SPU unites the new generation, Youth Volunteers Phase 2
Continue the “BangBua Community Platform”
Strengthening communities
From the 20-year National Strategy Plan (2018-2037), it is specified that the creation of competitiveness is one of the national strategies. Issues related to promoting and supporting to develop the potential of small entrepreneurs or small businesses by developing the economy based on new-age entrepreneurs who have the skills and spirit of being entrepreneurs with competitiveness leading to smart entrepreneurs by drawing power from all sectors, both the private sector, civil society and local communities, to jointly drive development and reduce economic and social inequality.
Dr. Natthaya Triphala, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Faculty of Business Administration, Sripatum University, as one of the advisors of the BangBua Community Platform project, revealed that higher education is considered the heart of driving the national strategy because it is the heart of the development of the country’s human resources. The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has a clear policy on higher education to create and develop Thai people into the 21st century, promote lifelong learning, drive the new higher education curriculum to be in line with future careers, create new graduates for the new world of the 21st century, and drive the development of future skills in a tangible way, including using the potential of higher education institutions to drive government policies by integrating economic policies, the BCG Model, to transform the country with wisdom from the grassroots and increase the capabilities of local communities.
Therefore, it is the origin of supporting and promoting the integration of teaching and learning in educational institutions with real work practices, reducing the study time in the classroom, focusing on real practice so that students can gain experience directly according to their field of study and the knowledge they are learning, with the community as a base for applying professional knowledge in the field of study to practice (Community-based Learning Program: CBL) through projects that respond to the problems and needs of the community area (Area-based) and focusing on the results of solving problems in poverty, inequality and quality of life problems that affect the development of the community systematically and tangibly in a sustainable manner.
Dr. Natthaya further revealed that Sripathum University is aware of this importance.
Therefore, the MOU was signed with the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (OSHE) under the Youth Volunteer Project Phase 2 in 2021. OSHE has approved Sripathum University to be a driving unit (EB) for the Youth Volunteer Project Phase 2 and approved the implementation of a total of 4 projects, such as the New Community Innovation Platform Creation Project for Learning and Tourism Promotion (Maitrichit Model), the Talat Phlu Gastronomy District Community Creation Project, Thonburi District, Bang Bua Community Platform Project, and the Product Value Development and Addition Project for International Markets, Talat Phlu Community, Bangkok.
For the “BangBua Community Platform” project, it has already begun by gathering the power of the new generation to create strength for the community. Students from 3 faculties and 2 colleges, namely, the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Accountancy, the Faculty of Information Technology, the College of Logistics and Supply Chain, and Sripatum International College, have started the project by going to the area to survey and take photos to collect data on shops in the Bang Bua Community Housing Estate 4 times, which has been very well received by the parents and siblings of the shops in the Bang Bua Community Housing Estate. The information of the shops will be used to develop the community’s shop database.
In addition, the most recent visit was to meet with Mr. Chan Charoensri, President of Bang Bua Community Housing, Ms. Sumalai Termkiatphaiboon, and Ms. Supiya Thongkaew, volunteers of the Bangkok Book House, Bang Bua Community Housing, to report on the results of the project. The student team brought a sample project logo for consideration. After meeting and talking, Mr. Chan led the students and lecturers to visit the area to collect more information on the shops and made an appointment for the shops to take photos for further public relations.
