UNIVERSITI Putra Malaysia (UPM) often organizes overseas travel programs to gather new experiences and share images of different cultures.

Recently, UPM students experienced fasting abroad through the Thailand K10 Skills and Knowledge Youth Empowerment (SKYE) program organized by Kolej 10, UPM for two weeks.

The program is carried out by exploring the beauty around Hatyai and Bangkok from 29 February to 13 March 2024.
SKYE Thailand's K10 Program Director, Hazimah Amani Kamalul Arifin shared her excitement with the experience related to food processing at Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), Rai Sukphoang farm and CP Meiji factory which is very related to her course of study.

"PIM offered the opportunity for us to carry out industrial training in Thailand, while also being interested in establishing a bilateral relationship between UPM and PIM.

"This proves that the K10 SKYE program is not just about honing student leadership and cooperation, but also successfully forming a network of relationships with various parties abroad," he said.

Volunteer activities at Tha it Village Madrasah, Nonthaburi, Bangkok

Not only that, students also have the opportunity to carry out volunteer activities with the Muslim community in conjunction with the month of Ramadan.

The activity started with a get-to-know-you event with young students at the madrasah and also performed the obligatory noon prayer at the surau of the old 101-year-old village, Tha it village.

After breaking the fast together with the community in Tha it village, all participants moved to Sulaimaniyah Hafiz Quran Center for terawih prayer and a session with 70 students at the center.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Program who is also an Architectural Science Degree student, Dakshayani Krishnan thinks that the experience allowed him to get to know the way of life of the villagers during the month of Ramadan.

"As a non-Muslim participant, I have already felt what the situation of the month of Ramadan is like there.

"We also do volunteer activities which are training activities and games in English with children in the madrasah," he said.

Sornsasanasasanupatham School in Bangkok.

The students also visited Sornsasanasasanupatham School and interacted and shared with the school management.

The school is a boarding school that emphasizes various aspects not only in academics but student and vocational survival such as acting, hair cutting, and the production of wind oil products and souvenirs.

During the interaction session, students also shared their views with the school management in an effort to encourage more efficient use of English by school students and the qualifications for those school students to continue their studies at UPM.

In addition, Bachelor of Architecture and Landscape students, Shahrul Danish Sharif Shahrim felt that his experience in Thailand was very different in terms of culture, food and traditions.

"I was able to visit the Ramadan bazaar in Bangkok, I was able to see the traditions of the Muslim community in Bangkok, and even meet old people there who can still speak old Malay," he said.

Among the interesting places visited by the students are Prince of Songkla University (PSU) landmarks such as the Pumpkin House, the library, the Hall of Fame as well as a visit to the Department of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Engineering and the PSU Science Park.

Next, the participants also do environmental volunteering activities with plogging activities around the beach area of Samila, Songkla.

After a few days in the South of Thailand, the participants moved to Bangkok and carried out activities at PIM which is a private higher education institution under the umbrella of CP All, a company that is also the owner of 7-eleven, CP Food and CP Meiji.

Interactions with parties from the PIM International Division were conducted before the students were taken on a tour around the PIM campus including iCras (Robotics and Automation Sciences), PIM AIR, and 7-11 Tara (premium).

The students also conducted a visit to the CP Meiji factory, Saraburi, which processes dairy-based drinks for the local and international markets.

Agricultural activities at Rai Sukphoang farm, Ratchaburi, Thailand

Students also had a visit to Rai Sukphoang farm, in Ratchaburi which is about 3 hours from Bangkok.

While at the farm, they were exposed to the concept of 'Good Agriculture Practices' which is practiced comprehensively in the farm, in addition to the farm owner sharing about bamboo, cocoa, ferns and sugarcane plants.

K10 SKYE Thailand Program Accompanying Officer, Noor Hazwani Abdul Rahim described the program as being able to provide a broad approach covering many elements such as science and technology, agriculture, industrial visits, arts and culture and volunteering.

"The idea of visiting the CP Meiji industry and the Rai Sukphoang farm is an initial exposure to open the eyes and minds of students.

"This kind of visit is also able to empower the agricultural sector so that the assurance of food security in the country can be improved in line with Goal 4 of Universiti Putra Malaysia," he said.

By FARAH AYUNI (Majority Author)

Original link: https://majoriti.com.my/relaks/2024/05/01/pelajar-rasai-nikmat-berpuasa-di-perantauan-lawat-kampung-101-tahun-menerusi-program-k10-skye-thailand

Date of Input: 06/05/2024 | Updated: 06/05/2024 | ruzaimi