Knowing Sweden through its Lagom

 Happy Tuesday to all ka. With many more days staying home, I have to make sure I write to our egroup to remind me it's Tuesday, not a weekend ka:))!

On my podcast, Learn Plern Plern, uploaded this morning, it's the final episode of the April series about people working for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was real honored to have Ambassador Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador to Sweden as our guest ka.

To know more about one country, Ambassador Kanchana was advised to go after books Swedish adults read to their kids so she read Pippi Longstocking (I haven't searched to read it yet!) and found that they have a philosophy called, Lagom, which is similar to our sufficiency economy in some ways ka. This led me to immediately search for the term and here's what I've drawn from an article, '6 Ways to Practice Lagom, the Swedish Secret to a Balanced, Happy Life', an excerpt from a book called,' Lagom' written by Niki Brantmark ka.

The term 'Lagom' means "not too little, not too much" or "just right", referring to the art of living in a balanced, slower and less hectic way. 

There are 6 things that the Swedish love to do ka:

1. Morning dip, taking bath in the morning during May-September
2. Dare to go alone.....like hiking alone...this isn't me at all as I'm not adventurous but if it's a walking trail, I love it kaa.
3. Create a capsule wardrobe to become a minimalist, keeping only what's necessary
4. Learn the art of listening -- this means talking with collegues to know a bit better about them, not just discussing work and know how to listen attentively ka.
5. Take breaks for us to relax and live in the present.....sounds very much like Buddhism and I think it could refer to the time with nature too na ka.
6. Perform random acts of kindness -- take some little actions for others like making tea for a friend who may be injured and had to stay home, writing a little 'thank-you' note for those who deliver our stuff.

I love number 6 most because it's similar to our Thai 'น้ำใจ' and it isn't hard to do at all ka...any time for anyone even a stranger. It's like giving to get some real good feelings back out of it na ka.

What number do you choose and why ka?

From vaccine saga to synergy

 I've been quiet as I still think of what hits me hard enough to share ka. 

I have one hot issue that gives me lots of thinking and admittedly frustration ka.

When talking about vaccination the past week, it gave me heartache to listen to some media, blaming the government for its incapability to manage vaccination for the public.

My thinking about vaccine management ka:

1. I agree that we've seen gaps in some crucial ways like government's ineffective communication and slow management.....worse are the improper behaviors of some in the government and those in the opposition ka. Some must learn to behave and think of national interest before we turn from a frail to a failed state.

2. Some younger ones were complaining about the government with their sense of entitlement that they wanted to get the vaccines to have their lifestyles back. Isn't it each and every one of us to have self- and social responsibility?

3. Vaccine issue is complicated with some factors beyond control so pointing fingers to blame the government must go along with options to better the situation.

4. It gives us hope when the private sector has taken serious actions to voice concerns with systematic steps to help out. This synergy is the best in time of need, showing that the covid-19 spread during this time is the national issue, not just the government to handle. The government can get to learn more from the private sector too ka.

5. For decades, the public and private sectors tend to be two separate entities with little trust between each other. When it's our national agenda, we have to synergize, seeing Thailand and Thais as one same nation and people. 

Hopeful ka.

role of universities

 Happy wet Monday ka.

I've read and sort of skimmed through several issues of International Higher Education from 104-106 and wish to share the following ka:

From an article on, 'Internationalization, Digitalization, and COVID: A German Perspective' by Dorothea Rüland:

- For Post-COVID time, half of all students in Germany at least will never go abroad

for several reasons like funding or family, for example, funding or family. This will heighten the role of digitalization to support internationalization at home in many ways, serving as one of the main catalysts in reaching new target groups, offering equal opportunities, diversifying the student body, and allowing more outreach. 

In 'Globally Engaged and Locally Relevant: Revisiting Higher Education'  by Janet Ilieva, it touches on the role of universities as “global social enterprises”, which has increased its importance, prioritizing social and environmental benefits and impact on a global scale over their own economic profit. . As part of their broader mandate to develop and educate responsible citizens, universities have to promote inclusion, access to quality education, and sustainability. 

The term, 'global citizenship education agenda' is on the radar, urging universities to educate global citizens who can comprehend, pursue, and propagate key priorities for society in the twenty-first century.

......an internationalized learning experience is possible in locally delivered higher education.... A reconceptualization of international higher education is needed and aims to be locally embedded, globally relevant, and centered around the needs and ambitions of a diverse student population.

The effort must be a holistic strategic approach to offer new quality to internationalization. The university of the future will be an international university in all aspects, physically as well as virtually.

I like what's mentioned in 'Universities without Academic Freedom Have No Place in Rankings by Carsten A. Holz about New Zealand law ka...it assigns to universities, among others, 'the role of critic and conscience of society.'

