MSU WELCOMES DR. YOKELSON FROM BRANDMAN U CALIFORNIA

On March 29 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito welcomed Assistant Professor Dr. Suzanne Yockelson from Brandman University, California to Mahasarakham University.

 Dr. Yokelson is Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Development at Brandman University School of Education. Brandman University is located in Orange California and is part of the Chapman University (founded in 1861) system.

Dr Yokelson was invited as a special guest speaker to address Doctorate students from the MSU Faculty of Education. Her research involves the social and emotional development of young children from her background in the education of typically and atypically child development.

Dr. Yokelson’s was also a special guest speaker at the recent 5^th International Conference on Education Reform (ICER) held in Pattaya.  

UNIVERSITIES ETHICS TRAINING PROGRAM AT MSU

On March 19 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito opened the proceedings of an ethics training program attended by over two hundred students and teachers representing eleven Thailand universities.

Thai universities have a strong moral obligation towards developing innovative programs not confined solely to university campuses. Morals and ethics training programs such as these are taken out and implemented in communities all over Thailand.

Students from Chulalongkorn and Boston Univerities in Bangkok, Nong Khai in the north and Ubon Ratchatani Rajabhat in the east joined local university representatives from Khon Kaen and MSU for the program.

The two day program was organised by the MSU Division of Student Affairs Research Foundation and held in the MSU Student Building. The program follows lifelong ethics and moral values as promoted by His Royal Highness King Bhumibol. 

The ethics training program is designed to train the participants in techniques for practical promotion of teaching and learning projects for well being and mental health in communities and schools throughout Thailand. 

MSU FACULTY OF ENGINEERING 13TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

On March 16 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito presided over the 13^th Anniversary celebrations of Mahasarakham University Faculty of Engineering.

The celebrations also coincided with a farewell to the former Dean, Professor Dr. Pradit Terdtoon and a welcome for the new Dean of the faculty, Professor Dr. Sumpun Ritthideck.

MSU Faculty of Engineering was established in 1999 and now offers undergraduate degrees in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Environmental, Manufacturing and Biological Engineering as well as Mechatronics. International programs in Masters of Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Computer Engineering are also available.

MSU Faculty of Engineering has partnerships and collaborations with many national and international organisations through research and development projects in fields such as solar energy, power electronics, water and environment, thermal tools, mechatronics, robotics and food and post harvesting.

The celebrations were attended by many MSU administrators, teachers, staff and students who were thoroughly entertained during the evening by students from the MSU College of Music.

MSU HOSTS 2ND IQS MASTERCLASS AND INTERNATIONALISATION SEMINAR

On March 2 Mahasarakham University hosted the 2^nd iQS International Seminar and QS Masterclass on Internationalisation of Higher Education (iQS2) at the prestigious J.W. Marriott Hotel in Bangkok. The first iQS Masterclass was held on campus in Mahasarakham just over seven months ago with mostly Thai universities represented. The interest and

positive feedback generated within Thailand prompted the expansion of iQS2 to a more international stage with MSU, in partnership with QS (Asia), inviting universities outside Thailand to co-host the event.

Guangxi University for Nationalities (GXUN, China), University of the Free State (UFS, South Africa), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and University of the Philippines (UP, Diliman Campus) joined iQS2 as co-hosts sending executive representatives as well as providing keynote speakers of international renown.

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito gave the welcoming address affirming the theme of the seminar to establish cooperative relationships between Thai and international universities in obtaining and maintaining Masterclass status as well as to provide a platform to share knowledge and ideas in the promotion of their individual institutions.

Former Minister of Science and Technology in Thailand, Professor Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong, headed a strong list of keynote speakers who provided a wealth of material for the two hundred participants at the seminar. Dr. Yongyuth spoke entertainingly, giving a knowledgeable overview of Asian governmental and NGO’s concerned with higher education as well as how smaller universities can work to their relevant strengths in the international education arena.

