November 2, 2021 – The Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University led by Assoc. Prof. Chuchat Kamollert, D.V.M., Ph.D., the Director and Assoc. Prof. Supasit Khonyai, Ph.D., the Deputy Director for Academic Service; Mr. Tawat Ratanamontree, Director of the Administrative Division; Mr. Boonyarit Sombatlai, a member of Khon Kaen University Council; Miss Pendao Chewpimai, Head of the Academic Service Section; Mrs. Wipada Meewaew, Head of the Administration and Communications Section; and Mrs. Uangfa Wannasit, Head of the Strategic Planning and Information; held an on-stage presentation of prototype products from the Isan international Hand-Woven Material Project, which has been run under the Bureau’s in-depth supervision on product development and value adding, fiscal year 2021. The event was also the collaboration between the Academic Service Bureau and the 5th Industrial Promotion Center. It was organized both onsite at Bayasita Hotel and also online. There were 61 types of prototype materials from 7 provinces in Isan exhibited.
Assoc. Prof. Chuchat Kamollert, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of the Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University welcomed Dr. Worawit Jiratthitijaroen, Director of the 5th Industrial Promotion Center, an expert and the consultant of the project who presided over the opening ceremony. “This event is an important mission of the Academic Service Bureau that has been assigned by Khon Kaen University Council related to Lifelong Education and New Normal Instruction. The Academic Service intends to build inspiration among entrepreneurs in developing Isan hand-woven materials with identity and outstanding qualities that meet with the market demands.”
Assoc. Prof. Chuchat Kamollert, D.V.M., Ph.D., Director of the Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University
Dr. Worawit Jiratthitijaroen, Director of the 5th Industrial Promotion Center
Next, Dr. Worawit Jiratthitijaroen, Director of the 5th Industrial Promotion Center gave the opening speech. The objectives of this project, he explained, were to provide consult about development of products, increasing the values for hand woven materials, and change the formal patterns by adding something more international to the materials. The 5th Industrial Promotion Center has been working with the Academic Service Bureau of Khon Kaen University with an emphasis on value adding to products in the region. The tourism industry situation at present in the country and in the province has been affected by the spread of the disease and needs to be adjusted to meet with the new normal style of living. This means the business and tourism of Khon Kaen will be affected for a long time into the future, even though the government has announced the country opening. That may help increase the purchasing power and marketing channel, but we still have to anticipate the lone-term impact. The entrepreneurs are now trying to adjust themselves and turn more to online businesses, targeting more at an international level.
The event is a presentation stage with shows of the Isan identity hand woven textiles. The experts, including Asst. Prof. Rujirat Pattanathabut, Ph.D., a marketing expert and Vice Dean for International Affairs and Marketing of the College of Graduate Study in Management of Khon Kaen University and Ajarn Kajornrit Sirimak, an expert in product development and a lecturer of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Udonthani Rajabhat University, along with the consultation team joined in giving comments and suggestions.