Login
Register

Tag: Thailand

Past-Present-Future: International Law Always Matters

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nartnirun Junngam, a faculty lecturer of the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University and the recipient of the National Outstanding Researcher Award Fiscal Year 2024 in the field of law, revealed that the research is related to international law, which is not an inapplicable matter. This is because Thailand and other nations are subject to jurisdiction of international law. The country plays a role as a direct participant involved in the implementation of the law.

The research includes topics related to both Thailand and international communities such as 1. Relationship between territorial division, self-determination of the people, and international legal recognition, considering the case of three southern border provinces of Thailand, 2. Lessons and recommendations from the case of Walter Bau v. Thailand, the first investment treaty case involving Thailand, 3. Interpretation and application of national treatment standards in international investment law, 4. The role of stability in international investment law, and 5. Interpretation and application of full protection and security standards in international investment law.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nartnirun added that the ongoing research is related to the elimination of discriminatory practices in international investment law. The study focuses on a provision commonly found in investment treaties, which deals with the treatment of similar situations. This provision will have implications on the legal consideration of a state’s conduct towards one foreign investment compared to another.

In conducting research, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nartnirun has expressed his opinion that researchers should consider the quality and the benefits that will arise and be well-accepted in general. The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has placed great importance on this matter. As for the quality of the research, it can be preliminarily assessed based on the research methodology and the publication. The point of research publication is to make it accessible and verifiable, and to be implemented for research purposes. As for the benefits, research is different in its categories. When considering the benefits that will arise from each piece, one must consider the nature of the research, including what category it is and how it can bring benefits to the academic or professional field, or both.

“The research that I am conducting is something that I am truly interested in. As for the rewards, recognition, and acceptance, I see them as potential outcomes. One thing I believe is that if we conduct research on a topic that interests us, we will enjoy it along with gaining knowledge. I would like others to consider our findings. For me, my research project has been used for teaching and published internationally, regardless of whether it received research funding or not.” – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nartnirun

Chulalongkorn Unveils “Microalbuminuria Rapid Test”: Easy, Accurate, Ready for Commercial Use

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Ms. Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, attended the launching of the innovative Microalbuminuria Rapid Test developed by a team of experts and researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. The test, which is convenient and easy to use and offers high accuracy, allows users to self-screen for kidney damage, giving it commercial potential in order to enhance Thailand’s healthcare system. It is expected for distribution in mid-2024.

Many executives of network partners from both the government and private sectors, as well as researchers, attended the launch of this innovation. The participants included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and Director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Prof. Dr. Nattachai Srisawat, Assistant Director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Director of the Excellence Center for Critical Care Nephrology of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittinan Komolpis, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Prof. Dr. Sirirat Rengpipat, Director of the Qualified Diagnostic Development Center, Dr. Jurairat Phromjai, Research Manager at Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), Ms. Narisa Mantangkun, Program Director, Advanced Medical Devices Technology & Medical Robotics, Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), and Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, BJC BigC Group’s CEO.

Prof. Dr. Nattachai Srisawat, Assistant Director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and Director of the Excellence Center for Critical Care Nephrology of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital said that currently chronic kidney disease patients in Thailand make up as many as 17.5% of the population, accounting for approximately 11 million people (referring to data from the Thai SEEK project by (Prof. Dr. Atiporn Ingsathit and her team). Each year, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease, including patients receiving renal replacement therapy, increases, causing the declining quality of life of patients, increasing the workload of medical personnel, and raising public health expenditures. The current diagnosis of chronic kidney disease relies on serum creatinine values and microalbumin testing in urine, which requires patients to travel to the hospital, resulting in increased costs and wasted time. In addition, the various techniques for testing kidney function can sometimes lead to inaccuracy. The research team has therefore developed a Microalbuminuria Rapid Test to screen for early-stage chronic kidney disease. The innovation has been done in collaboration with a research and development network from multiple sectors. The efficacy of the test has been evaluated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and expanded to larger-scale screening at the district level in Ban Phaeo District, Samut Sakhon Province.

