Celebrating Thammasat – Banpu Innovative Learning Program Season 1, the Achievement of the Social Innovator Incubation Process
The incubation journey of the first batch of young socially-minded innovators under Thammasat – Banpu Innovative Learning Program, has come to a successful conclusion. The program was co-hosted by the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education, Thammasat University, and Banpu Public Company Limited, a leading integrated energy solutions company in Asia-Pacific committed to “human” development to drive sustainable community and society. The award ceremony was held to present trophy and prizes to the winning and outstanding teams in each category. The champion team who received the royally-bestowed trophy from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was the ”Durian Orchard Millionaire” team from Sawi Witthaya School, Chumphon Province. Winners and runner-ups in each category also received certificates and scholarships worth THB 300,000 in total. Held on 30 March 2019, 16.00-18.30, this auspicious event was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Preecha Soontranun, M.D., Assistant Secretary of the Minister of Education, and attended by such honorable guests as Mr. Chanin Vongkusolkit, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banpu Public Company Limited, Assoc. Prof. Kesinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University and Assoc. Prof Dr. Anuchart Puangsamlee, Dean of the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education. Before the presentation of the royally-bestowed trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, interested participants had an opportunity to play board games designed by 20 teams and view exhibitions documenting the learning quests of the young innovators in this program.
Thammasat – Banpu Innovative Learning Program was initiated in 2017, aiming to develop student-innovators from high-school and vocational certificate levels across the country who want to take part in solving social problems innovatively through board game design. After showcasing their board games designed in the Games & Learn Festival in October 2018, the 20 finalist teams eventually introduced their games to target groups in the targeted areas both in schools and surrounding communities to test whether their games serve the purpose in real-life situations. To come up with competition judgment criteria, qualified judges from different disciplines have prioritized games that could address and solve social problems at the heart of the issue. Award-winning games must have mechanisms that educate and raise awareness of players about social issues according to the game’s objectives while being fun to play. More importantly, game designers had to present a way-forward of how their games could be utilized and distributed to the communities.
Mr. Chanin Vongkusolkit, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banpu Public Company Limited, said: “Banpu realizes the challenges of the 21st century as well as economic and social disruptions the world is facing. It is, therefore, really important for young people to possess knowledge and skills for a changing world. With its pivotal role in human capital development, education will be a great tool to equip young people to thrive as a capable future workforce. They need skills for evolving workplace and must be able to create positive changes for themselves and the general public. One of the essential skills is design thinking for innovation.”
“At Banpu, we perceive learning as a strong foundation for the development of human being – a crucial mechanism driving sustainable community and society. Thus, we have been focusing on the CSR activities on youth and educational development for over a decade. The Thammasat – Banpu Innovative Learning Program is one of the activities we have supported and are pleased to witness the development of youth participants throughout the program. We also believe that these capable young innovators will apply the learning process they acquired to make a big difference for Thailand in the future,” Mr. Chanin concluded.
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About Banpu Public Company Limited
Banpu Public Company Limited is a leading integrated energy solutions company in the Asia Pacific operating three core groups of businesses – energy resources, energy generation, and energy technology – in ten countries: Thailand, Indonesia, China, Australia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Singapore, Japan, the United States of America and Vietnam.
“Learning is the Power of Change and Development”
Banpu’s CSR and other social-oriented activities are based on the firm belief that “learning is the power of change and development” for people and society by emphasizing the promotion and development of continued “learning” among young people and communities in a number of ways. Banpu supports sustainable development of communities and society through a variety of learning opportunities for both individuals and teams, ranging from daily real-life experiences both in- and outside the classroom, to hands-on practice that enhances capabilities and skills.
