Prince of Songkla University has renewed its focus on skill development for career enhancement and increased income for the community through the local implementation of the One Tambon One University project. The ambitious project’s aim is to increase the rate of employment in COVID-19 hit areas, with a target of 1,800 newly employed.Prince of Songkla University has renewed its focus on skill development for career enhancement and increased income for the community through the local implementation of the One Tambon One University project. The ambitious project’s aim is to increase the rate of employment in COVID-19 hit areas, with a target of 1,800 newly employed.
PSU President Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, along with Prof. Dr. Phongthep Suthirawut, Vice President for Planning and Public Policy, Asst. Prof. Dr. Jumphon Chuenjitsiri, Vice President for Legal and Academic Services, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mitchai Chongcheawchamnan, Director of the Office of Human Resources and Social Welfare, Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwet Arunberkfa, Deputy Director of the Office of Human Resources and Social Mission, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Phayom Rattanamanee from the Faculty of Engineering, attended a press conference on the Integrated Economic and Social Enhancement Project of One Tambon One University on 28 December 2020, at the President’s Office on PSU’s Hat Yai Campus.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), by the Office of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, has created the project in order to raise the economy and society, and titled it One Tambon One University. Budget is allocated through the Emergency Decree on the Maintenance of Stability of the Financial System and Economic Security of the Country, B.E. 2563 (2020), with an amount not exceeding 4 billion Baht, and a stated coverage of 3,000 sub-districts nationwide. The year-long project’s objective is to restore the community economy damaged by the COVID-19 epidemic, by creating professional development jobs in the community. Ultimately, the successfully implemented project is expected to result in the employment of at least 60,000 graduates, students, and members of the general public.
PSU implements the One Tambon One University project through the Office of Human Resources Development and Social Welfare as the central agency for directing and coordinating with the faculties, institutes, and various offices within the university. Through its five campuses located in Pattani, Phuket, Surat Thani, Trang and Hat Yai, the university is responsible for overseeing 90 sub-districts in 12 provinces: Krabi (5 sub-districts), Chumphon (4 sub-districts), Trang (6 sub-districts), Nakhon Si Thammarat (6 sub-districts), Narathiwat (4 sub-districts), Pattani (17 sub-districts), Phang Nga (4 sub-districts), Phatthalung (1 sub-district), Phuket (4 sub-districts), Songkhla (22 sub-districts), Satun (5 sub-districts), and Surat Thani (12 sub-districts). Responsibilities for the sub-districts were distributed to each campus as follows: Pattani Campus (12 sub-districts), Hat Yai Campus (47 sub-districts), Phuket Campus (3 sub-districts), Surat Thani Campus (27 sub-districts), and Trang Campus (1 sub-district).
Regarding the technical aspects of the project’s implementation at PSU, focus centers on skill development for career enhancement and increased income for community. The 1,800 positions that will be achieved through this project are classified by type of employment. Graduates within three years of graduation are allocated 900 positions, while current students and the general public get 450 positions each. Breaking it down further, each district reserves 10 positions for graduates, five for current students, and five for the general public, resulting in a total of 20 positions per district. The monthly wage for graduate students is expected to be 15,000 baht, while current students and the general public will receive 5,000 baht and 9,000 baht, respectively. The project will last from 1 Feb 2021 to 31 Jan 2022.
The current project builds on the success of the first similar project, which resulted in the widespread development of the digital platform, and younger generations returning home to work. The project therefore has gained widespread acceptance and excellent cooperation.