IATSS Forum

Sawasdee ka all participants and readers! I’m Akareeya, a participant for IATSS batch 53th from Thailand. First of all, I would like to thank IATSS for this prescious opportunity and all staffs who work so hard for us from the very beginning. I am very excited to join the forum and counting down to the start of the programme this upcoming May. Globalization transform our society to be the new world without boundaries. Improved technology, communication and social networking facilitate more movement of information and culture. The world is getting smaller, however, work environment are more complex and challenging. This significant transition calls for the innovative style of leadership to cope with this change which I believe I can be experienced from the IATSS Forum. I cannot wait to meet all participants to share opinions, experiences, cultures as well as makeing new friends while we are ‘thinking and learning together’. I am sure that this two-month experience is going to be one of the best moment in my life. I hope you all are getting well and I am looking forward to seeing everyone in May!

Before attending the Forum, I had been told by Thai alumni that it would be a life-time experience and change my life forever. From my own experience, that was not over-exaggerated. The first question I had been given was ‘who shape me?’ and my answer then was ‘my family’. However, for now, there is definitely one more answer to add-on that is ‘IATSS forum’. Academically speaking, this programme provided so much knowledge and skills that you might not be able to learn elsewhere. Facilitation skills is one of them which I can apply back to my work as a lawyer. Under ‘sustainable community design’ theme studies, I become more environmental-friendly and contribute more to the society in order to make it a better place. More and most importantly, what I really appreciate are the people. I fell that 55-day programme was long enough to turn very kind and helpful IATSS staffs, all participants and volunteers to be my family. It has been a month since I came back from Suzuka. Never a day that I forget my beloved town and people in Suzuka. I wish all the best for 54th participants and hope you make the most of this precious opportunity.