Mandy Mok, Managing Director of QS Asia, provided an oversight of the many services provided by the QS Corporation. Quacquarelli Symonds Pty. Ltd. is arguably the world leader in independently providing integrated tools and solutions for universities to fulfil their potential internationally.

Dr Kevin Downing of the City University of Hong Kong provided innovative and valuable information on challenges faced by Asian universities, while Dr. Mohmd Ismail Abd Aziz gave an insightful and thorough presentation on his as yet unpublished work on aspects of cross cultural student exchange management from actual experience at the University of Teknologi Malaysia.

Professor Wu Jinzhoo, Vice President of Guangxi University of Nationalities, China, provide a perspective of the system of minority universities in China, their relationship with the Chinese government as well as important information relevant to Chinese trade and education towards ASEAN 2015.

The inclusion of South African co-host University of the Free State speaker Dr. Drieke Hay further broadened the scope of the forum with information on international curriculum design imperatives while Dr. Maria Milagros Laurel of University of the Philippines spoke on changes and the need for adaptation occurring in higher educational institutions within the Philippines.

The intensive one day seminar was completed with an hour and a half long open forum chaired by MC Dr. Intisarn Chaiyasuk. All keynote speakers kindly made themselves available for questions and comments.

Participants partook of a sumptuous buffet dinner in the evening and next day visited the famous reclining Buddha at Wat Pho before spending time shopping at Chatuchak weekend markets.

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Click here for video (in Thai)

MSU CONTINUES IMPROVEMENT IN LATEST WEBOMETRICS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

Mahasarakham University continues to improve in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities with the latest half yearly rankings released in January.

Webometric rankings are designed as an indicator of the quantity and quality of electronic publications of the institution. They are published twice yearly and rank over twenty thousand higher education institutions worldwide.

 MSU broke the thousand barrier in world rankings jumping over three hundred and seventy places between July 2011 and January 2012.

Table of Webometric World University Rankings  Mahasarakham University 2009 - 2012
Month/Year	World Ranking	South East Asia	Thailand
January 2009	1393	31	18
July 2009	1443	35	20
January 2010	1470	38	20
July 2010	1618	43	18
January 2011	1254	44	17
July 2011	1101	26	13
January 2012	727	21	10

MSU continues to improve in all areas, currently rated by Webometrics as twenty-first in South East Asia and tenth in Thailand.

As MSU continues towards its goal of becoming an internationally recognised world class tertiary institution it can be expected these numbers will continue to improve.

Click here for Webometrics World University Rankings (South East Asia)

MSU CREATIVE MEDIA STUDENTS SHORT FILM AND ANIMATION COMPETITION

Each year Creative Media students of MSU Faculty of Informatics take part in the Esan (Isan) Short Film and Animation Contest. Teams of students from within the faculty this year produced short films, documentaries or animations based on the theme “Home’.

MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito attended the ceremony to present awards and cash prizes to the winners.

Mahasarakham University is committed to the preservation of local culture and traditions and the creative media student’s works are an example of taking the knowledge they have gained out of the classroom and applying it in the real world.

The creation of these works instils a sense of pride in the students, promotes awareness of their local culture for others and creates historical records for future generations. It is also designed to showcase students talents providing a valuable example of their work for future employment prospects.

This is the seventh year of the E-san Short Film and Animation contest, emanating from an arts program taken as part of the Creative Media course at the Faculty of Informatics. The program includes seminars and training by special guests on making films, documentaries, cartoons and animations.

DR PRAPAIRAT SEEPHONKAI RECEIVES ENDEAVOUR RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Dr Prapairat Seephonkai (pictured left) from MSU Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry has been awarded an Endeavour Research Fellowship Award to continue her research at the University of Wollongong.

Besides her teaching duties, Dr Prapairat  researches the natural product chemistry of bioactive compounds from plants, medicinal herbs and microorganisms as part of the MSU Natural Products Research Group.

