On 12 July 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), along with administrators and staff of the Regional Academic Resources and Community Engagement Center – Ubon Ratchathani, attended the 16th National Conference on Persons with Disabilities (NCPD 2024) at Udon Thani Rajabhat University. H.E. General Dapong Ratanasuwan, Privy Councillor, presided over the opening ceremony.
The NCPD conference has been held continuously for 16 years. This year conference was co-organized by Udon Thani Rajabhat University and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, on the topic of “Innovation Driving for Quality of Life of Persons with Disabilities towards the Sustainable
Thai Society on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 72nd Birthday.”
The seminar has an important goal to promote the development and dissemination of knowledge, research, academic work, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities, in collaboration with academic network partners. This leads to further development and expansion, as well as supporting the creation and development of human resources, personnel, researchers,
and academics in the field of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. It also aims to support caregivers of people with disabilities to be ready for employment and social participation.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), represented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President, signed a memorandum of academic cooperation for improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. This agreement was made between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and 64 government and private agencies.
The agreement aims to create networks and promote cooperation in working to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. There is a shared intention to develop academic knowledge, research and development, innovation,
assistive technologies, digital technologies, and appropriate technologies according to universal design principles.
