Thursday December 23, 2021 at 15:00 p.m. – Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University presided over the 12/2021 meeting of the Strategic Committee of Khon Kaen University, with KKU administrators attending, at Sarasin Room, 2nd Floor, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University and online through ZOOM.
The important agenda of the meeting included, for instance, preparation for the external auditing of 2020, presentation of the launching event for the mass transportation system in KKU, progress reports of flagship projects, such as Medical Hub, KKU ERP Project, KKU Park and Campus Village, presented by Asst. Prof. Arwut Yimtae, Vice President for Infrastructure and Environment; and the report of Spin-off Company Project presented by Prof. Monchai Duangchinda, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Prof. Thidarat Boonmars, Ph.D., Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise. There was a progress report on Global Frontier Company by Prof. Monchai Duangchinda, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Nawarat Wara-Aswapati Charoen, Ph.D., Vice President for International Affairs.
KKU President revealed that 4 issues were discussed today. The first was on reinventing the University. Since KKU is carrying out the Global and Frontier Research Project, there have been continuous discussions and a seminar at Khao Yai between the University Council and the administrators on the implementation plans that would lead to the set objectives.
“Principally, we discussed quality development for research works, particularly the Quartile Score research group, the Q1 group or the top 25 % or the T1 group or the top 10%. There were also discussions on developing new programs that are demanded in the country, as well as teacher development and building of networks for research collaboration at an international level.”
KKU plans to grow hemp and cannabis intensively in 2022 on plantations totaling 50 rais.
“The second issue was the following up of the 4 flagship projects, under the promise made by the relevant administrators to the University Council: 1) the construction work of the Medical Hub, which has been delayed because of shortage of labor. However, this is common when compared to other projects. Usually there should be over 400 workers, but only 300 over have been recruited, and as a result, the work progress is slow. We are trying to get more workers now. 2) The ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning system, or the organizational administration system. This system is under the stage of development of the terms of references for the contract, which is expected to be completed in January, 2022. 3) The KKU Park and Campus Village Project or a project for construction of student and staff dormitories. This is still under the stage of setting the terms of references for contracting the private sector to co-invest. 4) The extension of KKU research outcomes towards a commercial basis. There are two key projects under this, the battery project and the hemp and cannabis plantation. It is good news that the battery factory, which is the prototype 2-megawatt battery factory, has a capacity to produce 2 batches per day. We have already received adequate orders. Therefore, we are thinking of expanding the factory to 100 megawatts in the future. As for hemp and cannabis growing, we plan to grow them intensively next year, on an area of roughly 50 rais. This size of plantations would have the capacity for producing 1,500 kilograms of extracts that is worth hundreds of million baht. There is another project on establishing a Holding Company of the University, in which we will co-invest with the private sector to manufacture a number of products.
Another agendum was the launching of mass transportation on campus. Now, it is going to be fully electric. There is only little obstacle about registration with the Transportation Department. The new mass transportation system is expected to begin in the second week of January next year.
The last agendum was the preparation for receiving external quality auditing by the Office of Higher Education Commission. The preparation work for this will start next week.”
