Mahidol University hosted the 27th Traditional Academic Conference of Mahidol University, Royal Thai Navy, Thammasat University, and Kasetsart University under the theme “Future Skills for Sustainable Impact” on September 2, 2026, at Mahidol Sitthakarn, Mahidol University. Asst. Prof. Dr. Piyachat Jittatham, Director of the Institute for Innovative Learning (IL), Mahidol University, participated in the opening session and contributed to the exchange of perspectives on future skills and the preparation of learners for a rapidly changing world.
The conference provided a platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue among participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. The program featured a special keynote address entitled “Thriving in the Future Economy: Think Differently, Create Opportunities” by Prof. Dr. Yotchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The conference also featured special panel discussions addressing key issues, including “Future Sustainable Competency or Skills?”, “Young Leaders and Collaborative Skills for Ocean Conservation: Small Steps Today to Pass on the Ocean to Future Generations,” “Digital and Innovation Skills,” and “Lifelong Learning and Adaptability.”
As part of Activity 3: Student Group Workshops, Asst. Prof. Dr. Piyachat Jittatham served as a facilitator for Group 1: “Design Your Path Today for the Impact You Want Tomorrow.” The workshop, entitled “Design Your Own Learning Journey,” provided an interactive space for students from the four participating institutions to explore and reflect on their aspirations, interests, strengths, and future learning needs.
The workshop emphasized the connection between learning, future skills, and the impact individuals aspire to create in the future. Students were encouraged to take an active role in designing their own learning journeys by identifying their interests and strengths, recognizing the skills they need to develop, and considering learning pathways that align with their personal goals and the changing demands of the future.
The participation of the Director of IL reflects the Institute for Innovative Learning’s contribution to advancing learning innovation, learning design, and lifelong learning. Through its expertise in learning innovation and educational development, IL supports the development of learners who are capable of continuous learning, adaptation, and meaningful engagement with emerging challenges in a rapidly changing technological and social landscape.
The workshop format also reflects IL’s commitment to experiential learning, active participation, and reflective learning. Rather than simply receiving knowledge, students were encouraged to explore their own potential, exchange perspectives with peers from different institutions, and actively design learning pathways that can be applied to their future academic and professional development.
The Impact of the activity extends beyond the workshop itself by creating opportunities for students from four institutions to learn together, exchange ideas, and recognize the importance of future skills, lifelong learning, and adaptability. It also encourages young people to see themselves not merely as learners who respond to change, but as active contributors who can shape their own futures and participate in creating positive change for society.
The participation of the Institute for Innovative Learning in this national academic platform demonstrates IL’s ongoing Contribution to connecting learning innovation with human capacity development and supporting the transformation of education to meet the needs of a changing world. Through initiatives that empower learners to design their own learning journeys, IL continues to promote an educational ecosystem in which learners are not only prepared for the future, but also equipped to create opportunities and generate meaningful, sustainable impact for society.
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