On March 24, 2025, Khon Kaen University kicked off its innovative “First Step to Becoming a Higher Education Lecturer” program, welcoming over 70 new faculty members and staff. The initiative, unveiled at Sirikunakorn Room 3 in the Sirikunakorn Building at the Office of the President, was presided over by Asst. Prof. Dr. Pattarawit Polpinit, Vice President for Human Resources, with Mr. Satit Kaewbudta, Director of the Human Resources Division, providing an overview of the program.
“This program equips our new colleagues with essential knowledge about KKU’s direction, policies, regulations, and benefits,” explained Asst. Prof. Dr. Pattarawit during his opening address. “Beyond professional development, we’re fostering a collaborative network among different faculties and disciplines while instilling core KKU values and culture that will help participants develop their potential and drive our institution toward its goals.”
The comprehensive program is divided into two key parts:
On-Campus Activities: These include orientation sessions introducing the university’s philosophy, direction, values, and expectations for new lecturers. Workshops focus on creating personal development plans and career advancement pathways, complemented by networking and team-building activities at the Sirikunakorn Building.
Off-Campus Activities: Scheduled from March 26-28, 2025, in Buriram Province, these include workshops on designing curricula and teaching under new learning paradigms, techniques for assessing learning outcomes, and providing feedback, alongside recreational activities and team-building exercises.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vispat Chaichuay, Assistant Dean for Future Graduate Studies at the Graduate School, elaborated on the program’s unique approach: “We’ve organized participants into village-named groups such as Ban Pradoo, Ban Nong Waeng, and Ban Mitrapap, each with members from different faculties, disciplines, and age groups. These connections will foster research collaboration and consulting opportunities among professionals who will likely remain with KKU for the next 30 years, creating a vital force that will shape our university’s future.”
