Yossanun Inspires 3,500 Thammasat Freshmen to Turn Crisis into Innovation
Deputy Prime Minister and MHESI Minister delivers a keynote speech at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus for the academic year 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Over 3,500 Thammasat freshmen attend the 2026 orientation at Rangsit Campus
- Yossanun shares how the Motorola crisis sparked brain-signal innovations
- Cites Fujifilm and Singapore as lessons in lifelong learning and adaptation
The orientation ceremony for new students of Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, on August 2, 2026, was filled with warmth and excitement under the theme “Thammasat: Where We Are Irreplaceable.” Drawing over 3,500 freshmen, the event featured a highlighted talk titled Talk & Inspire : Where you matter by Prof. Dr. Yossanun Wongswadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, attending as an alumnus from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) Class of 40.
Prof. Dr. Yossanun opened by emphasizing the value of equality within the university, noting that everyone is treated on the same level. He then walked the audience through his life lessons, ranging from fear and failure to adaptation for survival, stressing the importance of avoiding extinction in a fast-changing world. He recalled a major turning point after graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 2001, just as Motorola—a tech giant his family once supplied—began shutting down operations, plunging his secure-seeming future into uncertainty.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
That crisis served as a catalyst for innovation. Prof. Dr. Yossanun decided to pivot from radio frequencies to brain-derived signals to help individuals with disabilities regain mobility. He also highlighted the classic corporate cases of Kodak and Fujifilm facing the digital tsunami, pointing out that Fujifilm survived because it recognized its core identity as a chemical and nanomaterials company rather than merely a film business.
"The mindset of a winner may no longer help us if we harbor ego. Today, success is impossible without maintaining the mindset of a challenger and an eagerness to pioneer new things."
Prof. Dr. Yossanun Wongswadi
In his closing remarks, Prof. Dr. Yossanun reflected on Singapore spending just 50 years building its nation through human resource investment. He urged students to drop their egos and embrace lifelong learning, reminding them that education extends far beyond four university years. He concluded by telling the students that they carry the hope and meaning of Thailand, drawing loud applause from the audience. Following the session, numerous students rushed to take selfies and interact with him in a friendly atmosphere.
This keynote speech serves as an inspiring bridge between academia and real-world business dynamics. Utilizing real corporate examples like Motorola, Kodak, and Fujifilm vividly illustrates the practical impacts of technological disruption, reinforcing that adaptability and lifelong learning are indispensable attributes for modern graduates navigating a rapidly shifting landscape.
Source: Khaosod Politics
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment