Assistant Professor Dr. Orawit Thinnukool, as the project coordinator of the Tourism-Zero Project, participated as a keynote speaker on the topic “Strategies and Techniques to Secure Erasmus+ Funding” at the seminar “Unlocking Global Opportunities: International Funding for Research and Education” held at the NSP Rice Grain Auditorium, Science and Technology Park, Chiang Mai University.

The event was organized by the Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University (ORA, CMU), on April 21, 2025, it aimed to enhance the capacity of CMU researchers by promoting knowledge and facilitating access to international funding sources. It was designed to help academic staff and researchers to gain more opportunities for international research funding, which is considered a significant factor in supporting high-quality research with widespread impact. Additionally, it aimed to foster collaborative networks with top researchers and global institutions, paving the way for valuable knowledge and experience exchanges that benefit the university’s research development. There were over 200 attendees both in-person and online, including academic staff and researchers from CMU and partner universities across Thailand, such as Khon Kaen University and Prince of Songkla University.

As the project coordinator, Assistant Professor Dr. Orawit Thinnukool introduced the Tourism-Zero Project to the high-level staff of CMU, academic staff, and researchers from various CMU faculties. The project was presented as an important project under the funding support from the European Union, Erasmus+ Programme, aiming to deliver social impact through a focus on environmental issues by enhancing the quality and responsiveness of the academic offer of HEIs in Tourism and Hospitality sector to the challenges of environmental degradation in Thailand, Lao PDR and China. As the project seeks to develop curricula and sustainable tourism practices for zero-waste management in the tourism and hospitality industries in Thailand, Lao PDR, and China to promote sustainable development at the regional level, it aligns with Chiang Mai University’s vision of being “A Leading University Committed to Social Responsibility for Sustainable Development through Innovation.” The presentation of overview of the Tourism-Zero Project has generated significant interests among attendees, including high-level administrative staff of the university and researchers from various fields such as technology, social & environmental studies, the SDGs scheme, as well as CMU lecturer who are interested to extend collaborative networks with international universities under the Erasmus+ network.

Read the event report here [English] | here [Thai] | here [Lao] | here [Chinese]