On 10 August 2026, Walailak University, the host institution of the Upper Southern Higher Education Network, in collaboration with the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), organized a meeting to review progress reports and conduct site visits for the Education Quality Development and Local Development Project through Higher Education Institutions as Mentors for Fiscal Year 2026. The meeting was held at the Marlin Hotel, Mueang District, Surat Thani Province.
The meeting was attended by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phattanaphong Wanchanuek, representative of MHESI; Ms. Nadda Jehyorade, Director of the Driving and Development of STI Group 1; Dr. Nithima Naktong, representative of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC); as well as representatives of the Chairs of the Upper Central, Lower Central, and Lower Southern Higher Education Networks, who participated as experts in reviewing project progress and conducting site visits.
On this occasion, Asst. Prof. Dr. Wichitpan Rongwong, Director of Research and Innovation Institute of Excellence, Walailak University, and Secretary of the Executive Committee for the Education Quality Development and Local Development Project through Higher Education Institutions as Mentors, Upper Southern Higher Education Network, welcomed the participants.
During the meeting, the panel of experts listened to a report on the progress of the Education Quality Development and Local Development Project through Higher Education Institutions as Mentors under the Upper Southern Higher Education Network. The experts also provided recommendations and suggestions to support the continued implementation and improvement of the projects.
In the afternoon, the panel conducted a site visit to the project “Development of Educational Board Games to Enhance Teachers’ Learning Design Competencies” at Patcharakitiyapha 3 Surat Thani School. Dr. Jirawan Thepchinda from Suratthani Rajabhat University, the project leader, presented the project’s implementation and provided information on its progress.
The project received a warm welcome from the school’s administrators, teachers, and students. During the site visit, participating teachers and students demonstrated the educational board games developed by the teachers for use in Mathematics classes for Grade 12 (Matthayom 6) students. The activity demonstrated how educational board games can be integrated into classroom instruction to enhance learning design and support students’ learning experiences.
The site visit reflected the Upper Southern Higher Education Network’s commitment to advancing education quality and promoting tangible local development through collaboration between higher education institutions, schools, teachers, and local communities. The initiative also highlights the important role of higher education institutions as mentors in supporting schools and strengthening educational development in local areas.
Written by: Research and Innovation Institute of Excellence
📅 August 10, 2026