On March 19, 2021, Walailak University, led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree, School of Languages and General Education with the Academic Service Center working group, had launched “A meeting to exchange knowledge on the development of Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy Integrated Curriculum” together with Chumchonmai School, led by Mr. Faisal Yeekob, the director of the Chumchonmai School and the teachers, along with the administrators and teachers of three development network schools, namely 1) Mrs. Sirilak Mitkrachang, the director of Ban Thung Chon School, 2) Mr. Monchai Inmonthian, the director of Bankuntalae School, and 3) Mrs. Sukainah Pitsuwan Daraman, the director of Prateepsart Ismail Memorial School (PIMS) at the Chumchonmai School, Walailak Demonstration Community, Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

           “The Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy Integrated Curriculum Development Project” under the implementation of the Social Engagement Program for the year 2021, continuing for the second year, aims to focus on educational management according to the sufficiency economy approach and business development skills. The integration of teaching and learning for students leads to develop a model for the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy Integrated Curriculum in schools, and creates networks to transfer knowledge and disseminate the curriculum to surrounding schools. It is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 4, “Quality Education”, that is to promote equal and inclusive quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and Goal 17, “Partnerships for the Goals” that is to build cooperation with other networks and relevant agencies, and integrate knowledge both within and outside the university.

For the past implementation of the project, activities have been carried out following the activities plan, namely 1) Curriculum assessment by experts comprising expert faculty members, educators, school committees, administrators and teachers, etc. 2) Curriculum improvement to manage knowledge and develop a networking plan and transfer knowledge to schools in the surrounding communities by setting up speakers as mentors. 3) Implementing the curriculum plan. There is a teaching management structure integrated with the philosophy of sufficiency economy, the curriculum for Level 1 – Level-3, starting from knowing self-sufficiency and others including family and community, as well as promoting and developing social enterprise by allowing students to practice in the academic year semester 2/2020. The project is currently in the process of building networks and transferring knowledge to schools in the surrounding community. On March 2-3, 2021, the project working group had done fieldwork for consulting with the school director and the teachers of three schools, as follows;

• Bantungchon School, Hua Taphan sub-district, Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Karo School, Si Karo sub-district, Nopphitam district, Nakhon Thammarat.
• Prateepsart Ismail Memorial School (PIMS), Tha Sala sub-district, Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat

The meeting discussed feasibility approaches, exploring learning base areas, formulating strategic management plans and procedures, building understanding, jointly formulating action plans, as well as considering any activities by providing lecturers and consultants to the model schools. Accordingly, all three schools were ready to expand the curriculum based on the context of the area and the teaching and learning process of each school. They were also interested in sharing with the administrators and teachers of the Chumchonmai School as a leading school with a complete Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy Integrated Curriculum.

In this regard, Mr. Faisal Yeekob, the director of the Chumchonmai School as a leading school in the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy Integrated Curriculum, welcomed and presented the results of curriculum development for the year 2020 “Development of learning centers in parallel with curriculum preparation”. In the meantime, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hareesol Khun-Inkeeree as a project leader, presented the project background, the role of the university, and guidelines for the implementation of the 2nd year curriculum development project. There was also an open forum to exchange work methods, work processes, the success factors of driving and developing the curriculum, and exhibiting the works of students and teachers which had shown course achievements and live exhibitions “Food and beverage processing”. After that, the administrators and teachers had visited “The Sufficiency Economy Learning Center by the King’s Philosophy, Chumchonmai School”. As a result of the exchange meeting, it appeared that the administrators of the three schools had resolved to become the network schools for the cooperation of developing the integrated curriculum of Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. However, the project working group will collect information and proposals to synthesize and develop cooperation in order to transfer and disseminate knowledge of curriculum implementation to the surrounding schools in the next step of the operation.