By Vanessa Rosiana Anggraini
Thailand — June 3rd–14th, 2026. Vanessa Rosiana Anggraini, an undergraduate Accounting Student at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Malang, shared her delightful experience participating in the Student Mobility program: the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Summer Camp 2026. Hosted at Mahidol University (MU) in Salaya, Thailand, this program brought together students from across the ASEAN region to engage in cultural exchange, discuss Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and create a tangible, positive impact on local environments and communities.
The ASEAN University Network (AUN) Summer Camp is an annual collaborative initiative organized by AUN Core Member Universities. The program blends academic knowledge, practical workshops, and cultural exchange sessions among various ASEAN nations, and is specifically designed for undergraduate students from all AUN member universities. The 2026 edition of the AUN Summer Camp was hosted across 10 universities within the ASEAN region, spanning from April to September.
For this particular iteration, Vanessa served as one of the delegates representing Indonesia and Universitas Negeri Malang. The program was hosted by Mahidol University, which collaborated with several co-host institutions to deliver the curriculum, including Kasetsart University (KU), Prince of Songkla University (PSU), and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Each participating university played a distinct role, dividing the curriculum into three specific Learning Areas. Each area focused on a unique theme and was guided by dedicated mentors:
- Learning Area 1: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), focused on the topic “Learning Work and Future in Inclusive Cities”, mentored by Mr. Kueh Boon Lee.
- Learning Area 2: Mahidol University, focused on the topic “Empowering Communities for Sustainable Change”, mentored directly by Asst. Prof. Dr. Sumittra Suraratdecha (Ajarn Sam) and Dr. Phongkon Weerpiput (Ajarn Hong).
- Learning Area 3: Prince of Songkla University, (PSU) focused on the topic “Blue & Green Economies: Thriving Business, Healthy Planet”, mentored by Asst. Prof. Dr. Wanamina Bostan and Dr. Thitiporn Na Nakorn.
Last but not least, from June 11th to 13th, 2026, a field trip was organized by Kasetsart University. The field trip took place across 3 locations: 1) Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Chachoengsao, 2) Fisheries Research Station, Sriracha, and 3) Koh Loy Sriracha.
Visiting Thai Song Dam Museum and Traditional House
Vanessa had the opportunity to be part of Learning Area 2, where she engaged in experiential learning by visiting an ethnic group known as the Thai Song Dam on June 5th, 2026. The Thai Song Dam is an ethnic group that migrated from the Dien Bien Phu region of Vietnam and Laos to Thailand over 200 years ago. The distinctive characteristics of the Thai Song Dam people include their all-black traditional clothing, their belief in certain animals to ward off misfortune, and their rich traditional textile crafts that hold high artistic value. Most Thai Song Dam people reside in Phetchaburi Province, specifically in the Khao Yai District, Thailand.
Visiting Laem Phak Bia
On the same day, Vanessa also visited The King’s Royally Initiated Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project in Phetchaburi, Thailand. Laem Phak Bia is a coastal subdistrict and a royal environmental project in Phetchaburi Province. Located about a two-hour drive from Bangkok, it is world-renowned for its ecological wastewater and waste management initiatives and is globally celebrated as a premier birdwatching and ecotourism hotspot. Initiated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research and Development Project (LERD) serves as a model for utilizing natural methods to treat municipal wastewater and solid waste.
Final Project Presentation
After completing one week of indoor and outdoor learning, students were required to create presentations and prototypes regarding solutions to address the issues they had studied during their visits. The presentation and prototype showcase was held on June 10th, 2026, before continuing the trip to Chachoengsao organized by Kasetsart University. Wonderful news came from Vanessa’s group, which successfully won the “Best Presentation” award by presenting the theme of BioGas and how it can be utilized by local communities in ASEAN.
“I’m so honored to be a part of this group, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has already worked hard on this project, thank you to Al (Mar Alvin Rilles) for being a good leader for us, thank you to Zai (Muhammad Zaidin bin Zaidi) for being a good financial planner for this project, thank you to Tittle (Tammasak Matlae), Cream (Phannaphat Orachon), and Ink (Khemjira Rattanaprom) for being a good teammate especially during a group discussion process.” said Vanessa.
Visiting Khao Ang Rue Nai and Koh Loi
Upon arriving in Chachoengsao, the students explored the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. Their primary activities centered on studying bird diversity in Thailand, tracking the Siamese crocodile, and analyzing agricultural plots. This segment was mentored directly by Prof. Dr. Kornsorn Srikulnath from the Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University.
As soon as the learning session in Chachoengsao concluded, students continued their studies the following day in Chonburi, specifically at the Kasetsart University Fisheries Research Station, followed by a visit to Koh Loy Sriracha, and a final visit to the International Maritime Studies department at Kasetsart University.
Awarding for The Best Presentation of Learning Area
As this program ended, each Learning Area was required to present their final reflections and experiences from the SDGs Global Camp 2026. Bringing the journey to a triumphant close, Learning Area 2 secured the final “Best Presentation” award, marking a wonderfully successful conclusion to the AUN Summer Camp, SDGs Global 2026 program.
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