From: sl2k+@andrew.cmu.edu (Schitt Laowattana)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Various S&T questions
Date: 16 Apr 92 17:54:06 GMT
Organization: Doctoral student, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


Sawasdee krub,

    Below are my answers to some questions related S&TD in Thailand



>In your post about the new salary plan for university staff, I heard
that >the university pivatization plan could not pass to be the law in
the last >government. So, I don't know whether it can pass in this
government. 
 
    At the matter of fact, the meeting was delayed.  And the the act of
university privatization did not even have a chance to be considered.
Since the act has controversial arguments  At that time, top officals
were afraid of confusion to follow.  However, many seniors continue
their figthing for the act from the current government.

>Your optimistic outlook on the future of S&T in Thailand is certainly a
>moral builder for all of us who has chosen this career.
 
    Please help building optimistic attitudes towards S&TD in Thailand. 
If you find the S&T information, I posted,to be useful, would you kindly
forward to Thai people, S&T students , S&T professionals nearby.  It is
my belief that pooling this resource is a "MUST" activity which makes
S&TD in Thailand possible.             
 
>Further, I would like to urge you to continue posting in the netnews.
>Especially any information on the job opportunities in S&T in Thailand will
>be extremely useful.  I am not speaking for only myself, but also other
>people who decide to return home.  I have some friends who come to study in
>the US on their own expense and want to return due to whatever reason
>(personal, family, health, etc.)  If Thailand needs manpower in S&T to
>keep up with the demanding of the new world, it is depressing to see that
>the government does not try very hard to reach these people.
 
    I, myself, view this activity of posting S&T info. on the netnews as
high priority, although I am very busy w/ my research and the set up of
Center of Operation for Field Robotics Development(FIBO). If my attempt of
getting a governmental mechanism to do such posting works is successful,
quality and quantity of the S&T information in this net will be
significantly enhanced. For now, I will try my best to inform all of us
here about S&TD based on availability of raw data I have.
 
    Currently, we have the Office of Science and Technology Counsellor(OSTC)
in DC. which is functioning as an integrator of S&T sources and Thai
professional here.  This center was set up about two years ago.  Please
give them sometime.  This year, they are organizing the Thai
Professional Conference in California.  The result of such an activity
will help pooling our resources aboard to energize towards the
advancement of S&T in Thailand.
 
>IMO, they all share the common anxiety of not knowing if they will be able
>to find any jobs back home.  Many believe that they will have to take
>certain positions because of money rather than what they will be enjoy
>doing.  The possibility of abandoning all the polished skills, which they
>learn only by investing considerable amount of time and effort, does not
>sit well in their mind.
 
    If the law of separating engineering universities from governmental
affairs and management is enacted, universities will be allowed to earn
and manage outside money  from local industries.  The research
employees, then ,will have compettive salaries w/ ones in the private
sector.  We are figthing for this law so that the work such as R&D which
you're enjoy doing will have reasonable financial rewards
 
 
 
>On the contrary, many new students paid by the government already have jobs
>waiting for them when they return.  These are the lucky ones.  However, I
>want to make sure that thisis not a complain because there is nothing to
>complain about.  I just point out that the government should not ignore
>these readily available specialists.  By giving them a little more
>information to persuade them to come home, the government can practically
>scoop them up for free.
 
    At the matter of fact, number of MoSTE student (approx. 967 students
in the year 2539) still do not enough for S&TD in Thailand.  Thai
government signifies the readily available specialists aboard.  I quite
agrre w/ you that the infomation system need to be improved. 

>I am reading your postings on S&T with great interest. I wonder
>whether there is a newsletter on S&T in Thailand, which maybe you 
>could help me to get the address to?

    (1). Far-West News (in Thai)
         (every three months)
    (2). S&T News from Washington(in Thai)
         (every week)
        
    Items (1) and (2) could be obtained from:

        Office of the Science and Technology Counsellor
        4301 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suit 429
        Washington D.C 20008 USA
        Fax (202) 362-2806
        Tel.no (202) 364-2800

    I personally called them today and ask for a possibility for anyone
to subscribe the newsletters. They confirmed it.  You can refer to this
statement.

    (3). Thailand News(in english)
         (every three months)
         4250 Connecticut Ave
         N.W Room 260 Washington DC.

    Most of the information I posted in this net came directly from
Thailand. if you have any specific S&TD questions, please e-mail me.  I
will try my best to serch answers for you. 
 
 
Thank you,
Schitt  Laowattana

FACT 1
^^^^^^ 
S&TD in Thailand is a serious issue.  It's a crucial factor to the
survival and the standard of living of our young generation to come, in
this competitive world.

FACT 2
^^^^^^

If Thailand wants to believe and get help for S&TD, let's do w/ our Thai
people first.  No matter where they, their contribution and helps to
their homeland are highly appreciated.