<p><font color="#33711E"><strong>Day 1 - Plenary Session I: Paradigms of Development</strong></font></p>
Queen's Park 1, 11:00 - 13:00
Roles of Universities in Sufficiency Economy
Charas Suwanwela
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Rapid advancements in technologies, knowledge and innovations can contribute to prosperity, better lifestyles and longer life. On the other hand, new technologies, individualism and imperfect market mechanisms have led to a knowledge divide and greater inequity. Environmental degradation, exploitation of the less competitive, societal fragmentation and conflict have escalated at an alarming rate in recent years. The "sufficiency economy" approach is an advisable alternative to consumerism and unsustainable development. This paper explains how universities can play critical roles in the promotion of sufficiency economy. In particular, the paper highlights five areas which universities can play a role. (1) Moderation and the "middle path": control of greed and desire must be a value ingrained in the next generation, in the public and in academic circles. (2) Wisdom: Universities can help in the cultivation of wisdom and a society in which knowledge can serve as immunity against exploitation and can provide people with the capacity to cope with change. (3) Social responsibility: Universities can also advocate for social responsibility by individuals and groups, as well as provide trustworthy information to the public through their position of neutrality and integrity, especially in cases of conflicting evidence and confusion in society. (4) Ethics and morality: Universities can set the standard for values in society. (5) Technological awareness: critical appraisal of technologies, including cost-benefit analysis in terms of their affordability and cultural compatibility, is a mandatory competency for university graduates today.
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