Asian U in top three in TV's Game Wad Duang

Waiting to play the game

On Wednesday afternoon a group of excited Asian University students welcomed the team from the Channel Five TV programme “Game Wad Duang”, or Test your Luck, to the campus. The team included the famous TV presenter Andy, better known as “Dragon Five”.
Don't drop the ball!

The TV crew set up their equipment in the sports centre and put up a marquee and advertising display with games and music outside. They had with them a group of pretty young ladies and motorcycles to promote the show’s sponsor, Shell.

Students working together

The games consisted of groups of students carrying large inflated balls using only the long poles provided. Once one group completed the run from one end of the sports hall to the other, another group could start. The students were put into groups of ten on each side to carry the poles which were used to support the large balls. They were allowed a practice run, and then donned the promotional tee-shirts to take part in the timed event.

Dragon Five gives the instructions

Co-ordination was essential, and the Asian University students quickly adopted chants to keep their teams together. Meanwhile the remaining students cheered their peers along. 4th year BA student Zai said that the afternoon was fun and a good exercise in teamwork. First year multimedia student, Ninja, explained that the oil company used the university students to advertise their products in exchange for Asian U being advertised on the TV show.

Yam leads his group

This is part of an inter-university competition, and in this heat, there are 15 universities competing, against the clock.

Keeping their eyes on the ball

The crew left us to visit the 15th university, but before they left they gave the students the good news that Asian U is currently standing second out of the first fourteen teams who have participated. Asian U’s time was only half a second slower than the winning team. The students look forward to hearing whether they are second or third in the final placing.

Promotional tee shirts, from Shell, modelled by students.

It was a busy afternoon at the university as after the game show, the annual mini-marathon was run round the campus.

Finish with a big Asian U cheer.

Open House at Asian University and the College.

This weekend, the University and College doors were open and many potential students and their families came to have a look around and meet students and teaching staff. In a relaxed atmosphere, they were able to chat to existing students and also meet the teaching staff. Many of the younger visitors showed interest in the summer camps and the college.

Tours of the campus

I'm on television!: Liberal Arts Faculty

Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya (Dr. Vip) the President of the University addressed the parents and youngsters about the advantages of studying at an International University such as Asian U. A second presentation on preparing for university was given by Dr. Penny Lorwatanapongsa, a counselling advisor.

The faculties and departments of the university had information and activity stands around the academic building; the college held demonstration classes; visitor were able to see the university buildings and facilities for themselves and visitors took tours of the campus, including the sports centre and the dormitories.

Maths is fun: puzzles and making hexaflexagons

Some of the existing students acted as guides, while others manned stalls promoting the activities of their clubs. Apart from the main Student Union stand, these included cookery, photography, publishing, music, meditation, shooting, Tae Kwando, and many others.

Physics in the Engineering Faculty

Marketing activities in the Business Faculty

Part of the multimedia display

The College and some of the students and staff

Music club members

Cookery club members show off Asian U biscuits

Prawit represents Thailand at international Youth Camp in China.

Visiting Dongguan University of Technology

One of last year’s Asian University graduates, Mr. Prawit Tangkabutra (Wit) recently attended the China-ASEAN Youth Camp 2006, and the following is a brief account of some of his experiences. Wit was one of eight Thais chosen to represent his country along with people from ten other ASEAN countries.

They left Bangkok on 23 October, flying to Guangzhou, then travelled to Nanning. On 28th they flew to Fuzhou, and finally back to Bangkok on 30 October.

Tree Planting at Nanning Park

This is the fifteenth annual China-ASEAN Youth camp. The camp aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship among young people, deepen the co-operation in the field of Youth Affairs in China and ASEAN countries so as to infuse China-Asean activities with new energy.

Wit explains:

“I will tell you about my new experience there:

New Knowledge from Cultural Exchange

During the stay together of the ASEAN delegates and Chinese volunteers in Guangzhou, Nanning, and Fuzhou City for 8 days, the different cultures and traditions were shared by each delegate.

The Thai delegation (Wit with green sash) at Cultural evening in Nanning.

For instance, Thai delegates taught Chinese volunteers to say, 'Hello' or 'Sawasdee' in Thai, and showed how Thai people 'Wai' or saluting other people. Some basic Chinese words, such as 'Ni Hao (Hello)', 'Chea Chea (Thank you)', and 'Jai Jian (Good bye)' were also taught by Chinese volunteers to ASEAN delegates.

The Thai and Singaporean delegations in Nanning (Wit with green sash)

Moreover, the very interesting and different ways of saying some basic words for greeting were taught by each ASEAN country. The interesting culture that always shared on every meal during the stay in China of ASEAN countries was the different way how the say the word, 'Cheers'. Singapore delegates use the words, 'Ya Xing' as same as 'Cheers' in English. They would normally say the word, 'Ya' for as long as possible together with the holding of the glass of whisky as high as possible and then say, 'Xing' shortly. Quite similarly, the word, 'Chai Yo' is always used by Thai people.

Visiting Nanghua Youth Civilisation Community

Chinese traditional whisky drinking was also taught by Chinese delegates during the stay in China of ASEAN delegates. Chinese people use the word, 'Kan Pei' in order to ask others to drink all of the whisky in the glass. When they say, 'Kan Pei' that means everyone have to say, 'Kan Pei' back to them, and then drink all of the whisky in the glass. After drinking, everyone have to show their glass for making sure that they already drank all of whisky.

Another interesting knowledge is about the symbol of Nanning City, 'Ball'. The Nanning ball represents as the love between people. The throwing of the ball and receiving the ball are meaningful. The one who throw the ball is the one who want to have love. Oppositely, the one who receive the ball is the one who accept the love. The interesting of the Nanning ball is about how to make it. All of the Nanning symbol balls are made by the retired women of the Nanning society. The Nanning government also supports the making of the ball in order to help those retired people to earn some special incomes. Thus, the ball is become to be the symbol of the city.

At Song Shanhu Lake

As a result, it was not only the learning and receiving other different cultures by watching their showing of culture performance, but it can also learned by living together.

Oh! I got a lot of friends there. All of them are from other ASEAN countries. Now, we still keep in contact.”

Toasting friends: the lady in green is the leader of the Guangxi Autonomous Region.

Asian University is very proud of Prawit and his achievements. He was awarded a first class honours BBA degree this year after four years of study at Asian U preceded by a preparatory year in the Foundation programme.

Asian University participates in National Inter-University sports competition.

23-28 October 2006, was the week that an inter-university sports competition was held in Ayutthaya, a small and historical city. This is the 34^th national competition and last week was an elimination round for the national colleges and universities’ games later on. There were 12 colleges and universities taking part, all located in the eastern part of Thailand.

The event was opened with a parade through the city which included not only the participants but also local dignitaries.

Luckily for all our students, Asian University was able to take part in this important sports event for the first time this year; it was a great opportunity to get to know about other universities and colleges in the eastern part of Thailand. We also met our old friend (and foe) – Burapa University - at this sports event

Basketball, soccer, beach volleyball and petanque were the main sports in this competition. All our players were excited and looking forward to these games. Not for winning the game, but getting more involved and making new friends from other universities.

During the games, the atmosphere was so excited and extremely lively. Players fulfill all their talents in the games, loving the sport; feeling sweat on their bodies. Other students who were not playing were also excited with the games, and the cheer leaders encouraged the cheering and shouting, which didn’t stop until the game was over. Everybody seemed so lively and involved with each other, even though they may not know the other players very well. Many of the students took time out from the sports to visit some of the local historic sights.

This article was written by some of the Multimedia BA students at Asian University.