The highlight of Microalbuminuria Rapid Test: Users can perform an initial self-assessment of their kidney function (self-care), which is easy to use and interpret. This benefits proactive policies where physicians and public health personnel can use it for early-stage screening of kidney disease patients. Early detection of kidney disease will result in patients becoming self-aware (self-literacy) and adjusting their lifestyle (lifestyle modification) to reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittinan Komolpis, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, explained that the development of the microalbumin screening strip began in 2007 by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kittinan in collaboration with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wanida Laiwattanapaisan, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, who was the thesis advisor for students conducting research at the institute. The research involved creating hybridomas that produce antibodies capable of specifically binding to albumin. These antibodies are a crucial component of the microalbumin screening strip. The ability to create and produce antibodies independently allows for further development and commercialization, rather than being limited to research. Subsequently, the research team selected suitable monoclonal antibodies and used them to develop a prototype albumin test strip. However, it had not been tested with urine samples from real patients until Prof. Dr. Nattachai put the test strip into actual use. This has led to a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of using the albumin screening strip with patient urine samples. The research results showed that the developed test strip provided results consistent with the current hospital testing methods.

Prof. Dr. Sirirat Rengpipat, Director of the Qualified Diagnostic Development Center, said Chulalongkorn University’s Qualified Diagnostic Development Center (QDD Center) is a certified medical device manufacturing facility (Registration No. Kor Tor. Sor Por. 182/2563) by the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health. The center also has a Quality Management System (QMS) for medical device production that complies with the international standard ISO 13485:2016, certified by SGS, UKAS (Certificate TH23/00000017), demonstrating the expertise of the center’s personnel, efficient scientific equipment, and tools, and the capability to produce high-quality test strip kits ready for commercial distribution. This capability is seen in the Design and Development and Production of Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Strip test, which employs the same technology as the “Microalbuminuria Rapid Test” being launched in this event. Hence, the center is well-equipped to serve as a third party to perform quality surveillance of products that integrate research results from various Chulalongkorn University teams, resulting in this effective test kit. The center will randomly sample test kits from stores while they are being sold to the general public to be examined for accuracy and precision. This is to ensure confidence in the test results, which can be used to more accurately analyze preliminary kidney health trends. This is an innovative approach to setting quality assessment standards for test kits sold in the market, providing rapid results and making manufacturers more aware of and attentive to maintaining consistent production process standards.

Dr. Jurairat Phromjai, Research Manager at Health Systems Research Institute (HSRI), explained that the high number of chronic kidney disease patients in Thailand, which accounts for 17.5% of the population and is continually increasing, along with data from the calculation of average expenses for renal replacement therapy using hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis methods, approximately 378,095 baht per person per year, has placed a significant burden on the country’s healthcare expenditure. Therefore, in addition to developing innovative research in medical technology to meet quality standards, HSRI emphasizes the utilization of research results. This includes pushing for inclusion in the universal health coverage system and expanding commercial applications to support widespread use by various target groups. The Microalbuminuria Rapid Test, partially funded by HSRI, has shown clear results in reducing dependence on foreign technology, decreasing medical burdens and expenses. This demonstrates the opportunity to increase accessibility to reduce illness among the Thai population and enhance the stability of the healthcare system. In the future, if it can be included in the universal health coverage system, its utilization will be enhanced even further by being distributed to sub-district health promotion hospitals. As a result, early-stage screening of kidney disease patients will be possible, leading to overall health budget savings for the country.

