July 12, 2022 – Khon Kaen University held an official event, the Grand Opening of the College of Computing. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University delivered the reporting speech, while Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council presided over the ceremony and conveyed the opening address. Assoc. Prof. Siraphat Chiawchanwatana, Ph.D., Acting Dean of the College of Computing made the welcoming speech to the distinguished guests, the University administrators, lecturers and students, that totaled over 250 people. The event was held by Zoom and also onsite at Wittayaphas Room 1, Wittayaphas Building, Khon Kaen University.
Assoc. Prof. Siraphat Chiawchanwatana, Ph.D., Acting Dean of the College of Computing explained, “The College of Computing of Khon Kaen University performs the duty as a faculty. Formerly, it used to be a department in the Faculty of Sciences, Department of Computer Science. The Department was founded on March, 23, 1994, and 25 classes of students already received their degrees. There have also been more than 10 classes of graduates at the master’s degree and doctorate degree levels.”
“The vision, mission and policy of the College of Computing as a newly established institution are around the scope of specific knowledge in advanced computing. The College offers altogether 8 different programs at undergraduate, master’s degree and doctorate degree levels. There is a plan to open 2 more programs in 2023, namely the Artificial Intelligence program and Cyber Safety and Security program. These two programs are highly demanded in the computing market. The opening ceremony today is expected to public relate the college. The college will be working to create opportunities for the people and will be operating under the challenging dimension for institutional reputation. The activities to be held today will benefit everyone in the field of computing and will publicize the lecturers’ and students’ works in computing.”
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said in his reporting speech, “The ceremony today is held for the purpose of public relation. The college is equivalent to a faculty, and has been upgraded from the department of computer science in the Faculty of Sciences. The college was announced in the Royal Gazette on October 15, 2021 with the vision of “An international leading college that prepares graduates, carries out research work and academic services in advanced computing.”
Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council said in his opening speech, “At present, computing is challenging and is the world’s important trend. Khon Kaen University considers 4 major issues, namely: The trend of an international university is the importance of computing, and thus the college will prepare graduates that are demanded in the world, with support in terms of resources from the private and industrial sectors. Secondly, the emerging trends in computing will be significant in the next two decades, such as artificial intelligence, cyber safety and security. Thirdly, there is the political, social and economic contexts in which computerization will bring impact to the present and the future transformation. The last issue is the vision of Khon Kaen University to become the “world class leading university in research and development”. In this regard, Khon Kaen University will prepare quality graduates for the society. Computing is a global mega trend, and will principally help propel the national development, with the cyber safety and security basis, artificial intelligence basis, Internet technology, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Def, NFT, or Metaverse. In addition, there will be integration of computing to build intelligence for other sciences such as medicine, agriculture, architecture, social sciences, and arts. Therefore, it is an important leaping and proactive work towards the setting of direction of computerization.”
“Therefore, the youths should be encouraged to have the basic skill in solving problems with computer. They should be able to build their knowledge in digital. The instruction should be geared around the development of people with advanced skills and knowledge in computing who will be able to answer the needs of the governmental, private, and industrial sectors. They should possess research knowledge and advanced calculation at the frontier level, skills in inventing innovations in computerization, computing & AI innovation, cybersecurity, and other computing sciences that will assist and upgrade the society and economy of the country until there are new kinds of occupations that will answer the society in the digital world and the changes of the world under the 5.0 industrial era.”
After the opening ceremony, there was a special talk on “Digital Transformation Trend and Thailand Readiness” by Assoc. Prof. Thanachat Numnonda, Ph.D., an honorary member of the University Council. This session was followed by a forum under the topic: “The Role of Academic Institutions in Planning Manpower in Computing” by Prof. Chidchanok Luasinsap, Ph.D., from Chulalongkorn University and a Royal Scholar in the field of computing; Asst. Prof. Denpong Soodphakdee, Ph.D., Vice President for Digital, Khon Kaen University; Assoc. Prof. Siraphat Chiawchanwatana, Ph.D., Acting Dean of the College of Computing; Assoc. Prof. Chit Laowattana, Ph.D., Information Technology Administrator of the Office of Policy of the Eastern Corridor; Dr. Natthawat Hongkanjanakul, Director of the Office of Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).
The afternoon session features the introduction of the College of Computing by Asst. Prof. Nakorn Wattanakit, Ph.D., Acting Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. The guests also had a chance to visit different on-site and virtual activities such as interviewing of the alumni representatives by Asst. Prof. Sumontha Kasemwilas, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Wararat Songpaen, Ph.D., whose talk was on the road towards International Science Olympiads in the field of computing by Asst. Prof. Santi Thintanai, Ph.D., and a representative of the Olympiads Center; a talk by Prof. Marcello Bonsangue, Leiden University on “Rumor Detection Framework”; the “Smart City Innovation Challenge Using Open Geospatial Platform”; a talk on “Research in Artificial Intelligence: Perspective and Experience” by Prof. Sastra Wongthanawasu, Ph.D., and a forum on “Research Direction in Computing” by Assoc. Prof. Jakchai So-in, Ph.D.; Asst. Prof. Khamron Sunat, Ph.D.; Asst. Prof. Pipat Ruanhsaeng, Ph.D. The guests then watched the students’ presentation and innovations. In addition, students were able to apply to work with some workplaces that joined.
News: Watchara Noichompoo and Rawiporn Saisaenthong
Photos: Atthapong Hampong