Another is a speech titled “What Is a University?” given in 1935 by Robert M. Hutchins, President of the University of Chicago. He stated that “a university cannot exist

without freedom of enquiry, freedom of discussion, and freedom of teaching,” and that “the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts; it is not to reform them, or amuse them, or make them expert technicians in any field. It is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and to think always for themselves.”

From 'Should University Presidents Have a Voice in Public Affairs? by Robert A. Scott; the author discusses 'ethics' and the role of the university which is not only to create new knowledge and curate the history of society. Its mission also includes that of “critic.” Institutional leaders can ask “Why”and “Why not?” following analysis and testing of data in an attempt to develop knowledge and foster wisdom.

Universities have to seriously spend time on answering one basic question about its existence to determine the roles they must be ready to play for this changing world when many other sectors have started to have a share (active and profitable with value for money) in education and training before it's too late ka.

Happy Songkran ka.

Define your own future

 Happy Monday to all ka.

The CU Alumni Association through its sub-committee on foreign affairs just finished two more sessions the past Saturday and so here I am to share with you ka.

The first session was on, 'Define your own future', which was the one I had the full responsibility. I asked a Fulbright alum, Ajarn Chaiwat Kaewpanngam to help co-moderate as he's known more about the younger generation's thinking from being a Silpakorn ajarn ka.

We had three speakers from different sectors. The first, Mick, is a co-founder of Muvmi, electric tuktuk for micro-transit trips in Bangkok. The second, Title, is a Y series writer with his public health background, and the third is Ada, CEO of Taejai, a purpose-driven-donation-based crowdfunding platform ka.

What I learned:

Parents (and in some cases....family relatives) 

- should be around as the best support system to coach/challenge their kids to think of their kids' own future, not to force them to go on 'their/the parents' desirable career tracks'.

- could possibly do best when they help guide while letting their kids try and fail so that their kids will learn what is/isn't their real interests to identify the true passion.

- should be good models as life-long learners for them to see and feel the urge to read.

 

Kids

- do diverse activities and observe their own selves to see what they enjoy most.

- prove to their parents that they've found their own passion by showing some success stories, like recognition from that particular circle (Title was able to get some awards to show to his parents and relatives his choice of career is the right one for him.

- READ to learn more to get new ideas and thinking.

- give themselves opportunities to see more of the world from different programs available....make it happen not to wait for it to happen.

- be proficient in another language and English could be one.

 

Besides this one, the afternoon session was on scholarships which seemed to get a bit more interest from the public.There was a little discussion about whichever should come first between knowing your own selves and getting a scholarship to gain more exposure. 

To me, it's so obvious that this isn't a chicken and egg matter. Once we know more or less what our own preference/passion is, it's much easier to apply and become qualified for a scholarship to further his/her studies. So, additional activities during the kids' studies are crucial ka.

Over to you if you think differently na ka.

Croissant and Muffin Story

 I've listened to 'The Secret Sauce' about Sabina....a bra business!  It could sound a bit awkward at first particularly from Khun Ken who did the interview. Yet, it turned out to be one wonderful episode that I enjoyed with some good learning ka. 

Sabina turned itself from being an OEM to develop its own brand known nationally and internationally after having studied to see how the latter would benefit much more from looking at the markets differently and boldly, using more market surveys, reading spreadsheets, becoming more innovative, training people to have multi-skills, reducing production steps from about 40- 28, etc.

The one I like best is about 'Croissant and Muffin' story, told by Khun Bunchai Punturaumporn, Chairman of Board Management, Chief Executive officer, Sabina Public Company Limited.

He said one evening at a coffee shop when he and his team noticed that only one croissant and 8 muffins were left while a few only wanted to have croissants. Even when after 6 pm, the muffins would be sold at 50% off and all were sold, it wasn't the right strategy to do.

This was how he looked at it in my own words and thinking ka:

- Data and information are key to get when we know what to collect and how to utilize it -- our weakness in higher education.

- When the products are all sold out, it doesn't mean what we've done works successfully-- all students have graduated doesn't mean we've taught them well.

- We must learn more about what customers really need and supply enough to meet their wishes-- have we guided our students for them to know what they should be aware of from knowing their own selves and needs?

- People at the front lines have to observe what's actually happened and know how to help analyze key issues for further improvement-- our support staff can play a key role when they're empowered and equipped with the right tools (mindsets included)!

I added this one below from the interview ka.

- Preference/taste of people changes overtime so surveys, discussions with customers, and learning about our own positioning, etc. must be conducted -- our higher education circle has done enough of what must be done mai ka?

How do you like this story ka?

Happy weekend ka.