The merit based Endeavour Awards are awarded by the Australian Government and administered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). They provide opportunities for study, research and professional development for awardees from the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

Dr. Prapairat was one of twenty seven people from Thailand awarded an Endeavour Scholarship. There were twenty Endeavour Awards, three Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships (ALAS) and four Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships (ALAF).

 Along with her family she attended a reception for Thai Endeavour Awardees hosted by the Australian Consulate at the Grande Sheraton Sukhumvit Hotel in Bangkok on January 12.

Dr. Prapairat will undertake post doctoral research in natural product chemistry at the University of Wollongong for a period of six months commencing in May this year.

Click here for information on Endeavour Awards

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 TO HOST 2ND QS MASTERCLASS ON INTERNATIONALISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION

On March 2^nd Mahasarakham University and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Asia will be hosting the 2nd QS Masterclass seminar on Internationalisation of Higher Education at the elite JW Marriott Hotel in Bangkok.

Three keynote speakers, Professor Yongyuth Yuthavaong, former Minister of Science and Technology (Thailand), Mandy Mok, Managing Director of QS Asia and Dr. Kevin Downing, Senior Coordinator of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance of University of Hong Kong will address the seminar. There will also be a panel discussion on the internationalisation of higher education in the afternoon.

The seminar will provide invaluable information and networking opportunities for tertiary educational institutions on sharing knowledge and in the promotion of their universities at an international level. The QS Asia organisation has an excellent reputation in assisting in the establishment of cooperative relationships between universities on a global scale.

After the success of the 1^st QS Master Class held on campus at Mahasarakham University last year which was attended in the main by Thai Universities, this 2nd QS Masterclass seminar has quickly developed internationally through putting into practise lessons learned from the 1^st QS Master Class.

MSU’s World Class quality has been made clear as, in 2011, a number of international organizations including QS World University Ranking, SCImago Institutions Ranking (SIR) World Report, UI Green Metric World Universities Ranking, Webometric, 4icu Web Popularity Ranking, and Alexa Web Ranking, have considered MSU a fast-growing, world-class-recognized university.  

This success implies that in the near future, MSU will establish increased recognition on a national scale and globally. Moving forward towards the future on the world-class stage, MSU will continue its close partnership with QS-Asia to co-organize World Class Seminars and/or QS Master Class events.

  

Mahasarakham University will be the first Thai university to be considered under the new QS Star Rating system.

The seminar is also hosted in partnership with Guangxi University for Nationalities, China, University of the Free State, South Africa, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and University of the Philippines Diliman.

Click here for information on registration - early bird discount before Feb 15

Click here for 2nd iQS Poster and Brochure

CULTURAL EXCHANGE VISIT TO GUANGXI UNIVERSITY OF NATIONALITIES

MSU students from the Faculty of Fine Arts College and College of Music paid a goodwill visit to Guangxi University of Nationalities in the People’s Republic of China from December 9 – 14. MSU has close ties with Guangxi University through the Confucius Centre located on campus.

Vice Presidents for Student Affairs Dr Sujin Butdisuwan, International Relations and Planning Dr. Nathanon Trachoo and General Management Dr Piyapun Santaveesuk and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr.  Somkiet Poopatwiboon accompanied the forty-six students on the cultural exchange visit. 

MSU recognises the important social dimension of sharing art, music and cultural expression between students of different nationalities. 

Students may not speak the same language but enjoy sharing cultural elements of art, dance and music.

A highlight of the visit was a spectacular evening of performances of both Thai and Chinese traditional music and dance.

The goodwill visit is part of the continuing cultural exchange program between MSU and Guangxi University of Nationalities.

5TH EDUCATIONAL REFORM CONFERENCE IN MARCH – MSU FACULTY OF EDUCATION

MSU Faculty of Education will be co-chairing the 5^th International Conference on Educational Reform to be held in Pattaya on the 22^nd and 23^rd March this year. Other co-chairs of the conference are Savannakhet University, The National University of Laos and Hue University (Vietnam).

