July 20, 2020 at the Golden Jubilee Conference Center of Khon Kaen University– Khon Kaen University by Division of Student Development and Alumni Relation held a welcoming ceremony for the 57th class of freshmen of academic year 2020. The ceremony was creatively arranged following the ‘new normal’ style. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the University Council gave a congratulating and welcoming address followed by a special talk. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University congratulated and welcomed the new students. The occasion was also joined by members of the University Council, the University and Faculty administrators, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Alumni Association, all welcoming new students under the warm atmosphere. Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts provided special performances of stage: “Drum Show for the Auspicious Occasion” and “Welcoming the new Karapruek Bouquet (new group of students)” which were beautiful and extravagant.
Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee said in his welcoming address, “On behalf of Khon Kaen University, I congratulate the new freshmen of the 57th class, or the new ‘Kalapruek bouquet’ to the community of Khon Kaen University, which is a good community, full of good social relationship. Khon Kaen University is an institute to which a lot of students want to study. This year, we can only enroll 8,187 students, 63% of them are females and 37% are males. The students are presently the Generation Z, or people who use the Internet and have grown up with mobile phone. The mobile phone has become a vital part of your life. You have also grown with many facilities around you. You are able to use different technologies and learn them very quickly. You can also learn things by yourselves and do everything on your own. The obvious change and evolution in digital force Khon Kaen University to be prepared to accommodate the education for the Gen Z. We are prepared for the digital-age learning. We place the importance on building people with optimal knowledge and skills, people who are ready to face changes and all uncertainties, people who can create the environment that brings quality of life, people who will live in a good environment. Thus, besides knowledge and competence and good consciousness, Khon Kaen University also has to build spirit of the students and KKU folks so that all will in turn bring benefits to the community and society.”
Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee ended, “Since it is going to be a long period that the students will be the digital citizens, Khon Kaen University therefore aims at building a complete digital society for you, not a spiritless Cyborg. Khon Kaen University will be an entire digital city. The year 2020 will be the year when all are under the COVID-19 administration framework. Our ways of life and practices will not be normal as we are in a highly changeable situation. So Khon Kaen University promises that we will take the best care of KKU community. In this respect, I ask you to cooperate. I know we will struggle together to pass through COVID-19. Again, I welcome the 57th Kalapruek of 2020. I wish you all success in your studies and live happily in KKU, build valuable memories, and build a good future that will bring benefits to yourselves, your family, society, and the country.”
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said, “On behalf of Khon Kaen University, I congratulate you on the first step towards your success and welcome you all to our glorious institution, the first university of the Northeast. The orientation and Bai Sri Su Khwan for the 57th class freshmen 202 today is another activity to welcome the freshmen. The event is held creatively to build love and pride of the institution, and the sense of belonging in your mind. I ask all of you to be proud of yourselves for being a new student of KKU. You are competent and have a good chance to enter a leading university of the country. Once the student’s life begins, besides dedicating to your studies, you have to adjust to the environment and the social world that keep changing. Studying at a university level differs greatly from school. There is a feeling that a university student’s life is free and no discipline or regulations to control you. But in reality, the freedom there is the discipline everyone must hold on to and learn how to manage your student’s life towards the highest goal based on the academic timeframe. Students must also be able to apply the knowledge, the thinking development and learning obtained from the university for the utmost benefits for yourselves and the society. So spend your time here worthfully. Build good conscience in caring the society and the environment, be a person who has good moral and ethics. Progress towards being a quality graduate, ready to work, being wanted in the society, and ready to adjust yourselves in the Education Transformation era. I wish all new students success and happiness, having strong body and mind, and I hope you will pay good attention to the study and complete your program as expected.”
The “Welcome Freshmen to KKU” was under the responsibility of Division of Student Development and Alumni Relation, led by Mrs. Paphakorn Dolprasit, Director of the Division. The orientation ceremony of the newcoming students was organized according to the ‘new normal’ – all students registered to the event had to pass the screening point and wear a mask. Shuttle buses were arranged to transfer students to the Golden Jubilee Conference Center. There, there was the second screening point that regulated practices according to the standards observed during the COVID-19 situation. In order to reduce crowdedness, there were 2 sessions of orientation that seated 1,500 students each. Thus, broadcast of the orientation was conducted online for those who were not able to attend in person. The students can accumulate their activity credit from the activity.
All activities Khon Kaen University organizes take into account the safety of all students to lessen the parents’ worries. The parents should be released and allow your children to live in a new place, meet friends and lecturers, be in a new environment, a new learning system and a new lifestyle so that the students will be ready for the future, will be a quality graduate and mighty for the future country’s development.
News: Wachara Noichompoo
