KKU organizes workshop on sustainable development of new educational paradigm – Education for All – building equity and lessening social gaps in Thailand

Owing to the United Nation’s educational concept for sustainable development – education is the root of sustainable development – the implementation plans are to be connected between the millennium goal for primary education, especially for girls and the operational framework of Education for All, which aims at enhancing educational equity for males and females at all levels and for all forms of education: formal, nonformal, and informal. The purpose is for the underprivileged to have access to education as education will lead to sustainable development.

On August 26, 2020 at the Theater of Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts – Khon Kaen University by the Education and Academic Service Section organized a workshop on sustainable development of new educational paradigm. Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service conveyed an opening address. The event was honored to have honorable speakers, including Khun Mechai Viravaidya, a former Minister of Office of Prime Minister, President of Population and Community Development Association, and Chairman of Mechai Viravaidya Foundation and Dr. Kritsanapong Kiratikorn, President of HRH Maha Chakri Award Foundation. Over 300 administrators, lecturers, staff, and students attended both onsite and online via YOUTUBE LIVE.

Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service

Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service explained that the New Education Paradigm Development Project answers UN’s issue of sustainable development, both regarding the 4th goal to build the assurance that everyone has access to quality education and chances for life-long learning is enhanced; and the 10th goal to lessen inequality in the country and between countries. This workshop helped to raise awareness in education for sustainable development and support the growth of Khon Kaen University according to the national and the university’s strategic plans.

“Education at present is not like before. There are a lot of differences. Sustainable development as stipulated by UN is a challenging issue. We have been attempting to understand education system written on paper that has been sent from Ministry to schools and to teachers. Students do not feel they want to learn this way, but they are forced to. Thus, it is time to reform education. This is, however, not simple. I myself have struggled over this for 30 years: ten years in the Innovation Development Project, ten years in regional network expansion, and another 10 in developing the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN. I’m still working on them now, under the notion that if you are to develop the thinking process, then you have to place importance on Thailand Education Model,” the Vice President for Education and Academic Service said.

The New Education Paradigm Development Project is one mission of Khon Kaen University that is conducted for the society and community according to the sustainable development criteria of the United Nation (Sustainable Development Goals: SDGs), which have been implemented continuously. The Education and Academic Service Sector sees the importance of this and thus aims for developing human that is similar to a driving machine, which will lead to achievements of various goals. This corresponds to the first strategy of KKU in Education Transformation – the second stratagem to develop new programs according to social needs, programs for all age ranges, and life-long learning programs; the 4th strategy in Academic Service Transformation – the first stratagem to enhance existing academic services so that they will continue more effectively, reiterating the Mindset of Social Devotion. Khon Kaen University has long been in the frontier of social responsibilities with many social development projects.

The New Education Paradigm Development Project featured special talks on “Education Transformation: Transformation of Education Paradigm to Lessen Social Gaps” by Khun Mechai Viravaidya, President of Population and Community Development Association and a former Minister of Office of Prime Minister; “Direction for Human Resource Development in the 21st Century under SDGs” by Dr. Kritsanapong Kiratikorn, President of HRH Maha Chakri Award Foundation’ and “Collaboration of Universities and Schools for Education Quality Development under SDGs” by Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service. There were various exhibitions related to the New Education Paradigm Development Project at the event.

Follow the event at” You tube Live – The New Education Paradigm Development Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTVW2Tmwzr4

         

https://www.kku.ac.th/7776