ABSORB: Asian University Business School On Running Business.

Making juice

A group of the Business faculty’s undergraduates have been teaching basic business to some of the pupils at the nearby Phinjam Wichasorn secondary school in Chak Ngaew village.

The Asian University students were recently awarded a grant of $650 by the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) organization and they are using this money to fund their project. (Just three countries received SIFE awards in the SIFE 2007 - 2008 Economic Opportunity Project Grants category, Asian University in Thailand, and students’ groups in China and Korea.)

They decided to use the funding to help them to run a business training workshop at a local school. The programme gave the pupils basic information on the importance of planning, looking at costs and income, demand and supply, profit and loss.

Customers come to buy tasty snacks

The University President, Dr Viphandh Roengriyapithya joined the students for the first session, on 29 January, and addressed the pupils from M6 and M3 about business ethics. The University students then took over the class and begun by mixing the pupils and setting them some simple tasks in the form of a game. The Asian University students have visited twice each week since, and the final session was on 22 February.

Bic tastes the food

The pupils were divided into four groups, each about ten youngsters, with a university student to guide each team. Each group then chose what they would do, wrote a business plan, and set up a small business, making and selling food and drinks to their friends and teachers at lunchtime and after school. They were given 1,000 baht seed money to start the business, and were told that they would have to pay this back at the end of the project.

The businesses chose to make fried chicken and somtam, sweet corn ice desert (nam kang sai), sandwiches with coffee and tea, and the fourth group fried chicken pieces and French fries.

The winning team, making fried chicken and somtam, succeeded in making a profit of 580 baht, and only one team made a small loss, although they still had some saleable inventory, so would hopefully be able to break even. The pupils had an incentive to make a profit as they were able to keep their profits. At the end of the project the Asian University students told them that they could keep their seed money as a reward, and also to encourage them to future business projects.

This project has given the University students a chance to try their hands at teaching, it has made them realize how much they have learnt, and it is also an opportunity to give something back to the local community.

Ann helps the youngsters count the money.

The School principal thanked the Asian University students for all their help, and was given certificates from the University to pass on to the pupils at the school who had participated.

The final tally: the winning team made a profit of 580 baht

Students’ Annual Community Service Teaching Project

Fang asks what it is.

Jessica and Num ask the children to reply

Over the last few weeks, a group of students and staff from Asian University have been visiting a local primary school to help the pupils and teachers with their English lessons. This is an annual community service project and benefits everyone. The Asian U Students have a chance to try their hands at teaching, the children have a different group of teachers and everyone has a chance to get to know one another and have some fun.

Yiam and Fang listen to the answers

The children at the Huay Yai primary School enjoyed their classes with their visiting teachers. The university students learnt a little about teaching.

Fang and Bem help the children

The Asian University students selected the best three pupils in each class and these youngsters were then given an English assessment by Ajarn Keith to find the best English student at the Huay Yai School. The winner was Miss Kanokwan Noichim.

Kong works with some of the boys

The photos (thanks to Ajarn Robert) show some of the smiling children, including Kanokwan, and the University students.

Kanokwan (centre) listens to Bem

Visiting Artist Series: Luce Goutelle

On 14 February, Luce Goutelle, a French artist, visited Asian University to demonstrate some of her work, to meet the students and talk with them about her work, and theirs.

Luce Graduated and was awarded a Visual Art Diploma with Honours from the Ecole Superior d’art de Grenoble in 2007. She has been in Thailand for six months on an art scholarship and an internship with Tang Fu Kuen fine arts.

Multimedia lecturer, Will, introduced Luce to the audience of University and College students, and their teachers. Luce then spoke about here work, with plenty of illustrations, and was also very open when answering questions.

She explained how she collects information, in the way you would collect ingredients to prepare a meal. Then she studies and digests the information, before starting on the creation process. She gave more details about three recent projects: “Essai 1” an art performance mixing art, movement and dance, using rugby players as her models. The second project was “Dog racing”, and the final exhibition included photos and drawings of the dogs as well as the jackets worn by the dogs to identify them during the races. The last project was “Pollution Masks” which she undertook in Bangkok. This included a collection of masks, crocheted by Luce many in irregular patterns and styles. Luce explained how in each case she had started knowing nothing about the subjects (rugby, dog racing and crochet) and had learnt to crochet in Bangkok when she bought her first yarn and hook.

Luce showed examples of some of her other work before Will thanked her for sharing her work and stories with everyone. Thanks to Ajarn Robert for the photos of Luce.

The next Visiting Artist series will be later in February when a Filipino film specialist will come to Asian university. Award-Winning Festival of Filipino Films Outreach Tour Sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in cooperation with the Asian Public Intellectuals Fellowship Programme.

On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 February starting 7pm, there will be a mini film festival at Asian University. Both evenings are expected to last about two hours. The programmes planned are as follows:

Day 1: Wednesday 27 February: Six short films with short introductions to each. Followed by a reception to meet our guest, Edward Delos Santos Cabagnot.

