On 9 January 2026, Professor Emeritus Borwornsak Uwanno, Deputy Prime Minister, presided over a meeting of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council. Participants included Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and Vice Chair of the Council; Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, MHESI Permanent Secretary; Dr. Surachai Sathitkunarat, President of NXPO and Secretariat of the Council; as well as senior executives and appointed experts.

The meeting focused on the study and formulation of sustainable solutions to flooding in Hat Yai, as assigned by the MHESI Minister. To date, a committee has been established, with the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) serving as secretariat. The committee’s mandate covers five key areas:

1. Early Warning – enhancing forecasting and early warning systems; integrating data across agencies; expanding warning tools; developing notification systems; and conducting inspections and disaster preparedness drills.
2. Response – establishing a unified command center for evacuation and rescue operations; developing food distribution systems and buddy programs; creating a Hat Yai Resource Catalog; and implementing islanding operations.
3. Recovery and Rehabilitation –setting operational frameworks for rehabilitation; proposing systemic recommendations, including an integrated, city-level Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) system; and developing blueprints for future recovery mechanisms.
4. Assistance Measures – organizing post-recovery assistance systems at the government, provincial, and national levels for both immediate and long-term phases; and establishing water management and monitoring systems.
5. Data Systems –improving public communication and warning systems, including zoning classifications, mobile recovery units, the Hat Yai Single Alert System, and disaster roaming.

At a recent committee meeting, the following recommendations were made:

1. Command and Coordination –designing technical command-and-control systems capable of managing multiple scenarios, supported by integrated data under a “one system” approach.
2. Early Warning – applying advanced technologies such as sensors, IoT, AI, and precise mapping to strengthen situation analysis and multi-scenario early warning within existing systems.
3. Response – developing advance response systems for multiple scenarios using risk maps, with backup command centers in place.
4. Recovery and Rehabilitation – designing advanced, multi-scenario recovery systems based on high-resolution flood maps.
5. Assistance Measures –studying international recovery assistance models e.g., low-interest loans for households and businesses; proposing systems for managing utilities, drainage, flood-adaptive housing; and developing flood models using high-resolution data.
6. Data Systems – developing a “one system” platform for decision-makers and the public, with improved accuracy in forecasting rainfall, runoff, and flooding.
7. Participation – organizing participatory processes for planning, testing, and disaster drills ahead of the next rainy season, involving communities, local administrative organizations, and government agencies.

Professor Emeritus Borwornsak noted that the government has also established a parallel committee to address flooding issues and has sought cooperation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA has dispatched four expert teams specializing in early warning, disaster prevention, emergency response, and rehabilitation. He emphasized that integrating the work of the MHESI-led committee with JICA’s efforts would accelerate outcomes. Data and lessons from both initiatives could be compiled into manuals, translated into actionable plans, and applied through on-site drills, enabling the public to prepare for and respond more effectively to disasters.

The meeting further agreed that this blueprint should be adapted for use in other flood-prone provinces, with a strong emphasis on practical implementation to ensure tangible public benefits. It was also proposed that research be directed toward addressing root causes of severe flooding, including studies on water flow routes and environmental management. Preparedness for crisis communication and public health was highlighted as another priority, particularly ensuring that hospitals are ready to treat patients and conduct evacuations when necessary.

In addition, the Policy Council endorsed the approach for driving reform of the higher education, science, research, and innovation system, with a view to improve reform legislation so that it aligns with current conditions and enables knowledge to be effectively applied for economic, social, and environmental benefits.

Regarding the triple helix approach (industry–academia–government) to developing a high-skilled workforce for emerging industries, NXPO has conducted studies on industrial growth trends and Thailand’s national context. These analyses aim to prioritize appropriate industrial and technological fields for cooperation under the triple helix model. The resulting benefits are expected to strengthen the role of higher education institutions as core drivers of Thailand’s innovation ecosystem by integrating real-world industry challenges and advanced technologies into curricula and workforce development. This approach will help reduce skills gaps, enhance labor productivity, promote domestic technology and innovation, attract foreign investment, and support sustainable economic growth. The meeting endorsed this approach and assigned NXPO and the Office of the MHESI Permanent Secretary to jointly advance its implementation.

Professor Emeritus Borwornsak also raised concerns regarding General Education (GenEd), which comprises compulsory courses alongside students’ major-field studies. He observed that while many GenEd courses provide valuable general knowledge, they may be less suitable as formal assessment criteria for degree completion. He therefore proposed reducing the number of GenEd courses and shifting from classroom-based instruction toward experiential learning. He further suggested that students in all disciplines should complete at least two courses involving direct engagement with communities and society, with outcomes compiled into individual or group portfolios to accompany degree certificates—thereby enhancing graduates’ employability.

He also proposed establishing a centralized credit bank system to enable the transfer and sharing of GenEd credits across universities, increasing flexibility and reducing inequality within the higher education system.

MHESI Permanent Secretary Supachai added that GenEd programs currently focus largely on future skills, particularly soft skills. While the existing 24-credit framework allows universities to design their own courses, MHESI is preparing to introduce a common framework to ensure greater alignment across institutions, including stronger private-sector involvement in curriculum development. Examples include capital market courses developed with the Stock Exchange of Thailand and AI-related courses based on curricula from global technology companies such as Microsoft, offered in both Thai and English, and eligible for credit transfer through the central credit bank system. He noted, however, that some GenEd courses may not align with contextual needs. MHESI therefore plans to work with the GenEd Center of Excellence to recalibrate directions for GenEd development—ensuring a strong emphasis on high-quality future skills, shared applicability across universities, and responsiveness to long-term societal needs.