Project Summary
The major project objectives are to improve the Agricultural Education in Thailand as an efficient channel for agricultural production that contributes to the food security and high-quality food for global consumption. This will be achieved. This will be achieved through cooperation on Double Degree Master Program (DDMP) between the 4 leading HEIs in in agriculture in Thailand that emphasizes the participative approach for sustainable agriculture, with the cooperation of 4 HEI in Europe.
The implementation and consequences of the project will greatly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals by developing capacities in the Thai HEI in agriculture to address “Sufficiency economy”, the new concept developed by the King Bhumibol Adulyadej that proved effective by Thai Ministry of Agriculture to integrate agricultural production and social and environmental sustainability. With the well design programme in cooperation with private companies/farmers, the graduates are equipped to be in agriculture and natural resources management capable to support agricultural production/intensification/food security together with environmental sustainability and social equity. Through the integrative activities of the project, the realization of significant contribution of Sufficiency Economy for agricultural sustainability, conserving biodiversity and environment will be developed.
This initiative DDMP between 4 Thai leading agricultural universities is the first cooperation for the benefit of agricultural students which will be a model for other disciplines in the future. Through this project, in the near term, agriculture will be seen as an attractive occupation and an employment option for rural youth through the promotion of problem-solving research, skill training and entrepreneurship building. Thai participating universities can then offer assistance to ASEAN countries and other developing countries.