The program organized an orientation for PhD students to introduce the academic teaching and learning process. This program aims to build relationships between the program management committee and current students, provide guidance on study guidelines, discuss various supporting factors, and raise awareness of potential study-related challenges. The goal is to collaboratively address these challenges and motivate students to graduate within the specified timeframe. Furthermore, the program aims to foster students' creativity, independent learning, teamwork within a network system, and leadership in the field of environmental science, meeting the country's needs while promoting professional development. This initiative aligns with the university's policy, which mandates that all programs adhere to the AUN-QA quality criteria and the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence-EdPex.
The program organized the project on September 7-8, 2023, in Rayong Province, featuring various activities as follows:
1. The Program Management Committee arranged a series of lectures for students covering important processes within the program, from the beginning of their studies to graduation, guidance on what to focus on, specialized talks by experts from both domestic and international backgrounds to enrich students' knowledge, and insights shared by program graduates about their experiences.
2. Study visit to two locations:
Rayong Botanical Garden, an academic institution that houses a diverse collection of plant species for conservation, study, and scientific research, especially in the field of botany. The plants are categorized based on area characteristics and the botanical garden's budget, which includes sections such as an orchid garden, herbal garden, color plant garden, and poisonous plant garden. The garden also classifies plants into different families, such as the palm family and ginger family. A standard botanical garden includes essential elements such as plant collection plots, libraries, herbarium, and laboratories. In addition to plant conservation, it serves as a valuable learning resource for researchers and students, as well as a tourist attraction and recreation center. Botanical gardens are increasingly focused on contributing to human well-being and serving as genetic resources for local communities.
Tulip Garden, Rayong, where tulips and winter flowers bloom year-round, offering a beautiful setting akin to a foreign country. This garden was created based on PTT's idea, using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an energy source for cooling, demonstrating the cost-effective use of renewable energy. This concept may serve as a model for future public sector applications.
