KKU Office of Academic Service and Ubol Ratana Dam Launch Integrated CSR Model to Transform Livelihoods for Vulnerable Groups

27 May 2026
17:00

Strategic partnership leverages academic expertise and industrial resources to empower persons with disabilities and the elderly in reservoir communities towards sustainable self-reliance.
The Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University (OAS KKU), in collaboration with the Northeastern Hydro Power Plant (Ubol Ratana Dam), has initiated a proactive vocational development ecosystem. By championing the “Lomai” (Wooden Wheel) artisanal group and local community products surrounding the dam, the partnership aims to generate sustainable income and restore dignity to persons with disabilities and the elderly, fulfilling the University’s mission of Social Devotion.

Synergising Resources for Enhanced Social Impact

On 27 May 2026, Associate Professor Chuchat Kamollerd, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Academic Service, led a delegation of executives to meet with Mr Channarong Janthamongkol, Director of the Northeastern Hydro Power Plant. The meeting established a framework for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and academic service collaboration targeting communities around Ubol Ratana Dam. The strategy focuses on “Resource Sharing”—combining budgets, expertise, and facilities—to maximise public benefits under the 2025–2027 strategic plan.

Artisanal and Culinary Innovation: Transforming Waste into Signature Products

Associate Professor Kamollerd revealed that KKU is prepared to provide “Up-skilling” and “Value-adding” support for vulnerable groups, specifically:

The Lomai Group: Enhancing artwork created from wood scraps by persons with disabilities through storytelling, modern packaging design, and contemporary marketing channels.
Ban Dong Community Products: Standardising crispy fried mushrooms and pickled fish (Pla Som) produced by over 40 vulnerable households to transform them into high-quality premium souvenirs.

Marketplace Transformation and Sustainable Growth

In alignment with the initiative, Ubol Ratana Dam will open commercial spaces within its grounds, including cooperative stores and tourist service points, to serve as distribution showcases for community products. This shift transforms “temporary assistance” into “stable income generation” by leveraging the steady stream of tourists visiting the dam.

“We are looking beyond mere legal employment compliance; we are building an ecosystem where vulnerable groups can stand proudly on their own feet, with KKU and Ubol Ratana Dam serving as dedicated mentors,” stated Associate Professor Kamollerd.

This collaboration directly addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. It reaffirms Khon Kaen University’s role as a cornerstone of academic service, committed to growing alongside community partners and regional allies.