Integrated collaboration for economic and employment recovery is an effective model that yields visible results, as can be seen from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation’s employment scheme to help those affected by COVID-19. Chiang Mai University adopted and implemented the initiative by focusing on creating jobs and increasing the capacity of the modern workforce and new graduates through community work. In collaboration with educational institutions, research organizations, and SME entrepreneurs, different services provided for the communities included learning administration, data collection, academic services, research assistance, teaching assistance, and potential start-up development. The wrap-up session is held on September 22, 2020, and this project has been completed and is now ready for the next step, which is the One Tambon One University Project.
Throughout the first and second phases, CMU’s Employment Project generated more than 8,300 job positions with a budget of 73.5 million baht. Its success has contributed to new products and achievements in many fields. Some notable accomplishments include: collecting data for the Ethnic Wisdom for Wildfire Management Project, launching professional development programs such as Professional Fish Farming and Young Smart Farmer, and launching the recruitment program for newly graduated medical technologist, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to promote community health, enhance recovery and reduce the number of patients in hospitals.
Many of the projects can be further refined into the third phase, One Tambon One University, with the primary objectives to reduce poverty while promoting sustainability in communities with high potential. The knowledge, technology, and innovations will be transferred to each subdistrict to create employment that corresponds with socio-economic growth in the area while taking into account the local contexts - problems, environment, resources, biodiversity, and cultural diversity.
CMU is prompt to be at the forefront in boosting employment and creating a young workforce that connects with the communities to drive the self-driven and self-reliant local economy, strengthening the community enterprise and ultimately improving the quality of life.