Awareness Raising Process of Energy and Environment Conservation among Staff and Students of the Faculty of Medical Technology

Abstract

         This participation action research presents an operational policy on energy and environment conservation of the Faculty of Medical Technology and the current attitudes of the faculty staff and students towards participation in the conservation. The research findings will be used for developing the guidelines for becoming the model for energy and environment conservation through balanced co-existence between human and the nature. The research also serves the 5^th strategic goal of the faculty, i.e. “Geared to become an institute for learning with vibrant liveliness” and the 7^th strategy of the University of Mahidol, i.e. “Harmony in diversity”. The research objectives include: 1) To study the process of raising awareness of the energy and environment conservation of the Faculty of Medical Technology; and  2) To study the attitudes of the Faculty staff and students regarding the process of raising awareness of the energy and environment conservation. The research methodology consists of    2 parts: 1) Analysis of the process of raising awareness of energy and environment conservation of the Faculty of Medical Technology. The data was collected on energy consumption unit of electricity, water, fuel, paper and waste management and then compared between the fiscal years 2012-2013;  2) Qualitative data collection through random interview with the samples selected by the following criteria; 2.1 The samples inclusively represented the reference group of the Faculty staff and students and were reliable; 2.2 The samples were not involved with the policymaking and operations on the energy and environment conservation. The research

         findings indicate effective implementation of the Faculty’s energy and environment conservation policy due to the following mechanism: 1) The Faculty’s Management was committed to communicating and raising awareness of energy conservation and thriving to be the model of the lively knowledge centre; 2) Communities of Practice (CoPs) were established to implement the activities of the project to raise awareness and develop the right attitudes towards energy and environment conservation.

         The project activities started with knowledge management within the working group and then extended to the society and neighbouring communities, such as, the school networks in TambolKlong- Yong and Tambol Bang-Kaew-Fa, Nakornpathom province. In addition, the “Transformative Learning” class was offered to the first-year students and the faculty staff, which included activities such as producing hand-made notebooks. The project result demonstrates continuing decrease in electricity and water consumption in the Faculty by the minimum of 3% per annum in the past 3 years and, potentially, beyond. This result can be shared to raise awareness and change the Faculty staff’s and students’ behaviors for better cooperation in energy and environment conservation.