Ms. Narisa Mantangkun, Program Director, Advanced Medical Devices Technology & Medical Robotics, Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), stated that TCELS recognizes the importance of commercializing medical and health innovations for the benefits of society, enabling people to have equal access to medical and health services and innovations within the public health insurance system. So far, TCELS has collaborated with the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, and related agencies, such as National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF), Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), and researchers in universities to promote and further medical and health research for Thai people. The goal is to push such research into commercial markets or into the national health insurance system, which provides free public health services to over 48 million Thai nationals across the country. From this collaboration, TCELS has supported and promoted Thai medical and health innovations to meet both national and international standards by registering Thai innovations and through monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Several Thai innovations have already been included in the benefit package of the universal health coverage system, such as colostomy bags for colorectal cancer patients, developed by researchers at Prince of Songkla University, and dental implants for elderly people with complete edentulism, researched and developed by the Dental Innovation Foundation under Royal Patronage, among others. The Microalbuminuria Rapid Test is another important Thai innovation that is currently being pushed into the universal health coverage system so that people can screen for the disease by themselves, thus reducing overcrowding in hospitals and increasing the ability to care for and treat the disease before the final stage. This will also help lessen the government’s health budget, increase the potential and number of Thai innovations, contributing to economic growth and sustainably supporting the advancement of Thailand’s medical and health industry. TCELS is ready to support entrepreneurs in the medical and health equipment industry to strengthen the country’s economy, enabling it to become one of the world’s leaders in comprehensive healthcare business services.

Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, BJC BigC Group’s CEO, expressed his appreciation to the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, for trusting BJC Healthcare to be a part of the distribution of this health product to the Thai population. BJC Healthcare is ready to cooperate with and support the government to further develop health innovations for Thai people in the future. BJC Healthcare has been offering products related to the care of patients with diabetes and kidney disease for nearly 30 years and has a deep understanding of the public health system and the care of patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The Microalbuminuria Rapid Test, or ALBII, developed by the Faculty of Medicine, will help everyone better care for patients, from prevention, treatment, and comprehensive healthcare. BJC Healthcare is well-equipped to market and distribute products nationwide, which will support the research and innovation work of educational institutions to be passed on to the public and benefit the health of Thai people. The distribution channels already available for the product include Pure Pharmacy in Big C and clinics for diabetes patients.

Furthermore, in order to make the product more accessible to patients, the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University also supports sales through vending machines of the Center for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CMICe) and the ฬ Care store. Therefore, the ALBII will be an option for those who want to initially check their kidney function by themselves, conveniently, quickly, and saving time and expenses compared to availing of hospital services.

Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/165698/

Chulalongkorn University Signs Agreement to Transfer “Water Quality Test Kit” Technology

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

On April 9, 2024, on the 2nd floor of Chamchuri 4 Building, Prof. Dr. Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Innovation and Global Engagement, Chulalongkorn University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapruddee Piyaviriyakul, Associate Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirakarnt Dhitavat, Director, VBC Kit Tech Co., Ltd., and Dr. Teerapong Yata, Assistant Dean for Research Innovation and Entrepreneur, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, signed an agreement to authorize the use of the “Water quality test kit” technology owned by Chulalongkorn University to VBC Kit Tech Co., Ltd. VBC Kit Tech is a spin-off company of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, established to conduct research, develop, produce, and distribute water quality test kits.

The signing ceremony for the agreement to authorize the use of the “Water quality test kit” technology was organized by CU Innovation Hub and VBC Kit Tech Co., Ltd. Asst. Prof. Dr. Prapruddee Piyaviriyakul gave a welcome speech and introduced VBC Kit Tech Co., Ltd.

The “Water quality test kit” technology was developed following a major disease outbreak in shrimp farming in 1998. One cause of the outbreak was the unsuitable water quality. Hence, the Biochemistry Unit at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikom Chaisiri began researching and developing an inexpensive, and easy water-quality test kit for farmers, which has been continuously used until today.

Following Chulalongkorn University’s policy to support faculties in applying their research for practical use and economic recovery from the COVID-19 situation, the Biochemistry Unit has established VBC Kit Tech Co., Ltd. Currently, VBC Kit Tech has produced a total of 14 water quality test kits, as well as over 10 products for the health of humans and animals, all of which are backed by research. The company is committed to developing new products to meet the needs of animal owners.

