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CMU Executive Seminar 2026: Uniting Visions for a Sustainable Future under Plan 14

23 May 2026
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
On May 23–24, 2026, Chiang Mai University (CMU) hosted the ‘CMU Executive Seminar 2026: Inclusive Innovation for Sustainability’ at UNISERV. The seminar served as a key platform for more than 500 CMU administrators at all levels to exchange ideas, share suggestions and collaborate on advancing the university’s strategies in response to future global disruptions, in line with the CMU Educational Development Plan, Phase 14 (2028–2032).
Emeritus Professor Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Chairman of the CMU Council, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote lecture titled ‘Global Geopolitical Changes and Their Impacts on Universities’. He emphasized that geopolitical crises are no longer distant concerns for universities, as they simultaneously shape conditions related to energy, economy, technology, education and security. Universities must therefore transform from traditional producers of knowledge into key national mechanisms for foresight, adaptation, innovation development and policy design.
The seminar was also attended by Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, who delivered a special lecture on ‘Policies of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation’. He stressed the importance of integrated collaboration across all sectors, describing the Ministry as “a Mini Science Cabinet” equipped with knowledge and professionals capable of developing sandboxes to pilot solutions to Thailand’s most pressing challenges in every dimension. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the need to align research with the economy, foreign affairs, security, disaster management and public administration to generate scalable and practical outcomes, with the ultimate goal of transforming Thailand into a high-income nation.
Another highlight of the seminar was the presentation titled ‘CMU Educational Development Plan, Phase 13: So Far So Good’, which covered key issues including future food, CMU AI, PM2.5 and water management, carbon neutrality, tourism and the creative economy. The session also introduced the next phase, ‘CMU Educational Development Plan, Phase 14: Next Episode – Sustainability’, which focuses on advancing the university towards sustainable development.
During the ‘Plan 13: So Far So Good’ session, Professor of Practice Dr. Charin Techapun, Vice President overseeing overall strategic implementation, summarized progress under the CMU Educational Development Plan, Phase 13 (2023–2027). He highlighted the university’s achievements, including ranking 44th in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and receiving the Thailand Quality Class Plus (Innovation) award. Other university executives also presented updates on the implementation of the Plan across various areas.
During the seminar, Professor Dr. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, CMU President, presented a framework for drafting the CMU Educational Development Plan, Phase 14 (2028–2032), guided by the vision of becoming ‘A Leading University Committed to Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development through Innovation’. The framework also incorporated recommendations from CMU Council members and administrators across divisions to ensure that the Plan addresses the needs of all sectors.
Key challenges discussed during the development of Plan 14 included global warming, health crises, food security, Thailand’s ageing society, geopolitical conflicts, the transition into an era of learners equipped with AI and technological proficiency and professional skills-oriented workforce development. The Plan aims to produce a highly skilled workforce that meets national demands, generate research and innovation aligned with the needs of employers and entrepreneurs, and provide academic services that support local and regional development. It also seeks to contribute to Thailand’s economic, social and environmental advancement in alignment with the country’s aspiration of becoming a high-income economy.



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