The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in cooperation with public and private research networks across the country, organized the 16th Thailand Research Expo (Thailand Research Expo 2021) during 22-26 November 2021 at Centara Grand Hotel and Bangkok Convention Center at Central World, Bangkok.
The Thailand Research Expo 2021 was a grand event of the year. This year, the event was held under the concept “The Power of Research: to the era of the future,” showing the power of research as an important tool for data analysis and action planning, knowledge and technology integration. It is a national forum to present research works, and technology and innovation to integrate knowledge for the benefit of the country’s development in all dimensions i.e. academic, policy, social and community, and commerce and industry. More than 500 works have been selected to be presented in 7 topics for all participants from the government and private sectors and the general public.
The Institute for Research and Development of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) joined as an organizing network. STOU was represented by four teams of researchers under the concept of Research and Innovation for the Development of Manpower and Knowledge Institutions, one exhibition and three oral presentations.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Suchart Saenpich, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phisit Nadprasert and Asst. Prof. Dr. Pattana Sirikulpipat from the STOU Office of Educational Technology exhibited the work titled “Development of Virtual Museums of Thailand.” This work expanded from the project that STOU and Thai Media Fund have done together to develop a virtual learning resource for museums in Thailand. The virtual reality technology with 360-degree and 3D scans is used to help facilitate education. It also helps the conservation and preservation of the valuable cultural heritage and way of life. The work also received the Value of the Land award 2021 from the Prime Minister. The work can be viewed at www.vrsiam.org or VR SIAM application.
The oral presentations from STOU included the following:
1. The Distance Learning Model on Cross-Cultural Agriculture: A Case Study Of 4-H Club in Prachamonkol School and Purdue Extension by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sineenuch Khrutmuang Sanserm et al. from the STOU School Agricultural Extension;
2. Development of Smart Online Learning for Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University’s Undergraduate Students by Asst. Prof. Dr. Gan Chanyawudhiwan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemmanat Mingsiritham from the STOU Office of Educational Technology; and
3. The Study of Needs and Development of Audio Description for Distance Education of Students with Low Vision at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University by Asst. Prof. Dr. Seksan Amatmontree and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Apinya Sonkanok from the STOU Office of Educational Technology.
