Bangkok: The Ministry of Education recently celebrated the achievements of the winners of the OEC Hackathon competition, recognizing their outstanding contributions to sustainable community innovations. The awards ceremony took place at the Maida Hotel, Don Mueang Airport, and was presided over by Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Assistant Minister to the Ministry of Education. The event marked the conclusion of the 'OEC Hackathon: Good Learning, Happiness, Sustainable Community' initiative, aimed at enhancing essential skill sets among students.
According to Thai News Agency, the ceremony featured the presentation of a plaque of honor from Pol. Gen. Permpoon Chidchob, Minister of Education, to the victorious teams. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit Erawan, Secretary-General of the Education Council, extended his congratulations to the 10 finalist teams, which were chosen from a pool of 203 high school applicants nationwide. These teams showcased their innovative projects focused on community development during the 'OEC Hackathon Camp' held on February 7-8.
The top honor went to the It'sWeSanity plus1 team for their project centered on the Phonyangkham Beef Cattle Cooperative Limited, promoting sustainable community sharing. The second place was awarded to the Smart Mangosteen Unit team for their sensor-based mangosteen harvesting machine, while the PTK.innotech team secured third place with their multifunctional textile raw material preparation machine.
In his address, Mr. Siripong emphasized the Ministry of Education's commitment to improving education, promoting happiness, and reducing educational inequality through technology. He highlighted the importance of equipping students with both basic and necessary skills and described the hackathon as a platform for problem-solving and continuous innovation. He encouraged the teams to build on their ideas and continue developing their innovations.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prawit expressed intentions to expand the hackathon initiative to the provincial or regional level, creating more opportunities for creative learning using technology. He affirmed that the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) would explore new methods of learning, with hackathons serving as a pivotal process in fostering creativity and technological application.