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.

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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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

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 PRIMARY SCHOOL - GOING STRONG, BEING CREATIVE

On September 10 a large contingent of parents, teachers and students from MSU Demonstration Primary School travelled to Central Plaza shopping center in Khon Khaen where the students competed in futsal and tug of war competitions.

Tug of war competitions are immensely popular in Thailand and can be classed as a showcase event at all and any sports days held, whether at kindergarten level, between faculties at colleges or universities or even at veteran age competitions. They inevitably draw a large crowd and in true Thai style the spirit of the competitors enjoying themselves overshadows who wins and who loses the event.

Still, we must give credit where credit is due. MSU Primary School kindergarten tug of war team successfully defended their champions title won the previous year and should be justifiably proud of their efforts.

On September 13 Director of Mahasarakham Primary School, Associate Professor Dr. Maliwan, presented the winning kindergarten tug of war champions to guests at the opening of an exhibition showing early academic works of students from the school.

The two day exhibition was to show works created by young students not only of paintings but also artwork, objects and toys created from natural materials. The concept of the exhibition is to illustrate to parents and others the abilities of the youngsters to be creative and inventive in their work at an early age.

Students also partook in cooking and baking classes on the first day of the exhibition. The primary school student’s projects and creations aims to encourage positive social, intellectual and emotional development from an early age.

POST FROM MSU BUSINESS SCHOOL

It is wonderful to see members of MSU Faculties reading this blog. It is even more wonderful to see this first ever faculty contribution to our blog. Below is a post from the Mahasarakham University Business School (Faculty of Accountancy and Management). We are hoping other MSU faculties will take up the challenge to send us posts about news from their faculty so we can share it in the blogoshere.

On Thursday, July 21^st 2554 Mahasarakham Business School held a yearly ceremony to gratitude the teachers and providing scholarships to outstanding students in academic year 2554 at the university’s sport building.

The objective of the event is to let students to respect and gratitude teachers whom have endowed their knowledge and have equipped them with talents. Also, to encourage the students in all program to successfully achieve their goals throughout their four years of education. Additionally, it is also to inherit and maintain the faculty’s valuable ceremony and promoting ethical behavior and gratitude to the students.

MSU CHORUS PERFORMS AT ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC

On August 7 students from the MSU College of Music performed at the Royal College of Music in Bangkok. The one hundred and twenty strong MSU Chorus brought the house down with their animated Esan chorus performance, accompanied by a single piano.

Not surprisingly, instead of the usual choral performance where the choir simply ‘stands and delivers’ the ensemble introduced animation and elements of traditional Esan dance into the medley. One feels it would be almost impossible to create the performance in any other way. Esan people love to sing and when they sing they must dance.

"Raising the flag, yellow-gray soils together with my loyal yet. Becoming eternal love” are some of the words contained in the medley. The love of Thailand, the yellow grey soils of the Esan landscape and for their fellow Esan people are amply illustrated in these few words and were brought to life in the performance.

Any person familiar with the northeast of Thailand would instantly be able to identify with the passion and feelings expressed in the performance. Writing teacher and coach Dr. Sayan Pachar’m and the MSU Chorus are to be congratulated on their hard work and commitment in the creation of such a fine performance.

It is strongly suggested you gather some friends around your computer, click on the video link, turn up the volume and enjoy the performance

Click here to see pictures

Click here to see the video

 Pictures and video courtesy Cokefresh ตากล้องป๊อกแป๊ก

Anybody  wishing to provide more information can do by making a comment on this post. It will be edited into the main post.

PERFECT SETTING FOR TRADITIONAL LEARNING

On July 22 a new cultural and social sharing program was introduced by the MSU Museum. Every Friday at 11 am at the MSU Historical Village Museum students, staff and the general public are invited to come along to a place where they can sit down and informally chat with elders.

The aim is to share wisdom in a traditional way with participants meeting together and speaking with their elders to gain knowledge and wisdom. The weekly sessions will include subjects such as traditional food preparation, astrology, Thai massage and knowledge of herbs. There will also be plays and music performed at various times.

The program provides an opportunity for all participants to share in and learn traditional wisdom in a traditional way. Naturally no meetings such as these would be complete without the sharing of traditional Isan foods such as som tam, sticky rice and lotus seeds while speaking together.

The Mahasarakham Historical Village has full size traditional Isan houses and is a perfect setting in which to host such a program. Anybody living in Mahasarakham interested in attending can make contact through the comments section at the bottom of this post.

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

MSU COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Many faculties and divisions at Mahasarakham University are very actively involved with local communities. It is a firm policy of MSU to create an atmosphere of community involvement whether it is through bringing education to farmers or local businesses, offering the services of the faculty/division to help provide solutions for improvements or simply having students go out to a school or community site to clean up, paint or beautify an area through tree planting.

