U2T: Transfer Innovations from Universities to Development of Grassroots Economy in Community Level

 27 เม.ย. 2565 14:09 น. | อ่าน 4232
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          Another important problem that is considered as the obstacle against development of dimension on social psychology and economic dimension in southern border provinces is unemployment problem, especially unemployment of juveniles. Based on data from Department of Employment, Ministry of Labor, it was found that southern border provinces like Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala, had high level of unemployment compared to other provinces in southern region. Moreover, it tends to be increased as well.1

COVID-19 Situation Increases Unemployment Rate

          COVID-19 pandemic reduces economic growth rate of every region of Thailand to the lowest level in the period of 22 years increasing unemployment rate in southern border provinces to be higher. The most concerned matter is insufficient efficiency of existing measures for dealing with unemployment that are only immediate measures without sustainability.2

Development of Measures for Solving Unemployment Problem Sustainably

          Agencies related to unemployment rate management like Department of Employment and Department of Skill Development of Ministry of Labor, have developed efficient employment and skill development system by applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology to improve efficiency and reduce problem on unemployment.

          Besides government agencies under the Ministry of Labor that have developed AI system to reduce unemployment rate, there is another agency, i.e., Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation that realizes on the problem caused by increase of unemployment rate. The strategy for solving the problem on unemployment is integration of innovative power occurred in universities and related agencies before transferring this integration to development of grassroots economy in community level throughout Thailand and in southern border provinces.

Integrated Economic and Social Improvement Project for Sub-District

          From being a part to solve the problem on unemployment, especially unemployment of juveniles, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation established “Integrated Economic and Social Improvement Project for Sub-district” or “U2T Project for Generating Taproots of Thailand”3 by connecting innovations in university level with over 3,000 sub-districts as well as employing over 60,000 students and local people to be developed and gain new skills. Finally, these groups of students and populations will transform establishment of grassroots economy in community level. This project will be operated for 1 year.

          Besides generating 60,000 representatives of transformation, Online Community Platform is also created via www.U2T.ac.th in order to connect with many related networks including communities, universities, government agencies, and private agencies consisted of at least 100,000 people.

Participated Universities in Southern Border Provinces

          To operate “U2T Project for Generating Taproots of Thailand”, some universities in southern border provinces also participate in this project including Palm Packaging Team from Taksin University, Plant Pots from Coconut Residue Team from Princess of Naradhiwas University, Pearls from Sago Flour Team of Khoke Khien Sub-district, Mueang District, Narathiwat Province, from Princess of Naradhiwas University, MAE LAN FRESHMART Team from Yala Rajabhat University, and Sayo Bana Team from Prince of Songkhla University.

From Money to Exiting Capitals Enabling Community to Manage Businesses

          The operational format of such project is highly interesting, for example, operations of MAE LAN FRESHMART Team from Yala Rajabhat University.

          The operation of the project started from realizing on problems of community enterprise, OTOP groups, SMEs groups, and start up groups in 3 sub-district s (Pa Rai Sub-district, Muang Tia Sub-district, and Mae Lan Sub-district). Mae Lan District in Pattani Province was affected by COVID-19 situation until local people were unable to distribute their products causing reduction of income and increase of debts.

          From realizing on such problem, MAE LAN FRESHMART Team mutually found the guidelines for integrating with all sectors by applying digital technology like “SMART Entrepreneur”. Moreover, they also establish “Business Plan for Community” emphasizing on usage of existing “capitals” in lieu of “money”. Consequently, the concept on “Organization of Self-Business Management Community” was created with the aim to use capitals of community as the grassroots economy to obtain sustainable security and wealth.

          “Business Plan for Community” of MAE LAN FRESHMART Team consists of 3 important elements including:

          First element is “utilization of production factors consisted of nature, all man-made capitals, human’s brain and actions” that is consistent with the way of life of the community.

          Second element is building mindset of entrepreneurship of community leaders that formerly spent money to be usage of existing “capitals” or “production factors” leading to the major mindset of the community, i.e., “self-business management community”.

          Third element is building a community business network called “SMART Entrepreneur by applying digital technology to connect such network. Online market is built in Mae Lan District as the tool to drive community business as the business network called “SMART Entrepreneur” consisted of over 200 entrepreneurs from various groups including SME groups, community enterprise, farmer groups, and OTOP groups.

Conclusion

          Solution of any problem with complexity and various dimensions like solutions of unemployment problem that will lead to other problems like problem on social psychology, problem on security of life and assets, and other dimensions, requires connection leading to cooperation and integration to solve problems that is not immediate problem solving but it must be connection leading to cooperation and integration for solving problems sustainably. “Integrated Economic and Social Improvement Project for Sub-district” or “U2T Project for Generating Taproots of Thailand” is a kind of operational format that can respond to demands of sustainable solution that should be developed and expanded to solutions of other problems occurred in southern border provinces.


1 https://www.thaipost.net/main/detail/82962

2 https://www.doe.go.th/prd/assets/upload/files/satun_th/7ff740b9698a0551a0e4c5d7ff233621.pdf

3 https://bit.ly/3h8ucre

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