On August 7, 2023, Mahidol University International College (MUIC) commenced its collaborative initiative with the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, under the banner of the “Service Solution Design Competition.”
This competition brought together 36 students hailing from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Hong Kong. The majority of these students were pursuing studies in biological science or medical fields. Their collective mission was to devise innovative service solutions that could enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of elderly patients. The objective of this competition aligns SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Moreover, these solutions were expected to incorporate viable business components and feature aesthetic packaging designs with promotional value, in resonance with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
Prof. Chulathida Chomchai, M.D., MUIC Dean, emphasized the significance of understanding the needs of the stakeholders. “We should observe and listen to what stakeholders are saying…and what they’re not saying,”
Clinical Prof. Visit Vamvanit, M.D., Director of Siriraj Hospital and representative of the Siriraj Academic Center of Geriatric Medicine, provided insights into Thailand’s aging population. He shed light on Siriraj Hospital’s strategies for addressing the challenges posed by this demographic shift, focusing on a patient-centric approach to healthcare delivery that promotes citizens’ health and advocates for lifelong and preventive care.
In the afternoon, the students embarked on a site visit to the Siriraj Academic Center of Geriatric Medicine in Samut Sakhon province. Over the next three days, they participated in seminar-workshops centered on design thinking, visual design, and business concepts. Each team work diligently to develop their proposals. Ultimately, on August 11, all the teams presented their ideas to a panel of judges, contributing to SDG 4: Quality Education, by promoting innovative and holistic learning experiences that foster creativity and problem-solving skills among students.
In the Service Solution Design Competition 2023, MUIC’s team, Designomics, secured 1st Runner-up, earning a 25,000 Baht scholarship grant. The Makara team from the University of Indonesia claimed 1st Place with a 50,000 Baht scholarship grant, while the Delta APU Team from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia, was the 2nd Runner-up, receiving a scholarship grant worth 10,000 Baht.
