Universities pushed to engage

Campuses urged to take larger social roles, writes Jutamas Tadthiemrom

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Surakiart Sathirathai

Thai universities must redefine their roles and become more active partners in society, particularly during times of crisis, former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai said at the 10th Engagement Thailand Annual Conference 2026.

Delivering a keynote address on Wednesday, Mr Surakiart said escalating global challenges are forcing higher education institutions to rethink their missions and strengthen engagement with local communities.

Universities, he said, are uniquely positioned to respond to social needs because they are multidisciplinary and multi-generational communities capable of mobilising knowledge, people and networks at scale.

The conference, held from Jan 13-16 and hosted by Chulalongkorn University, was organised under the theme "Future Holistic Engagement: From Local Power to Global Impact."

It explored how Thai universities can build stronger community ties and take on more proactive roles in addressing social challenges nationwide.

Mr Surakiart, who also serves as chairman of the Chulalongkorn University Council, urged universities to move beyond traditional academic functions and position themselves as trusted partners during emergencies.

"As society faces increasingly complex challenges, universities must draw on their diversity and connect the dots across sectors to provide meaningful support to communities," he said.