ASIAN YOUTH FORUM MAY 23, 2003 AT BANG NA CAMPUS
Her Royal Highness being welcomed by Youth Forum delegates.
Her Royal Highness with administrators and officials.
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Speech by HRH Princess Ubol Ratana.
The Asian Youth Forum 2003 is indeed a noteworthy initiatve by the Student Organization of Assumption University and UNESCO. This year's theme: Development-the human equation: investing in youth for a sustainable future, foregrounds the all important question that any society within Asia and the world around should be asking: what dimensions of development are the youth going to influence towards creating better societies and alleviating human suffering.
For too long have the youth in today's world been at the receiving end of policies set by agents several generations older to them. This has resulted in either cognitive dissonance in value systems or spirals of silence among the most potent and productive forces in any society-the youth. It is indeed commendable that the organizers of this year's Asian Youth Forum have chosen to focus on three variables to development: free speech, education and technology. Each of these aspects of contemporary development need redefinition and refocusing and it is hoped that the youth leaders assembled here today will indeed discuss and plot out action plans that would re-energize their communities and societies towards the much needed reformations in free speech, education and technology. UNESCO has proved through much of its existence and work that economics, societies and cultures are revived and resuscitated through youth initiatives and deliberations.
I am indeed pleased to declare open the 2003 Asian Youth Forum, hoping that much will be achieved through your deliberations at this beautiful and luxurious Assumption University campus. To those delegates who have traveled from overseas, welcome to the Kingdom of Thailand. Enjoy the rich culture and heritage of the land of smiles.
Speech by the President, Dr. Bancha Saenghiran
May it so please Your Royal Highness:
Assumption University of Thailand since the time of its inception in 1969 has placed primary importance on administrative, academic and student development. In our current development. In our current operations we encourage our students not only to excel in their studies but to gain experience from working among themselves towards embellishing their academic records and at the same time, learning more about themselves through students activities, locally and internationally.
The reputation of the DUMMY Company, initiated in 1973 by Mr. Kasem Kornseri during his college days in our institution is well recognized countrywide today. Alongside this activity and others, Assumption University students have carved niches for themselves in academia, corporate activities and public affairs.
The Asian Youth Forum is yet another groundbreaking activity, which was initiated in 1998 by the then Student Council president Visan Kulvarapom, who placed this university on the map of international youth and student conferences. Envisioning this activity as a platform to encourage youth leaders to express their views through debate and dialogue, Asian Youth Forum over the past five years has been effective through gaining the co-operation, of the United Nations Organization through working with ESC AP in the first year, and subsequently, up to the present time with UNESCO. Through this co-operation, among many other benefits sustained, windows of opportunities were opened for youth delegates from Laos and Cambodia to participate in the Asian Youth Forum 2001. We are pleased that Asian Youth Forum continues to co-operation with UNESCO. At the 2002 Asian Youth Forum the General Secretariat of the organization was set up and constituted by an executive board of directors drawn from five different Asian nations. The current Secretary General of Asian Youth Forum is an Assumption University student with the Secretariat itself situated in the Assumption University Student Organization activities center.
As I pointed out earlier, Assumption University envisions for its students the challenges of leadership in a multicultural environment and to this end the student affairs has provided space, opportunity and finances for this project to continue into the fifth year of its existence. In the perspective of the university there is no better way for youth leaders to discover, appreciate and promote diversity, than by dialoging with peer leaders at home and across Asia and the world.
The Academic Affairs services of the university has lent support to the project by assigning advisors to guide the students in the evolution of the conference topics and the selection of keynote speakers. Of paramount importance however, is the role of our students in committing to the continuing activities of Asian Youth Forum and organizing the forum each year in as professional ways as they could achieve.
In welcomeing Your Royal Highness to Assumption University and to the Opening Ceremony of Asian Youth Forum 2003, let me express thanks on my own behalf and on behalf of the University for your gracious acceptance of our invitation and for gracing us with your presence. In acknowledging the work you do in the cause of rehabilitating the delinquent youth in this country, let me pledge that Assumption University will continue to support its students through academic and extracurricular activities, into becoming proactive leaders for this country and for the world at large. To this end we will work, to bring prestige and prosperity to the Kingdom of Thailand and to other countries of the world.
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