Supporting the United Nation’s Disaster Resilience Programme – MSU Forges 1st University-Municipality Partnership in Thailand
MSU has recently become the first university in Thailand to partner with a local municipality to support the disaster resilience programme of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), known as Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030).
In its partnership with Mahasarakham Municipality, MSU has introduced specific tools developed by the UNDRR for making cities more resilient, including early warning systems, knowledge sharing, and technical support. Data gathered by Thailand’s Department of Disease Control during floods – the most common cause of natural disasters in Mahasarakham – is entered into an MSU database for disease prevention, improving preparedness for treatment, and ensuring medical supplies are available to treat flood-related diseases, such as hand, foot and mouth disease, dengue fever, diarrhea, and influenza.
MSU’s Smart City Solutions (SCS) unit, led by Assoc. Prof. Tarawut Boonlua is an important example of how universities are helping to introduce digitization at the municipal level, where data collected and stored can be used by municipalities and other government agencies to build and improve city infrastructure, as well as aiding them in responding to disasters. “We train about 500 municipality staff each year,” said Assoc. Prof. Boonlua, “We give them access to software and guide them in the use of it. We consult on how to apply it to address the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Acting president of MSU Assoc. Prof. Prayook Srivilai stated that universities are no longer just places to learn facts and get a degree, “They are also places to develop skills, solve problems and make a positive impact on the world.”
Full University World News article: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20241101074637190
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