On 23 October 2021, the delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation led by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Adj. Prof. Dr.Anek LaoThammatat; the Permanent Secretary of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Dr.Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D.; and the Vice Minister of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Dr. Danuch Tanterdtid paid an official visit and received a warm welcome from MFU executives led by the President of Mae Fah Luang University, Assoc. Prof. Dr.Chayaporn Wattanasiri, and the Chairman of the University Council, Adj. Prof. Dr.Vanchai Sirichana. The delegation from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation attended the project implementation report meeting and then visited a community under the University to Tambon (U2T) or the Integrated Economic and Social Enhancement Project (One Tambon One University).
MFU President reported that under the U2T project, 341 people have been employed to collect data in 15 sub-districts of Muang, Khun Tan, Chiang Khong, Mae Chan, Mae Sai, Mae Fah Luang and Wiang Pa Pao districts in Chiang Rai. The President added that 60% of communities have required a career advancement and a provision of new career opportunities. The communities have also needed food product development in order to upgrade local products complying with the new normal way of tourism. The project has successfully contributed to the development of community enterprises, local product prototypes, channels of distribution and community-based tourism. Additionally, the Chairman of Mae Fah Luang University Council stated that the U2T project helped develop new high-quality agricultural products based on the needs of each community.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation said that he was impressed by the U2T project implementation of MFU especially the value-added food processing since villagers have been satisfied with the products. The food processing has also helped students acquire knowledge and lecturers transfer knowledge to local communities. The university and the employed persons all want to continue implementing the U2T project and will further develop the products in order to export it into the international markets.
“Phase 2 of the U2T project will be the further development of Phase 1. Now, the proposal of Phrase 2 has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval. Under Phase 2, the U2T project will be extended to all 77 provinces of Thailand and focus more on 1. driving the development plan of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in five regions in order to support economic growth and 2. Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model (BCG), which is an economic model for inclusive and sustainable growth.”, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation said.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will bring together all universities to work closely for example the universities located in the northern part such as Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, etc., will join hands with the province to work on creative economy or tourism by showcasing products developed by the university-student-community cooperation under the U2T project in the new form of exhibitions. During the implementation of Phase 2, we will see the big picture of the project leading to the extension from sub-district level to provincial and regional level.
Altogether, with the widespread acceptance and excellent cooperation between the university and community, Mae Fah Luang University’s U2T project builds on the success of its implementation which resulted in the development of local products and career advancement opportunities.
