Assistant Professor Dr. Orawit Thinnukool, Assistant Dean of CAMT and the Project Sterring Committee (PSC), led a team consisting of Assistant Professor Dr. Pattaraporn Khuwuthyakorn, the Project Manager, Assistant Professor Dr. Yuthasak Chatkaewnapanon, Head of the Tourism Department at the Faculty of Humanities, Associate Professor Dr. Pradthana Jaipong, Director of the CMU School of Lifelong Education, and representatives from the CMU Working Party, at the kick-off meeting of the INNO4Tourism project which has received 29 million baht in funding from the EU Commission. The Innovative Curriculum for the Life-Long Learning of a Sustainable Tourism Workforce (INNO4Tourism) project aims to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of the tourism industry by advancing a modern knowledge base, skills and IT utilization, enhancing adaptability factors, and developing essential skills for tourism entrepreneurs, particularly in Chiang Mai and Phuket.
This project is part of a collaboration with network institutions in the EU and Asia, including the Prince of Songkla University, the National University of Laos, Savannakhet University, the Phuket Tourist Association, the University of Macedonia, the University of Palermo, CESIE and Symplexis. The CMU working party consists of lecturers from CAMT, which includes Assistant Professor Dr. Chalermpon Kongjit, Assistant Professor Dr. Acrapol Nimmolrat, the Deputy Director of the Digital Innovation and Transformation Centre, Assistant Professor Dr. Achara Khamaksorn, assistant to the Dean for ISO30401 administration, Assistant Professor Dr. Manissaward Jintapitak, from the Department of Animation and Visual Effects, and Assistant Professor Dr. Sirikorn Santirojanakul, from the Department of Modern Management and Information Technology.
The funding is a part of the Advancing Strategic Management Leadership and Fundraising in Higher Education in Asia (ASTRA). It has been funded by EU Commission from 2021 to 2023. The ASTRA R&D Innovation and Consulting Hub has been established at CMU and it is partially funded by the CMU Office of Research Administration.
The INNO4Tourism project is scheduled to commence in 2024 and conclude in 2026, with expected impacts to include social impacts related to added values generated through tourism services in various dimensions as well as sustainability through competitive skill development aligned with the circular economy model, which is in line with CMU’s objectives to achieve SDGs 1, 4 and 8, as well as CAMT’s strategy to advance innovation for sustainability. The kick-off took place at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at the Prince of Songkla University in Phuket between March 13 – 14, 2024.