VISITORS WELCOME TO JEWELS OF THE SEA EXHIBITION AT MSU

An exhibition entitled Jewels of the Sea was opened at the MSU Science Museum, Faculty of Science on March 2^nd by MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito. The exhibition is a collaboration between MSU Faculty of Science and the National Science Museum of Thailand.

The exhibition marked the signing of technical collaborative agreements between MSU and the National Science Museum for human resource development in the fields of survey research, learning development , resources and management.

The agreement includes the promotion of academic knowledge through recognising the importance of publication and networking in transferring knowledge.

A most interesting facet of the agreement is to exchange exhibitions on a yearly basis with the Jewels of the Sea currently exchanged with the Dinosaur Skeleton exhibition.

The Jewels of the Sea exhibition is currently available for viewing during office hours at the MSU Science Museum, Faculty of Science. ....more pics

RICE HARVESTING DEMONSTRATION

On June 14 MSU Vice President for Special Affairs Dr. Surachai Amornpan joined the Governor of Mahasarakham Province in a rice harvesting demonstration which was organised by the Office of Agriculture.

The rice harvesting demonstration was held to strengthen ties between government, education and community. The demonstration included traditional rice harvesting, tossing the rice to separate the grain and spreading of the grain to dry in the sun.

An interesting aspect of demonstrations such as these is the officials from government or education normally tend to participate as opposed to being spectators of the event. This firmly illustrates the Isan sense of inclusive community values where everybody is a part of the community and all contribute to the best of their ability.

Even though machinery is being introduced these traditional methods of harvesting rice can still be seen when travelling throughout the Isan provinces. ... more pics

DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS KEEP TRADITIONS ALIVE

On April 7 MSU Division of Student Affairs organised a bathing ceremony in recognition of the importance of the tradition of Songkran. More than fifty people including the Executive Committee of the Division of Student Affairs were involved in the planning of the event. Over five hundred people attended the early morning alms merit making ceremony and over four thousand watched the street parade and competitions in the afternoon.

As well as the street parade there were traditional bathing ceremonies, a beauty contest and a sand pagoda modelling contest.

MSU Division of Student Affairs is a student organisation which recognises the importance of keeping alive the traditional Songkran beauty and culture in the northeast.

This event was also organised to bring together members of the local communities to join in celebrations. The importance of keeping tradition and showing respect to traditional wisdom was marked by inviting special guests from local communities to address the younger student members of the local communities as well as MSU students before they return to their homes for the New Year holidays. 

Songkran is traditionally Thailand’s New Year. The water ceremonies are performed at this time every year to bring the rains which are so vital for the sowing season of the rice crop.

One objective of the student organisation is to increase the body of knowledge and to keep alive the sense of pride in traditional wisdom, local art and culture. Another is to build good relationships between students and nearby communities. MSU Division of Student Affairs is involved in many projects year round. In many instances MSU students give up their free time during short holiday or weekend periods with groups going out into local communities making building improvements to schools, holding community knowledge and networking camps or simply helping out.

Even though MSU is reaching out globally to increase its presence internationally MSU Division of Student Affairs and many other MSU faculties also recognise the benefits of forging strong bonds locally between communities and educational institutions. ...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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ANNUAL BUN BOEK FA RED CROSS FESTIVAL

More than a thousand students from MSU participated in the very popular Bun Boek Fa grand parade for the opening of the annual Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Fair.

The spectacular parade on January 28 was a part of the opening day ceremonies for the annual event. The Bun Boek Fa festival coincides with the beginning of the rice harvest season. Traditionally, farmers pay homage to the Goddess of Rice, Mae Pho Sop, preserving traditional Isan customs through ceremonies showing respect to the goddess.

For the tourist it is simply a festival. For the Isan people it is a very important part of their traditional lives.

The Red Cross is very well supported in Mahasarakham and the Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Fair gives students from many faculties at MSU the opportunity to showcase their faculties work at stalls erected for the ten day festival.

