KKU Sweeps Four Awards as COLA and CP Students Win National Geo-Hazard Management Innovation Championship

27 April 2026
10:47

Khon Kaen University students have made history on the national stage, with teams from the College of Local Administration (COLA) and the College of Computing (CP) securing four prestigious awards, including first place, at the “Decoding Innovation for Sustainable Geo-Hazard Management Policy” competition, held in Bangkok on 21 April 2026.

On 21 April 2026, students from the College of Local Administration (COLA) participated in the national innovation competition, “Decoding Innovation for Sustainable Geo-Hazard Management Policy.” The event was organised by the Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the National Innovation Agency (NIA), and held at the Thammasat Association under the Royal Patronage in Bangkok. Mr. Yongyuth Nagaviroj, Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources, presided over the opening ceremony, which was also attended by senior executives from the Department and the NIA.

The competition, focused on innovation for geo-hazard management, consisted of three rounds. The initial phase saw over 30 teams from universities across the country apply, with only 10 advancing to the final pitching round. A joint collaboration under the “Interdisciplinary Integration between Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence” project, COLA and the College of Computing (CP) sent four teams to compete. Three of these teams ultimately won a total of four awards, as follows:

First Place: “COLA Huam Rod,” a team from the College of Local Administration, comprising (1) Mr. Khetnarin Burana and (2) Miss Nawarat Saenggla, with Assistant Professor Dr. Suriyanon Pholsim as their advisor.
First Runner-Up: “Nan AI Landslide Risk Assessment,” a team from the College of Computing, comprising (1) Mr. Woraphan Khamthanet, (2) Mr. Nattadanai Somsuay, and (3) Mr. Tinnaphat Sangna. The team was advised by Assistant Professor Dr. Suriyanon Pholsim (COLA) and Assistant Professor Dr. Vachiravudh Dhammavised (CP).
Second Runner-Up: “COLA Z-Board,” a team from the College of Local Administration, comprising (1) Miss Pichapa Wongchan, (2) Miss Ratanakorn Chasanthia, and (3) Miss Siriyakorn Chokla, with Assistant Professor Dr. Suriyanon Pholsim as their advisor.
Best Data Insight Award: Awarded to the “Nan AI Landslide Risk Assessment” team from the College of Computing.

Following the competition, the students’ innovations attracted significant interest from both the National Innovation Agency (NIA) and the Department of Mineral Resources. Both organisations expressed their intent to explore support for further developing these projects into practical applications that align with the Department’s geo-hazard management mission.

The team advisor, Assistant Professor Dr. Suriyanon Pholsim, stated that he would discuss pathways to advance these innovations with the College of Local Administration, following recommendations from the Department of Mineral Resources and the NIA. He also extended his gratitude to both COLA and CP for their support and for establishing the collaborative teaching and learning programme that merges their respective disciplines. He emphasised that the national recognition received by the students is a direct result of this interdisciplinary approach.

“This is proof that when we break down the walls between disciplines, our KKU students can create the innovations our country truly needs,” remarked Assistant Professor Dr. Suriyanon Pholsim, advisor to all three winning teams.