Read more on: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/158519/

 

Agreement Signing on Authorisation of Rights under Petty Patent regarding “Nanoparticle Encapsulated Hydrogel Composition for Essential Oils and Preparation Methods”

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

On April 9, 2024, at Chamchuri 4 building, Prof. Dr. Kaywalee Chatdarong, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Innovation and Global Engagement, Chulalongkorn University, and Mrs. Walairat Pongjitt, Director of Premier Innova Co., Ltd., Dr. Teerapong Yata, Managing Director of Premier Innova Co., Ltd., and Asst. Prof. Dr. Sirakarn Thitawat, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, signed an agreement authorizing Premier Innova Co., Ltd., to exercise the rights under the petty patent regarding “The Nanoparticle Encapsulated Hydrogel Composition for Essential Oils and the Preparation Methods” owned by Chulalongkorn University. Premier Innova Co., Ltd., is a company under the Premier group, operating in research, development, production, and distribution of nanoparticle extracts for products and services, as well as application of nanoparticles in product or service development.

The agreement signing ceremony was organized by CU Innovation Hub and Premier Innova Co., Ltd., with Dr. Teerapong Yata giving a welcome speech and introducing Premier Innova.

The research project on “The Nanoparticle Encapsulated Hydrogel Composition for Essential Oils and the Preparation Methods” conducted by a research team from Chulalongkorn University is an important first step for Thailand’s nanotechnology industry. The project is an upgrade of biological products that successfully employ nanoencapsulation technology to precisely deliver substances to parts of the body, especially application in the cosmeceutical industry, functional foods, and products for pets and economic animals. The technology can be expanded to benefit the delivery system of pharmaceutical and herbal substances, thereby enhancing the country’s self-reliance on developing innovation from raw materials and natural extracts. In addition, it supports the supply chain of health and biological products in Thailand, contributing to the country’s BCG economy.

Read more on: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/157062/

Thammasat researcher develops edible QR Code: Nutrition scan for authentic bird’s nests

Posted on by Thammasat University

QR code has now been utilized to verify the authenticity of bird’s nests or swallow nests using cloud technology. This award-winning innovation showcases the potential of Thai research to be commercially developed in order to meet the needs of consumers in the digital age. It will be exhibited at the Future Thailand event organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI).

Mr. Jakkrit Thavorn, a professor in the Department of Organization, entrepreneurship, and Human Resource Management, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, and a researcher and developer of “EBN-QR: Edible QR Code for Authenticity Verification of Bird’s Nests using Cloud Technology,” states that EBN-QR is a biodegradable QR code that its paper, glue, and ink can be consumed without altering the taste of the nest.

The QR code label is an innovation designed to support the verification of production for consumers who purchase and consume or process health-promoting food. It will be attached to each bird’s nest, allowing consumers to scan it using their smartphones to access relevant important information. This information will be connected to cloud technology, including farm location data, production standards, production processes, farm care, and nest cleanliness and safety. This verification system helps promote sustainable commercial bird farming, creating a balance between industrial growth and environmental conservation.

In the United States, there are also edible labels, which are used to check if the medication is suitable for the patient and to verify if it is genuine or counterfeit. Similarly, EBN-QR is used to check the items that need to be consumed. Thai bird’s nest is also a high-value export product of the country. If counterfeit goods are received, their nutritional value will likely be compromised.

In addition to ensuring customer safety and highlighting the qualities of the bird’s nests, the QR codes will eliminate the need for plastic labels, which take a long time to decompose. Moreover, everyone needs to consider climate change and try to cut back on plastic waste.

EBN-QR has received an award from “The 17th International Warsaw Invention Show” (IWIS 2023), an international exhibition of inventions held in Warsaw, Poland.

Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Singapore’s Republic Polytechnic Sign MOU for Student and Staff Exchange Program

Posted on by John Clewley

The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) at Chulalongkorn University and the Republic Polytechnic, School of Technology for the Arts (RP), Singapore signed an MOU on 27 March 2024 to collaborate in order to facilitate country, cultural, cognitive, social and emotional engagements amongst youths via staff-students exchange programs. FAA Dean Professor Dr Kumkom Pornprasit and Dr Terence Chong, Diector, International Relations, RP signed the document at a ceremony at FAA.

The exchange programme refers to Temasek Foundation Specialists’ Community Action and Leadership Exchange Programme 2024-2025 (or TF SCALE X), which extended an invitation to FAA to work on what is referred to as a “structured immersion programme”.