Besides the stalls there is a carnival atmosphere every night with many varieties of food available, carnival attractions and bargains galore at the many market stalls.

One of the very popular attractions is the fishing pond where every ‘fish’ caught wins a prize and a new car or motorcycle up for grabs.

The Bun Boek Fa Red Cross Fair is an event involving all the Mahasarakham community with people from all over Maha Sarakham Province coming to town to join in the festival atmosphere. ...more pics

MSU INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE I.C.E.S PROGRAM

After running a successful pilot program Mahasarakham International Relations Office has launched an exciting new program to assist in the teaching of conversational English to Thai        primary and secondary school students.

The I.C.E.S  (ISAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE SCHOOLING) Program intends to attract native English speaking interns who have just attained their degrees and are looking for something to fill in what is commonly termed their ‘gap year’.

Benefits of the program are many. Thai school students as well as Thai teachers of English will benefit in having a native English speaker assist with conversational English skills. The intern will benefit by learning Thai culture and enjoying wonderful Isan hospitality by living with a Thai family during their internship.

It is hoped many native English speaking graduates will be coming to Mahasarakham to commence the I.C.E.S Program for the start of the next school term.

Link to the I.C.E.S Information Kit is at : http://www.inter.msu.ac.th/newsheadline/upload/S0000103.pdf

NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATED AT MSU

On January 8 MSU Vice President for Student Development Dr. Sujin Butdisuwan had the enviable task of representing MSU in opening celebrations for Thai National Children’s Day.

MSU Student Council and various other student clubs banded together to create a special occasion for over two thousand children and adults attending the day held at the MSU Gymnasium.

The National Children’s Day motto this year of ‘cautious, cognitive public mindedness’ was the underlying theme for activities. Lots of prizes were donated by MSU and awarded to children participating in games cultivating knowledge towards the values of harmony, discipline and ethics.

It is still being decided whether the children or the adults had more fun on the day. ...more pics

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

From the desk of Dr. Nathanon Trachoo

As Vice President and head of Mahasarakham University Planning and International Relations Office I would like to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year.

We commence the Year 2010 with a new look newsletter bringing it into line with the international branding process of MSU we are undertaking. Our innovative staff are busy creating an image for Mahasarakham University that will become easily recognisable from the university colours of gold and grey, the stupa icon representing Maha Sarakham Province, the geographical identification of MSU located in the heart of the northeast of Thailand and the cultural promotion of traditional Isan culture through our Pure Thai programs.

We now have experienced native language liaison officers producing publications in English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian.

Senior International Relations Officer Dr. Robert Rowe is engaging with faculties across MSU towards the creation of international programs to greatly expand those currently on offer.

Our 2015 goal is to be able to play an important part in the ASEAN educational system offering  international students and academics the ability to engage in academic excellence at MSU while experiencing and living within a cultural environment which will provide unforgettable lifelong memories.

On behalf of MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito I extend a warm invitation to scholars and institutions world wide to explore possibilities of mutual international co-operation available at Mahasarakham University.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year.

Dr. Nathanon Trachoo.

PREECHA SAKORN ‘JUST PLAIN NATURAL’ SHORT FILM AWARD

MSU Information Science lecturer Preecha Sakorn     (left in picture) has received an honourable mention at the recent National Education Short Film Festival shown at SF Central World Cinema Bangkok.

Sakorn’s ten minute film, Just Plain Natural, was shot on location in Koofah National Park is a film regarding natural resources. Although the narrative is in Thai, English speakers will still be able to enjoy the scenery and understand a little of the storyline from the imagery.

Just Plain Natural and two other of Sakorn’s short films, The Transistor Radio (with English subtitles) and The Novices part I and part 2 (winner of an Excellence Award at the Tokyo Video Festival in 2007) are available to be viewed on Youtube (youtube search term = preesart).  ... more pics