Innovation Farmer: A Look at the School of Agricultural Resources at Chulalongkorn University

The School of Agricultural Resources, Chulalongkorn University [ http://www.cusar.chula.ac.th/ ] was established in 2014. Its goal is to produce graduates who are proficient in managing agricultural resources. The school’s curriculum combines the science and art of plant and livestock production technology, food processing, food safety, agribusiness, and logistics, and teaches students to combine traditional knowledge with new research to develop innovative agricultural concepts and technologies that address local developmental challenges. The school aims to produce graduates who are passionate about and have local knowledge of smart farming, which is economically and environmentally sustainable. Additionally, the school conducts research, creates knowledge, and provides academic services in resource management for agriculture development. It also works to build partnerships with various stakeholders in order to promote sustainable agriculture development and provides education and training on sustainable agriculture development to the public.

The School of Agricultural Resources works closely with local agribusinesses to provide students with opportunities to gain real-world experience through projects that address problems in the community. It also offers a variety of extracurricular activities to enhance students’ entrepreneurship skills, such as organizing mini Hackathon competitions and arranging for trainers to provide training on business management or entrepreneurship. In addition, the school collaborates with foreign universities, including National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, and Jiangxi Agricultural University in China, to provide exchange opportunities for its students.

In addition to accepting students through normal national admission, the school also has a direct admission process in which student portfolios are used to identify students with the potential to become entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector and a goal of returning to develop the agricultural sector in their hometown. These students come from various agricultural areas in Thailand, and some may receive scholarships due to financial need. The school also has a presence in other countries, such as Cambodia. The students from Cambodia have received royal scholarships from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. After graduating, graduates return to work in agribusiness or become instructors at universities in the country.

A survey of 149 graduates from academic years 2561, 2562, and 2563 found that 19.5% returned to work as farmers in their home communities, 0.7% started their own farming businesses outside of their home communities, 22.2% worked in social agriculture development (government, private sector, royal projects, or social enterprises), and 26.2% worked in private sector agriculture companies. The School of Agricultural Resources is successful in preparing its graduates for various career paths within the agriculture industry and beyond. The school’s efforts to provide a well-rounded education that combines traditional knowledge with new research and to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders are likely contributing factors to the success of its graduates.