The MOU between the two educational institutes states that each party will select 20 student leaders and supervisory lecturers to be part of the exchange programme. The TF SCALE X programme includes, FAA, Universitas Islam Bandung (UNISBA), Bandung, Indonesia, University of Social Scinces nd Humanities (USSH) and RP.

For the agreement between FAA and RP, both institutions will exchange teams of 20 students leaders and supervisory lecturers for a two-week structured programme in September 2024. The programme runs for 18 months from the date of signing.

The programme was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since been reactivated. The RP campus news site, The Republican Post, noted in a quote by RP’s International Relations Director Dr Terence Chong that each intake is different, “It never ceases to amaze me. Every time is different but I can feel the love,” he said in October 2022.

One participant in the last group meeting in Singapore for the four participating institutions explained why she joined the programme. “We volunteered to participate in this programme because it seemed like a great opportunity to go overseas and learn about the cultures in other countries.”

THAIVOTE.io, a blockchain-based online election platform that can effectively prevent fraud

Posted on by Thammasat University

‘Blockchain’, an advanced data storage technology that has been reconditioned as a tool to support direct democracy. The use of ‘blockchain’ in supporting elections is considered a tendency or trend of the era. Currently, there are many countries that use it.

For Thailand, recently, a research team from Thammasat University by the Office of Business Incubation Center and Intellectual Property has invented, developed, and designed to adopt blockchain technology in election process under the project, “Online Election System Using Blockchain via THAIVOTE.io”, which has been piloted and becoming a compelling social innovation.

In terms of development, Thammasat started the “Online Election System Using Blockchain via THAIVOTE.io” back in 2017 under the budget from the Department of Physical Education. It later has been progressively improved and officially piloted for actual usage in the ‘Surat Thani Public Health Saving and Credit Cooperative Committee’ 2019 election.

Thammasat has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Surat Thani Public Health Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited to organize elections of the chairperson of the committee, committee, and auditors through the first blockchain-based online election system which is continuously adopted every year.

“With the largeness in size of the province having nearly 30 polling stations scattered around with some on islands, this projects difficulties and huge budget on management and organizing elections each year, and that some members of the cooperative are medical personnel who were unable to vote at the polling station in time. Cooperative executives therefore, collaborate with Thammasat University to develop a blockchain-based online voting system that cooperative members can use to vote conveniently. The vote counting is accurate, fast and reliable,” said Prof. Dr. Anat Limakdet, Director of the Center of Intellectual Property and Business Incubation and a member of the research team mentioned about spatial limitations in the past.

Prof. Dr. Anant went on to say that the THAIVOTE.io election system is an innovation that is distinctive to conventional electronic election systems, which is mostly centralized. This may lead to doubts on safety and transparency. The system may be hacked and targeted by outside parties, and system administrator or central administration may access the voting database which can cause distortion in the election results.

However, the election system is blockchain-based. The data is therefore encrypted and stored in a distributed database on a public blockchain. Data stored in each node once accepted by the network cannot be altered which makes the data to be highly secured and reliable. The distributed data storage on blockchain does not require a middleman.

“Blockchain-based elections will help reduce the problem of hacking occurred on the election system which consequently prevent interference in election results, including confidentiality of voters’ profile and voting information thus, helps eliminate issues of delays and errors in vote counting, increase convenience and save costs for both the election organizing agency and the voters,” explained Prof. Dr. Anant.

The success leads to the expansion of application to other elections. In the past, Thammasat has organized online elections through THAIVOTE.io for various savings cooperative groups such as Surat Thani Public Health Saving and Credit Cooperatives Limited, Ministry of Justice Saving and Credit Cooperative Limited, the Communications Authority of Thailand Saving and Credit Cooperative and The Saving co-operatives limited of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives.

To the extent of the election process, it is all controlled through a program on the blockchain which has predetermined information on voters, candidates, start and end times of the election. When voting day arrives, the system will function automatically and eligible people can use their smartphones or notebooks to vote through the website. Each individual can verify their identities prior to voting in various ways, such as using a pre-set-up password or confirming with an OTP from your registered phone number, including identity verification with ID card and facial recognition. When election time ends, the system automatically shuts down. Once the information stored on the blockchain is complete, results can be announced in less than 15 minutes.

