Many, many events were held on campus including Buddhist ceremonies, theatre, talent shows, sports demonstrations.

On December 9 the closing ceremony was held with an awards ceremony and talent quest winners performing.

The fireworks displays for both the opening and closing ceremonies were spectacular. The closing ceremony stood out as something special with many people floating khomb, making for spectacular scenery adding to the bright lights and activity centred around the area of the President’s building on the closing night.

Click on the separate links for OPENING CEREMONY PICTURES and CLOSING CEREMONY PICTURES

MSU BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR HIS MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ

Everybody at Mahasarakham University is today sending their best wishes and celebrating the 84th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (meaning Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power).
HM King Bhumibol is the world's longest reigning monarch, having been King of Thailand since 1946. Admired and respected throughout the world, the ninth Rama King of the Chakri dynasty has made it his life's work to serve his loyal Thai subjects.
HM King Bhumibol is involved in Royal projects the length and breadth of Thailand. The list of His projects is too long to mention here although His philosophy of sufficiency economy which has been embraced by the Thai people is particularly worthy of note.
Portraits of the King adorn homes, offices and public places all over the Kingdom of Thailand.
The King's birthday is also designated as Father's Day in the Kingdom.
It is difficult to put into words the respect and reverence in which King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej is held in Thailand, and indeed all over the world so we will not try, except to say;

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR MAJESTY FROM EVERYONE AT MAHASARAKHAM UNIVERSITY

LONG LIVE THE KING  

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 FACULTY OF MEDICINE 8TH ANNIVERSARY

On  November 21 nine monks participated in the ceremony commemorating the eighth anniversary of the MSU Faculty of Medicine. The ceremony,, commencing at seven am, was well attended by students, staff and executives of the  university. As is traditional, after the blessing ceremony, alms were presented to the monks.

MSU Faculty of Medicine currently has a six year open university program in Medicine as well as a graduate program in Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, a Department of Medical Science, a Geaduate Business Center plus post doctoral studies in health sciences.

Students for the Faculty of Medicine practise at hospitals in Mahasarakham, Kalasin, Roi Et, and Mukdahan hospitals as well as many community medical centres.

Later in the day MSU President  Dr. Supachai Samappito gave a progress report on the progress of the four hundred million baht two hundred bed campus hospital which is due for completion in October next year. He also reported on a future Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine located next to the Medical Center. This center will cater to patients receiving Thai traditional medical attention as well as producing traditional medicines and herbal products.

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.

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.

MAHASARAKHAM CREATIVE ECONOMY MODEL PROJECT LAUNCHED

On September 1 a three day exhibition and launch of the Ten Cities Creative Economy Model Project for Maha Sarakham was launched at MSU Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning.

The launch was attended by MSU President Dr. Supachai Sammapito, Vice President for Special Affairs Dr. Dr. Surachai Amornpan, the Governor of Maha Sarakham Province and representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Department of Intellectual Property. Mahasarakham was listed last May as one of the top ten creative cities in Thailand and this project should ensure this does not change.

The project will be developed under three sections. Firstly through the provision of knowledge, technology  and creative education provided by Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham Rajabat University, MSU College of Nursing, Faculty of Agriculture (and others) , Mahasarakham College of Physical Education and Mahasarakham Technical College.

Secondly the development of human capital with an estimated one hundred thousand members of the community being provided with access to highly qualified experts, students and scholars  for self research and learning.

Thirdly, with the community mostly farm based and earning extra income from handicrafts, the project will endeavour to give the local community a sense of cultural identity. Self pride in local community and the development and understanding of a unique cultural identity is a key to successful building of human capital.

The project is supported at all levels of government, educational institutions in Maha Sarakham Province, NGO’s and local businesses alike. It will build and develop on the strengths of local geographical, social, cultural and economic wisdom.

The three day exhibition held from September 1 – 3 at MSU Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning showcased handicrafts and value added products from the Top Ten Creative Cities as well as having local community members demonstrating handicrafts.

Footnote:

 Many overseas visitors to Mahasarakham are unaware they can visit local villages and watch local artisans at work making such things as fine Thai silk, all types of reed mats,  pottery and souvenir items and to name just a few. The experience of having a photo taken with the person who actually made your ‘souvenir’ gives the item much more personal meaning than if bought at a market. 

The city of Mahasarakham is spelled as one word. The Province of Maha Sarakham is spelled as two words.