Edward is an award winning lecturer from the Filipino Cultural Centre, whose expertise is in Asian Cinema.

1 Mansyon (Mansion) by Joel Ruiz

A middle aged couple, Ambo and Dolores, are hired as caretakers of a large opulent house for three months. The couple has fallen into a psychic rut, mechanically doing their housework. Until one day Dolores finds a red perfume bottle …

2 Kultado (Boiling Point) by Lawrence Fajardo

Life in a wet market in the provinces spells danger. A young vegetable vendor and his family are oppressed by the market thugs. But things always have a breaking point.

3 Gabon (Cloud) by Emmanuel Dela Cruz

The mystifying tale of a Muslim lass who is determined to attend her classes .. No matter what.

4 Durog (Smashed) by Tara Illenberger

A beautiful maid goes to work for a spaced-out, spoiled addict. But there’s more to this than meets the eye.

5 Doble Vista (Double Vision) by Nix Lanas, Nisha Alicer & Caren Crisologo

A witty and visually exciting tribute to Godard and the Nouvelle Vague centering on a lovelorn writer and his mystery lady.

6 Putot (Small Fry) by Jeck Cogama

A young boy cares for his mentally challenged father in a slum area that is about to be demolished. While trying to make a living selling shellfish, he meets Mayang, a girl slightly older than him. Soon he finds himself enamoured with the lass.

Day 2: Thursday 28 February (Two award winning full length films, with an intermission)

1 Ang Pagdadalanga Ni Maximo Oliveros (The blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) by Auraeus Solito & Michiko Yamamoto.

An international film festival favourite; about a delicate young boy who falls in love with a handsome cop. Winner 2006 Berlinale Kinder Festival.

2 Kubrador (The Bet Collector) by Jeffrey Jeturian.

Another world film festival mainstay; about a woman (played stunningly by much awarded actress Gina Pareno) from the slums, who collects illegal gambling bets for a living. Cinemalaya 2006 Opening Film.

Entry to both the evening events is free. For more information please contact Khun Yao on 038 253 700, extension 2722 or email Will at wsmith@asianust.ac.th

There is more information on the film festival on the web site at www.asianust.ac.th/bam/filmfest.htm

Asian University Vs Burapha University Sports Day

The tug of war!

The last weekend in January saw the annual ‘Human Society’ sports competition take place at Burapha University in Bangsaen, Chonburi. This competition, as the name suggests, is to promote friendship and team work between students and staff of the two institutions. The venue alternates between the two universities.

Many sports are played each year with each university entering teams from their respective universities but this year saw an added twist with teams from both sides mixing together in each other’s teams to ensure a true sense of team and inter-university spirit. As with all sports there are the winners and the losers, but everyone came away a winner on the day.

The two football teams, Asian University in blue, Burapha in purple.

Asian University would like to extend their deep appreciation to Burapha University for the wonderful day and thank them for being such gracious hosts.

Dance competition

If any sporting body in the local area would like to organize a local sports competition please contact the sports director; Mr. James Saville at jamesk@asianust.ac.th

Take a chance and make a change

Asian University students on the right, with their students

Netty teaches English

Tanes Rianglaem (Nate) is a 4^th yr BA student at Asian University. He and a few of his classmates recently joined an English teaching project at the Princess Sirindhorn vocational training center in Banglamung District. He writes about the project as follows:

Netty and her students get down to work.

Bim helps with pronounciation

“The three weeks of activity were run by the Liberal Arts students with close assistance from Ajarn Roy. It was such a great opportunity for Asian University students to contribute something back to the community by sharing their knowledge to others.

Asian University students (and Nate in the foreground) with their students

The first week of the project, the big group of interested students was divided into smaller groups. We asked them what their needs were and what they were interested to learn. Then we helped them with the basic daily conversation which they might face in their future workplace. After knowing what their needs are as well as their level of English, the Liberal Arts students prepared the teaching materials to meet students’ needs in each group. Pronunciation clinic, Conversation practice and variety of games were all implemented. On the second week, everything seems to be better. Our students felt more confident to speak English and extremely happy to learn new things.

Asian University students with their students and teacher Roy

The project has gone by so fast; we could clearly see that our students have done a great job. Every individual has gradually developed their English skills during the three weeks of activity. Regarding this project, we were not just teachers, but we are learners as well. We have learned how to teach, how to prepare class materials and how to talk to the students. We all have realized that being a teacher isn’t that easy, but it’s very challenging!

Yao (left) and First

Doing such an activity is not only benefit to those who have lack of opportunity. At the same time, we also gain something in return. Something that money can not buy, Something that we call “Happiness”. The smile of our students is a greatest gift we have ever received. It creates a great value to our hearts, challenge our ability, and build goodwill to the community.

Nate (left) and Nanny

After our graduation, we are looking forward to keep contributing these valuable things to our society, aiming to improve the quality of life of our community. Lastly, for those who are thinking about doing such activities, what are you waiting for “Take a chance and Make a Change!””First (left) and Yao help the students

Thanks to Ajarn Roy for the photos.