The “Online Election System on Blockchain via THAIVOTE.io” project is considered a social innovation of Thailand. Recently, it just won an honorable mention award from the Democratic Innovation Contest 2023 of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives.

Chulalongkorn Students Host 15th EU in Thailand National Inter-Varsity Debating Championship

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

The Chulalongkorn University Debating Society supervised by the Office of Student Affairs Chulalongkorn University hosted the 15th EU in Thailand National Inter-Varsity Debating Championship on January 27 – 30, 2024, at Chulalongkorn University Secondary Demonstration School. The championship round and award ceremony were held on January 30, 2024, at Room 307, Pinit Prachanat Building, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, and was presided over by Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaiyaporn Puprasert, Vice President for Student Affairs. Recipients of awards are as follow:

Chula 1 and Chula 3 reached the University Semifinalists round. For Chula 1 consisted of Miss Torpad Payungtham, Mr. Aaron Luke Reyes Nuqui, and Mr. Bunyapiwat Somboonsap. Moreover, Chula 3 consisted of Mr. Jirayu Leesuwattanakul, Miss Natamon Umbhindhu, and Miss Phornwarat Komolrojanaphorn.

Chula 2 was the runner-up in the Novice University Grand Finalists round. The team consisted of Miss Thiya Rungruang, Mr. Apichak Tantirassami, and Miss Meenwadee Wassasiri.

Miss Natamon Umbhindhu placed 8th for Best Reply Speaker.

Mr. Jirayu Leesuwattanakul placed 9th for Best University Speaker.

Mr. Aaron Luke Reyes Nuqui placed 6th for Best University Speaker.

Miss Phornwarat Komolrojanaphorn placed 2nd for Best University Speaker.

Miss Phornwarat Komolrojanaphorn placed 9th for Overall Best Speaker.

Miss Pantari Rattanasampan placed 7th for Best Adjudicator.

The 15th EU in Thailand National Inter-Varsity Debating Championship was organized with Mr. Chanakan Wittayasakpan, graduate student at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Arts, Mr. Chayathorn Sapchawaroj, graduate student at the Faculty of Economics, and Miss Nattaya Jaruwekin, graduate of Chulalongkorn Business School, as the leaders of the project. The competition aims to promote English debate among Chulalongkorn students and students all over Thailand, to allow those interested to compete, to exchange knowledge and experience, and to bolster Chulalongkorn University’s reputation and role in the national debate circle.

The English debate competition is held in 4 categories, namely University, Novice University, High School, and Novice High School, as well as a competition for the adjudicators. 52 teams, comprising 156 debaters and 60 judges, participated in this year’s competition. The themes for the debate involve political, economic, and social issues related to the European Union, e.g., media presentation about refugees, international trade, and the power of the European Union on the global stage. The topics are not revealed to the debaters in advance. In each round, the debaters have 30 minutes to prepare once the topic is announced.

As head of the event, Chanakan Wittayasakpan said that apart from the Chulalongkorn students who competed as debaters and judges, there are 25 other students working as coordinators. What students gained from organizing this English debate competition is awareness of social, economic, environmental, and ethical issues around the world and problem-solving skills through debates. They also developed their English communication skills, logical persuasive speech, and teamwork, as well as built networks and positive relationships with participants from educational institutions around the country. The experience gained from organizing the event, including communication and leadership, can be applied to their future endeavors.

For the full release and more images, please visit: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/152124/

Thammasat law students win national championship in international humanitarian law mock trial competition

Posted on by Thammasat University

Students from the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University won the first prize in the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) mock trial competition organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Thailand (ICRC) and the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University. The members of the Thammasat University competition team include Injin Khai, first year student of the Business Law major (International Program), Kanpitcha Rachasiha, second year student of Business Law major (International Program), and Thanakit Saeju, third year student of Business Law major (International Program)

The awards received are First Place Award, Best Memorial for Defendant Award and Best Mooter Award.

