Walailak University in association with Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, announced at the Press Conference to jointly host “The 21st IMT-GT Varsity Carnival” to be held at Walailak University during 23rd- 28th August 2019 to strengthen the relationship and exchange experience among the students of the member universities from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
On 16th August 2019 at Sri Prach Meeting Room, Office of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Hall, Mr. Pongsak Muangdee, Director of Strategy and Information for Development of Nakhon SiThammarat, together with Associate Professor Dr.Sarawoot Palipoch, Vice-President for Student Affairs, Walailak University, and Mr. Pramuanwith Pruedchana, Assistant of the Office of Nakhon Si Thammarat Tourism and Sports jointly announced at the Press Conference, to host and co-hostthe 21stIMT-GT Varsity Carnival to be heldat Walailak University during 23rd-28th August 2019 for strengthening and exchanging invaluable experiences among students from Indonesia,Malaysia and Thailand. There were distinguished guests from public and private sectors andaround 50 mass media attended the Press Conference.
Mr. Pongsak Muangdee stated about the objective to support the 21stIMT-GT Varsity Carnival this year is that the Nakhon Si Thammarat province would like to promote tourism, sports and culture through various kinds of activity to benefit the students and people of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand so called the Growth Triangle area. Moreover, the students of Nakhon Si Thammarat will have an opportunity to expose to and engage with international friends from multi-socio cultural contexts, develop their communication skills, as well as to promote tourism of Nakhon Si Thammarat to their friends from those countries. Mr. Muangdee also invited the people of Nakhon SiThammaratto be a host together and give a warm hospitality to our IMT-GT guests to make a good impression.
Associate Professor Dr. Sarawoot Palipoch said the Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand - Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Varsity Carnival was first established by the collaborative foundation of Universiti Utara Malaysia and Prince of Songkhla University in 1996 and later joined by other neighboring countries. The main objective of IMT-GT Varsity Carnival is to strengthen academic relationship, enhance staff and student development through a variety of activities such as sports competition, academic seminar, and cultural exchange among 12 member universities from Indonesia, Kuala Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Institut Teknologi Medan (ITM), Universitas Syiah Kuala (UNSYIAH), from Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), University Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), and from Thailand, Prince of Songkla University, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thaksin University, and Walailak University. The member universities agree to take turn in organizing the event every year at their venues for the benefits of their staff and students in the relevant aspects. Dr. Palipoch also mentioned that the IMT-GT activities are categorized into three major elements—Sports, Arts and Culture, and Academic Seminar. For Sports, there are 5 types of sports—football, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and 4-kilometer fun run, to be held this year. For Arts and Culture, there will be cultural performances from the three neighboring countries under the theme “Exploring ASEAN Culture through Multicultural Dance”. For Academic Pillar, a seminar on “Empowering Local Wisdom towards Human Wellness” will be organized during the abovementioned period. Participants of this seminar may approximately be 1,200 students and staff from 12 member universities. The official Opening Ceremony of the 21st IMT-GT Varsity Carnival will be held on 24thAugust 2019 at Walailak University, moreover, there will be NST city tour activity, a cultural performance show at NST City Park at the 25thnight, Big Bike Caravan from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will also join the event and the tour.
Mr. Pramuanwith Pruedchanaalso said at the Press Conference that the21stIMT-GT Varsity Carnival eventis congruent with the province strategy on the development of ecotourism and cultural tourism to meet international standards. Organizing this event, the NST people can be able to generate income from tourism related-industries;all involving sectors in NSTcan participate in the event and in the meantime learn how to organize international events to meet its standards;the province can create impressive corporate image and build confidence for tourists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and attract them tore-visit Nakhon Si Thammarat in the future.
Reporter: Mr. Teerapong Nooplod, Division of Corporate Communication
Translator: Ms. Sukanlaya Thavornpon, Center for International Affairs,
Photographer: Trainee, Division of Corporate Communication