Assoc. Prof. Siree Chaiseri, Ph.D., director of Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC) and Ms. Napaporn Jaisajja, Secretary-General of the Senate, signed a memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of research process for the development of scientific system for research and innovation for tourism and creative economy, with Assoc. Prof. Thongchai Suwansichon Ph.D., Deputy Director of PMUC, and Mr. Pheerapong Ratanamalee, Deputy Secretary-General of the Senate signing as witnesses. Special Prof. Phonpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the Senate presided over and gave the opening remarks along with luminaries and officers of PMUC presiding as witnesses to the ceremony today (30 July 2022).
This memorandum of cooperation has established two frameworks for working together, encompassing analysis, design, and joint events to present research and academic data in tourism and creative economy. The goal is to promote progress in the legislative process in matters ranging from consideration of the bill, analysis of the motion, and any other study under the framework of authority in accordance with national policy guidelines, and aim to be responsible for managing the budget and expenses within the working framework, which is within the scope of responsibility of each party. In such a case where joint allocation of budgets is required for any activities, both parties will consider and have a written agreement in writing on a case by case basis, in order to promote the use of research and academic output within the legislative process in the Senate.
On this occasion, the President of the Senate presided over the signing ceremony. and said “Development resulting from this cooperation between the Secretariat of the Senate and the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMUC), includes combining operational knowledge base between the organizations, which in turn stimulates support for the country’s research as well as the transfer of aggregate knowledge base in the areas of research and academic that will be of great benefit to the Senate legislative process. Namely it will facilitate the process of assessment, analysis, and decision-making on various matters by the Senate and relevant committees and make the entire process more efficient, thorough and more inline with academic principles. Moreover, the knowledge base can also be used for tangible commercial objectives, creating benefit and value for society and the nation as a whole.”
Assoc. Prof. Siree Chaiseri, Ph.D. revealed that “PMUC has a mission to support research and development to increase the country’s competitiveness. Tourism is one of the industries in which our country has competitive advantage. We want to try to use science, innovation and technology to increase the value of our tourism industry by emphasizing the cooperation between the public and private sectors. What PMUC focuses on is the participation called Partnership. We bring together the academic side supported by government agencies in cooperation with the private sector, so that we can see what we can build together, and try to join our analytic and creative efforts to create a new dimension for the tourism industry, as well as create new concepts and new values. If we can all work together, it will enable us to be more competitive in all areas and matters.”
The agreement to cooperate was based on a synergy between the Secretariat of the Senate, which is responsible for supporting legislative operations, and PMUC, which is in charge of allocating research funding and creating innovations to increase the competitiveness of the manufacturing and service sectors, including funding to support technology transfer. and promoting the commercial utilization of research and innovation. The research and academic output resulting from this cooperation will benefit the knowledge creation process as well as the understanding of both the relevant committees and members of the Senate. At present time, PMUC, as a preliminary step, has started to coordinate and build cooperation in the policy making process related to the tourism industry, and aims to expand the results to other areas.