Understanding what is ‘Mock Trial Competition’

The mock trial competition is an activity that simulates court cases. Thanakit said that we have an opportunity to take on the role of an attorney for the plaintiff or defendant in that case. This activity is very beneficial to legal education as students will have the opportunity to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, as well as research skills on legal topics related to simulated cases. The International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition 2023 deals with international humanitarian law. The case must be presented and prepared in English. It promotes and develops students’ language skills also.

Sharing experiences from the mock trial competition

In this competition, Kanpitcha Rachasiha and Injin Khai participated in the competition as advocates and Thanakit Saeju participated in the competition as a researcher and petition drafter.

“Every team member has a responsibility to share their opinions and adapt the law to the facts to create a defense in the memorial brief. Researchers and petition drafters will help find more information including checking the content and overall orderliness of the summary statement. In addition, the advocate has a duty to present the defenses in the draft summary statement to the court orally,” Kanpitcha said.

Injin added that researching legal arguments can be quite challenging. This is because this year the issue is the law on armed conflict and naval warfare in which the team comprehensively prepared for the competition both conducting research and finding research information within a limited time. It is considered a key to the victory this time.

The feeling of winning the championship

“I feel so overwhelmed and grateful that I can’t put it into words. Every team member was extremely dedicated to this competition, even though every step of preparation was made under time pressure. However, receiving this award shows the success of our dedication and determination. And most importantly, it is a driving force for us to move forward fully in the mock trial competition in the future,” Kanpitcha said.

Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts celebrates 40 years, relaunches ART4C Gallery

Posted on by John Clewley

The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) at Chulalongkorn University celebrated its 40th anniversary on 29 February 2024, with a series of events, including awards ceremonies, merit making and concerts. In tandem with the celebrations, the FAA also relaunched ART4C, a gallery facility that showcases artworks from current students and FAA alumni.

During the past 40 years, the FAA has developed into one of Thailand’s top fine arts faculties with its graduates flourishing across diverse industries, both in Thailand and abroad. Presently, the faculty boasts 13 programs, including three international offerings, catering to 857 Thai and International students; FAA has a total of 58 full-time lecturers, including 12 professors.

Among 59 outstanding alumni who received awards at a ceremony on 29 February for their contributions to art and society, the FAA presented the Outstanding Honourable Alumni Award to Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, in honour of her work as a fashion designer.

FAA Dean Professor Kumkom Pornprasit noted in her keynote address that “the faculty stands as a beacon for the arts in Thailand, thanks to faculty members, retired lecturers, and renowned guest lecturers/artists, including national artists, and independent creative artists.”

Professor Pornprasit said that the FAA would continue to leverage the “transformative power of fine arts to serve society sustainably”. In an era dominated by digital innovations, she said that the FAA recognizes the profound impact of technology on our lives and is keen to harness its potential in art, through FAA’s initiatives, such as digital arts and the FAAMAI Digital Art Hub.

More recently, the FAA has pioneered music and expressive art therapy in Thailand through new international graduate courses and outreach programs with partner faculties to provide therapy for students and staff at the university. With emerging programs like music therapy and art therapy, the faculty is committed to serving society’s evolving needs.

On 1 March, students from the Department of Thai Traditional Music and the Department Dance performed at the faculty in a merit making ceremony. To complete the 40th anniversary celebrations, a Home Coming event was held in the evening of 2 March with talent shows, mini-concerts, and a ceremony for undergraduates known as the “artist lighting ceremony” to welcome the 41st batch of new undergraduates. By receiving a torch lit by current and past lecturers and alumni, new students are officially accepted as FAA students.

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of FAA’s founding, ART4C, the faculty’s dedicated gallery facility has been relaunched and repositioned to focus more on enabling artists to develop their portfolios and public visibility.

At the relaunch on 29 February, which featured an exhibition, The Map: A Survey of Works on Paper by Kade Javanalikhikara, ART4C Director Dr Haisang Javanalikhikara explained, “Art4C aims to promote sustainability in artistic practice. We decided to shift from a gallery and coffee shop to be an affordable art shop, showcasing Thai artists’ creativities. Exhibitions continue as before but our focus now is more on working with artists, building their profiles and connecting them to wider audiences. We also encourage art and cultural practitioners in any field to experiment with us.”