Many of these smaller, and not so small projects, which create engagement between local communities and Mahasarakham University go un-noticed and/or un-reported.

This is typical of the Isaan culture whereby all members of a community pitch in to help each other out without   expectation of self recognition or gain in return. Of course, in Isaan the wheel turns and the help will be returned, albeit not immediately nor directly.

If you spend time in north east Thailand you cannot help but notice this strength of community through common spirit of each helping the other.

It can be argued the MSU policy of involvement in community is not due to any PC directive, it is simply a natural extension of the Isaan culture and way of life.

Below are just two examples of the links being forged between MSU and local communities. 

Firstly, on June 18 MSU Faculty of Education students travelled to Nong Kham District in nearby Kantarawichai to brighten up one of the schools. Walls and fences were painted, rubbish was cleared, grass was cut and a general cleanup all round. Students and the general public from the village also got involved.

Secondly, on June 26 at Tha Khon Yang, also in the Kantarawichai District, a community workshop was held for students to meet with community leaders, the local school Director and the general public.

Organised through the office of MSU Division of Student Affairs Vice President Dr Sujin Butdisuwan and accompanied by MSU students, the workshop provides for a future where MSU students will work together with the local school and community to provide active community service and environmental development. On this visit eighty-four trees were planted to honour HM King Bhumibol.

Students also walked through the village speaking with local residents to raise awareness of the need for communities to combat mosquito larvae breeding.

As is usual at most Isaan gatherings, there was a traditional music and dance performance. 

BEAUTY AND SKIN | PATTAYA MAIL

Mahasarakham University’s forward-looking president, Asst Prof Supachai Samappito, records that “Usually, you elevate silkworms in ‘Jor’, as the large, round, prosaic bamboo trays are called in Thai, and the small creatures turn their cocoons in them. Researchers after that detected that if the silkworms are placed on  ....... full story on this link  Beauty And Skin | Pattaya Mail

FRESHY DAY AND FRESHY NIGHT 2011

On June 25 the culmination of orientation proceedings for freshmen and women at Mahasarakham University was celebrated with Freshy Day and Freshy Night.

Fun events were held at many faculties all over the campus and when night came all gathered together in the MSU gymnasium for a gala evening which included an address by MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito, traditional music and dance performances, joint games and activities and the much awaited selection of male and female Freshy of 2011.

 In his address Dr. Supachai told students to have pride in their identity, not only as students of MSU but also within themselves; to make sure they are mindful of cultural values and community and not to fear expressing themselves in a creative way with their contemporary senior staff and students. He also asked students to be aware there are many activities available on campus in which they can participate to relieve the stress from studying.  

As with many functions held at MSU, the glitz, glamour and quality of the entertainment on the night would rival any seen in Las Vegas

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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

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

SONGKRAN AT MAHASARAKHAM UNIVERSITY

Songkran ceremonies and celebrations are held early at MSU as many students travel to their respective homes for the official holiday to the nineteen Isan Provinces from which MSU draws its students.

 MSU President Dr. Supachai Samappito led a full day of Songkran ceremonies and festivities which were celebrated on April 8. Commencing at 7 am Dr.Supachai, MSU Executives and many others visited the City Pillar and then the Buddha at the MSU Northeastern Arts and Culture centre for a bathing ceremony.

At noon there was a merit making ceremony held in the grounds of the President’s Building. which preceded a grand parade followed by a full afternoon of entertainment, festivities and competitions. There was a beauty competition, popularity competition, dancing competition and a talent quest.

It is times such as these the full kindness, joy of life and welcoming attitude of Isan people is exemplified.

For any foreigner these goings on seem all very delightful and surprising while at the same time very strange so it is natural to feel a little out of place. Isan people soon make you feel comfortable and at ease as you are gently invited to participate in all ceremonies and festivities.

You do not feel excluded in the religious merit making ceremonies. You are invited to participate and are not ridiculed if you make a faux pas. You can join in with the parade and you can join in the dancing no matter how awkward your style. Isan people, both male and female, sing and dance from the time they are born and the exuberance and pure joy of the celebration combined with the loud and lively traditional and modern Isan music make it almost impossible for one not to join in and share the wonderful feelings.

The breathtaking beauty and colour of the traditional costumes, the adrenalin of the non-stop loud music, the elegance of movement accompanied by ubiquitous smiles make the Songkran festivities an unforgettable experience. A celebration of this kind should be on everybody’s ‘Things to Experience In My Lifetime’ list. ...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