On February 3, 2024, PSU Science Park organized the PSU Hi-FI Grand Opening & Showcase for the year 2024 under the SITE 2024 event. The event unfolded innovations from leading educational institutions in the southern region and private institutions across the nation. The opening ceremony remarked by Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, the PSU President, Asst. Prof. Kamron Pitaks, the Director of PSU Science Park reported on the project's background and the PSU Hi-FI Center mission. The event took place, at the PSU International Convention Center, Hat Yai, Songkhla.
The Higher Education for Industry Consortium, known as Hi-FI, operates under the sub-plan "Experiential Learning" initiated by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, in collaboration with the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The consortium has developed a transformative working system alongside the industrial sector, focusing on enhancing the workforce's competitiveness aligned with the country's industrial manpower strategy. PSU has joined the Consortium since 2020 to integrate academic learning with real-world experiences, fostering an organic collaboration, bridging the realms of academia and industry. This initiative aims to strengthen the capabilities of the industrial workforce, aligning with the national strategy.
Currently, there are over 20 businesses enrolled in the program, with more than 30 master's degree students.
The event comprises special lectures delivered by distinguished speakers, presentations of innovative research outcomes from various businesses sectors, academic presentations by researchers and aspiring students. There were research showcase booths stand, highlighting the achievements on the remarkable milestones of the private sector, panel discussions and business matching sessions to facilitate partnerships between the private sector and researchers.
In addition, there were the formal Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the human resources development between the university and the private sector. The recognition and awarding of outstanding PSU Hi-FI entrepreneurs, showcasing success cases and activities from participating businesses, special lectures, discussions on human resource development for the industry with the Triple Helix concept and an exhibition featuring products, services, and innovations of their remarkable achievements.
