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RMUTT Social Engagement: Generating Income for Communities and Societies and Conducting Field Work and Knowledge Sharing
“The university is a part of the community and society, and the community and society within and nearby the university is a part of the university” are words from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasert Pinprathomrat, RMUTT President, whom stated RMUTT’s role in engagement with the society. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasert Pinprathomrat said that as RMUTT develops, it ‘cultivates good seeds’ to transfer knowledge from one generation to another by focusing on producing professional students based on the foundation of science, technology, and innovation. By undertaking social engagement activities, RMUTT has assigned each faculty to conduct field work in each community. RMUTT has been involved with communities for more than 10 years through knowledge sharing, research, and innovation. The objective of helping communities is not to change their way of living, but to raise the standard of living through knowledge sharing. Additionally, students participated in activities, a way to develop soft skills and increase self-awareness and generosity in society.
To exemplify, a project that RMUTT completed to help society was by improving the quality of life in Pathum Thani province’s Bueng Ka Sam’s seventh community. RMUTT’s Faculty of Science and Technology conducted field research using biological inventions from various antagonistic fungi. The biological inventions were used in palm rice fields and were also part of knowledge services to optimize agricultural production as well as investigate the differences in using various chemicals, resulting in a reduction of investment from THB 5,000/rai to THB 1,700-2,000/rai, and one rai/one ton of grain quality that is not flat.
Moreover, RMUTT also organized a project to transfer knowledge about Thai herbs to Bo Ngern community, Soontharomettaprachasan School, and Bo Ngern Health Promoting Hospital in Lat Lum Kaeo district, Pathum Thani province. The project offered training to build sustainable businesses related to health and beauty, such as developing tamarind cream using the AHA formula, pomelo extract inhaler, facial compress ball, and Phlai water, to create jobs and increase the value of herbs within the community. Furthermore, both projects were part of a larger project to commemorate the 60th birthday of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and improve the quality of life for the overall village and community.
The Technology and Communications project to create and share media to young audiences is a part of the “Teaching for specific purposes” course in the Faculty of Technical Education. The course encourages students to have a volunteer mindset and know the value of “giving” by requiring students to produce a form of media using 3 H: 1. Head (using one’s own thinking), 2. Heart (doing with the heart), and 3. Hands (doing with the hands). Students will have to plan and initiate their project, separate roles and responsibilities, and most importantly, produce media by themselves. Their work will be donated to schools that lack relevant media sources needed for teaching.
“The role of RMUTT Social Engagement and the society is to generate income for communities and societies. Once communities and societies have earned enough income to contribute to economic growth, RMUTT expects them to share and exchange knowledge, including problems they have faced as case studies for students. Additionally, RMUTT wants students to join various projects to foster a volunteer mindset and know the value of “giving.” Besides creating jobs and generating income for communities and societies, RMUTT plans to aid communities and societies in terms of environmental improvements, such as developing a city and societal plan, environmental health plan, and promote social engagement through community integration. RMUTT will also continuously organize short-term training courses at RMUTT for communities” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasert Pinprathomrat.