The theme of the two day conference is ‘Empowering People. Empowering the World.’ Keynote speakers will be Dr. David M. Fetterman from Stanford University (pictured left) and Dr. Akihito Kamata  from the University of Oregon (pictured below left). The annual conference provides an opportunity for international educators to share new theories and practices in education. 

There are a large variety of themes being covered at the conference this year. Some of these are innovation and technology in education, curriculum and learning innovation, creativity and diversity, teaching and teacher education programs, education  for minorities and at risk and marginalised students to name a few.

There are still a few days left if you wish to submit a paper for the conference. Submissions close on January 15.

The conference will be held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya on March 22 -23, 2012

Click here to go to to the ICER web site for more details. 

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 HOLDS HUGE NEW YEARS EVE PARTY

On December 29 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito on behalf of Mahasarakham University hosted a New Years Eve Party for all MSU personnel in the forecourt in front of the President’s building.

The celebration is traditionally held a few days before New Year so people can travel back to their homes to spend the New Year holidays with family.

The theme of the evening was ASEAN, promoting unity and the sharing of cultural heritage at all levels throughout the MSU community. A highlight of the evening was the competition for the best Assocaiation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) costume with many MSU personnel dressing up in traditional costumes of one of the ten ASEAN countries.

Dr. Supachai thanked all MSU personnel for their efforts this year and handed out new year’s gifts. Many prizes were won in the free raffle and all partook in an evening of plenty of fine food, fun and frivolity.

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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 SUCCESS AT WAPI PHATUM ISAN LONG DRUM FESTIVAL

Students from MSU College of Music Performing Arts Department have won the competition for best performance at the annual Isan Long Drum Festival held in Wapi Phatum from December 23 to 25. The successful MSU team was honoured for their win by the Governor of Mahasarakham.

The three day annual event is held in the district of Wapi Phatum , located about forty kilometres from Mahasarkham. The event is well known to Thai people and each year long drum bands travel from all over Isan to attend and compete.

A long drum performance is not confined only to a performance featuring the traditional Isan long drums. It also includes traditional Isan dancers. A long drum troupe can have few or many performers. There is really no limit to the numbers. Performers at the Isan Long Drum Festival are from Isan Universities, High Schools and even from members of the general population of a village.

A feature of this festival, as is similar to many other Isan festival events, is the parade of performers before meeting together at the ground on which they will perform. From the smallest villages to the largest towns, performers will start from a point some kilometres away and walk, dance, perform and generally have a fun time while parading through the village streets to where the actual event will be held. Everybody in the streets along the way turn out to watch and/or join in for a little while.

The best part is everybody is free to join in. One can walk along with the parade, join with the dancing or just sit and watch the colourful, loud and joyous procession pass by.

Isan people just enjoy enjoying themselves and are willing to share their happiness with visitors following the parade. If you are a tourist with a camera you receive many invitations to join in with the fun in the parade or to stop and snack with people sitting watching the parade pass. It leads to much local fun and frivolity when a foreigner stops for a quick bite of som tam (spicy papaya salad) and some sticky rice.

In typical Isan hospitality style it is your choice whether you dance, eat, sit and watch or even find a shady spot somewhere for a quick catnap... and this is just for the parade which may be likened to a warm up event before the serious enjoyment of watching the long drum performances at the main venue. Even though this parade passed mainly through the main streets of Nong Saeng, the hospitality is the same as in any small Isan village when a festival parade is held.

Hospitality and welcoming is not confined solely to Isan culture, but when combined with the excitement and liveliness of Isan music and dance in a traditional parade, makes for a truly unique Isan cultural experience. Unfortunately many tourists visiting Thailand miss out because they do avail themselves of the opportunity to travel to the north east and experience the wonders of traditional Isan culture.

Congratulations to the successful long drum performers from MSU with special thanks to MSU College of Music Performing Arts teachers Mr. Sarawut Chotijamrat and Mr. Kedsiri Noknoi for their hard work in preparing the MSU performers. We look forward to seeing you defend your title in twelve months time.