On March 19–20, 2025, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), through the Global Competency Development Center (GCDC), School of Liberal Arts, in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs, organized GCDC FUN FEST 2025: Intercultural Market (Taste, Talk, Traditions: A Cultural Journey) for the second semester of the 2024 academic year. The event was held on the 1st floor of the School of Liberal Arts Building.
On this occasion, Dr. Napak Chotisawas, Head of the Global Competency Development Center, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of developing academic and intercultural competencies for students and staff. The event was officially opened by Asst. Prof. Dr. Natcharee Chatupitakkul, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, who welcomed participants and stressed the significance of cultivating knowledge, skills, and experiences that are applicable both in academic and professional contexts.
KMUTT organized this event to promote intercultural learning and exchange, focusing on experiential learning through food (Taste), storytelling (Talk), and traditions (Traditions). These experiences allowed students and staff to practice English and other foreign languages, understand diverse ways of life, and build intercultural communication skills in global contexts.
Activities included an international street food market, offering participants the chance to taste food from various countries while learning about cultural eating practices. Other highlights included a spice and ingredient showcase, tea and coffee workshops, live cooking demonstrations by expert chefs, and storytelling sessions where individuals shared personal cultural experiences. The event also featured exhibitions on local markets and global festivals, and hands-on workshops such as cultural arts, calligraphy, handmade item auctions, and even magic shows inspired by global folklore.
This initiative aimed to create an international atmosphere on campus, enhance cultural understanding through shared experiences among Thai and international students, and provide staff and students with opportunities to use English and other foreign languages in real-life situations. It also fostered internal networking and collaboration, strengthening global competencies and driving KMUTT forward in the era of globalization.
