Bangkok--29 Jul--Office of Knowledge Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education (NFE) in gearing knowledge nationwide in accordance with Govt’s policies Education Minister and Finance Minister witnessed the M.O.U. signing to inaugurate Knowledge Center Project pushing forward creations of prototypes nationwide. Local administrative bodies are encouraged to enter this Knowledge Center penetration to grass root communities. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat together with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee were honorable witnesses at the Memorandum-of-Understanding (M.O.U.) signing ceremony between the Ministry of Education and the Office of Knowledge Management and Development (OKMD) for the Knowledge Center Project launch on July 25, 2008 at the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC). This collaboration is intended to develop existing public libraries of the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education into innovative knowledge resource centers for the locals that are equipped with modern learning technology and media. In addition, insertion of new knowledge content and localized knowledge-based activities that are directly linked to local occupations will encourage people to spend more time delightfully in these Knowledge Centers. OKMD is expecting new in-depth occupation-related knowledge to help develop professional skills, and increase domestic income to the local communities. “One very important national policy of this government is the creation and passing on knowledge to bring better living standards to every walk of life through easily accessible knowledge sources. In achieving so, domestic skills need to be improved, leading to better quality of products and services. The completion of Knowledge Center prototypes will be significant triggering milestones paving the way for local administrative bodies, from provincial down to sub-district levels, to carry on the project with adaptation of local intellect and to spread out nationwide” said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee. The Knowledge Center Project is under the cooperative management between OKMD and the Ministry of Education, covering two core areas, one is the development of provincial public libraries into Knowledge Centers, and the other is the customization of activities based on each and every local area. Under the concept of digestive knowledge, public libraries will be developed for easy self-learning and equipped with new, specialized content that are relevant for local products and services development. Collections of local intellect along with creative activities will help inspire and create local innovations that harmonize well with global market needs. Localized activities are programmed to induce both self-learning and knowledge-based creativity among local communities. Knowledge Centers will offer knowledge consultation and assistance in research studies, seminars, workshops, lectures, exhibitions, etc. Budgeting for Knowledge Center Project is funded by OKMD while human resource development on this project is a joint effort. Practical information on management of Knowledge Centers will be transferred and exchanged among operational personnel of the two parties for one year, before the official handover of the centers to the Ministry of Education. “What we would like to see after the completion of this project is that locals use Knowledge Centers to gain more income from the knowledge and skills acquired. Production standards are uplifted, bringing more secondary sources of income, and strengthening the local economy. All of this aligns with the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education’s policy. Efficiency is assured with two organizations that are experienced in their fields join hands” said Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Somchai Wongsawat. At present OKMD is comprised of internal departments such as the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC), the Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park), and the National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI — the developer of the first museum prototype called Museum of Siam). These three resource center prototypes had drawn more than one million visitors in the past year. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairperson of OKMD added “OKMD is gearing towards the development of the nation based on the Creative Economy concept. The operations of TCDC, TK Park, and Museum of Siam all promote self-learning on the creative basis. Our Knowledge Center Project combines global knowledge with local uniqueness, resulting in favorable self-learning ambience — perfectly suiting to every community and outside classroom-learning.” The Knowledge Center Project will provide digestive knowledge in 10 pioneer provinces for a start. This includes Samutprakarn, Ayuttaya, Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Prae, Nongkai, Udonthani, Ubonratchathani, Buriram and Nakornratchasima. The first Phase will commence with Chiangmai and Ubonratchathani, scheduled for public use in early 2009. The Office of Knowledge Management and Development or OKMD is a public organization under Office of the Prime Minister. It supports and promotes the development of all-branches-knowledge through a diversity of knowledge providers. It believes that up-to-the-minute knowledge will stimulate creativity and create productive innovations. It encourages more new masterpieces from the ideal knowledge-based society. A society that is accessible to modern knowledge as well as valuable Thai intellect, no matter where they are in the Thai kingdom. For more information please contact: Public Relations & Information Technology Department Office of Knowledge Management and Development (Public Organization) Chachamon Smart / Chutima Temrungsri / Thanita Sootsuwan Tel 02-264-5958-9 ext. 244 / 243 / 241 Fax 02-264-5950 www.okmd.or.th