The University of Phayao organized a training program to develop area-based competencies among its staff. The goal of this program is to strengthen their capacity to effectively work with local communities. This initiative aligns with the university's long-term objective of becoming a sustainable leader among Group 3 universities, with a focus on area-based and community engagement work.
The training was conducted in a hybrid format, with sessions taking place both onsite at Room UB001 in the 99 Years Phra Ubalee Khunupamajarn Building, and online through Microsoft Teams and Zoom. A total of 1,020 participants attended the session, including 330 onsite participants from the University of Phayao, 690 online participants, and 125 attendees from other Group 3 universities who joined via Zoom.
Organized by the Division of Human Resources, the event was officially opened by Associate Professor Dr. Supakorn Phongsabangpo, President of the University of Phayao, who also awarded area-based work support grants to university researchers. These grants aim to encourage staff to apply area-based skills in real-world community collaboration, a key competency expected at a minimum of Level 2 across all university personnel.
At the event, distinguished speakers included:
- Professor Dr. Peerapong Teekasukul, Chair of the Subcommittee on re-inventing university, who gave a keynote on "Expectations for Transforming Human Resource Management in Group 3 Pilot Universities."
- Professor Dr. Samur Thanoi, Vice President for Research and Innovation, University of Phayao, who spoke on "Developing Area-Based Personnel through SDGs and Work from Area." His session also included an interactive workshop.
- Assistant Professor Chol Bunnag, Assistant Director of SDG Move, who delivered a talk on "SDGs and Area-Based Universities: Concepts, Implementation, and Indicators."
The University of Phayao, as a Group 3 higher education institution with a core mission to drive local community development, receives support under the Proactive Human Resources Management Transformation Project for Area-Based and Community Engagement for the fiscal year 2025. The initiative aligns with the university's vision "University to Create Wisdom for Sustainable Community Development with Innovations of International Standards", and its motto "Wisdom for Community Empowerment."
This statement reflects the university's dedication to cultivating a highly knowledgeable, understanding, and skilled staff in the field of area-based approaches. This, in turn, drives sustainable and grassroots transformation within the communities it serves.