Monday July 25, 2022 – Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D. Vice President for Education and Academic Service; Dr. Chaipong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Managing Director of SCiUS-KKU; Assoc. Prof. Sumalee Chaijaroen, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Education, KKU administrators, school administrator and staff under the SCiUS-KKU Project, joined to welcome the delegation from the Office of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation led by Mrs. Watanasophee Suksa-ad, a specialist in policy and planning from OPS – MHESI (who came to visit and follow-up science classroom at Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Secondary Section (Mo Dindaeng) and Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Secondary Section (Faculty of Education)), at Sirikunakorn Rm 3, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University.
From Left: Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D. Vice President for Education and Academic Service; Mrs. Watanasophee Suksa-ad, a specialist in policy and planning from OPS – MHESI
The SCiUS-KKU Project is a collaborative project between Khon Kaen University and KKU Demonstration School under the support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. MHESI supports the project in terms of programs and instruction for the high school students with special abilities in science, technology and innovation. The end result will be the increase of manpower who will become scientists, researchers, technologists and innovators with high potentiality.
The SCiUS-KKU Project answers the national development both in the concept and direction of the Government’s policies. The Government has issued and announced the National Education Plans (2017-2036), with the vision: “All Thai people are educated and learn all through the life with quality and live happily”. This is in accordance with the principle of sufficiency economy philosophy and the change of the 21st Century and also in line with Khon Kaen University’s Strategic Plans (2020-2023) to become a world’s leading Research and Development University. The Objective and Key Results (OKRs) have been used to set the organizational directions with the transfer of the key results to the various working units affiliated with Khon Kaen University. The administration of the Faculty of Education according to the Strategic Plans 2020-2023 comprises 3 major pillars: 1 Academy Transformation, 2) Ecology Transformation, and 3) Spiritual Transformation. This is in line with the setting of the target outcomes according to the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) of Khon Kaen University. The science classrooms of Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Secondary Section (Mo Dindaeng) have received the standard for educational quality assurance of the basic education by the Office of Education Standard and Quality Assurance (Public Organization). There are 3 standards and one standard for a demonstration school. The objective key results (OKRs) have been set as the indicators to explain or reflect the achieving of vision of the school.
All through the first 5-year period of the implementation of science classrooms at the demonstration schools under the supervision of Khon Kaen University (2008-2012), and the second 10-year period (2013-2022), the schools have created quality students with academic and research excellence. These students will become the key power of the country in the development of science and technology. This can be seen from outstanding works of the students in the project, proving their very good academic achievements and outstanding academic outcomes. The students’ average O-NET scores are higher than the averages of the country in all subjects. The students in the general science-mathematics program and the potential promotion program of the school have received academic knowledge, used the advanced scientific laboratory and the experiment tools received from the Project’s budget. They have used the smart classroom and modern technologies allocated through the SCiUS-KKU project. The students’ skills and abilities in science at the regional, national and international levels have been witnessed, resulting in over 80% able to continue their education at the undergraduate level in science and technology.
The third stage SCiUS-KKU project (2021-2040) that will be signed for continued collaboration sets the target to receive 60 students/year to the program in 2 classrooms, one each at Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Secondary Section (Mo Dindaeng) and Khon Kaen University Demonstration School, Secondary Section (Faculty of Education). The program will be adjusted to meet the global change, and the aim is to produce innovators according to the identity of the students and the missions of the schools. There will be supplementary activities both in and out of classrooms that will train the students with the skills for the 21st Century. It is expected that the outcomes and impacts to the society will be positive so that the development of the instruction in science, mathematics, and technology will be applied in other schools, enabling students in other programs to be able to use the media and the various resources with the students in the project. Hence, the instruction of science, mathematics, and technology will be upgraded, leading to strong academic environment and benefits to the society as a whole.
News: Watchara Noichompoo
Photos: Watchara Noichompoo and Suktawee Khlangtrakoon
[Thai]
