The path to success is not limited to the classroom, as demonstrated by two scholarship students from the School of Engineering and members of the Robot Studio laboratory. They have proven that stepping out of their comfort zones into competitive arenas is a key to developing potential and opening doors to new opportunities in the world of innovation.

Nine Mr. Natthanarong Tiangjit, a Tech Talent scholarship student, and Kiawsa Miss Chanunya Sutti, a Petch Chaiyapruek scholarship student, are two young representatives who challenged themselves by participating in national-level projects like "Learn Lab 2025" and international collaborative programs like "Learning Express Programme 2025" to enhance their skills, develop creativity, and learn to apply artificial intelligence technology to solve real problems.

Learn Lab 2025: Creativity Beyond AI

Learn Lab 2025 is a competition platform under the Meta Learning concept that aims to unlock creative potential for new entrepreneurs by integrating AI technology in developing business models for Mega Trend industries. "This project was our first challenge working together, amid competition from over 130 teams nationwide. It was like experimenting in a sandbox that allowed young people to present innovative ideas and extend businesses in key industry groups including food, music, art, beauty, and healthcare."

Their presented work was an application using AR and AI technology to help plant lovers. "The starting point came from real experiences in previous competitions, which we developed into an application that helps home lovers who want to grow plants but don't know which types are suitable. This application uses AR technology to detect space and AI to analyze suitable plants. Users can take pictures of plants, convert them into 3D images, and place them in desired areas to simulate the view before making actual purchases. It also provides information on which plants are suitable for air purification in PM2.5 dust conditions, recommendations for both indoor and outdoor planting, analysis of planting behaviors to determine suitable plant types, and plant disease diagnosis."

The biggest challenge in this project was pitching their work within 3 minutes. They continued, "After being selected as one of the 40 teams, we had to make every second count in presenting all our ideas to the committee. Beyond practicing presentation skills, competing outside made us realize that our knowledge of AI is just a small part of the entire field. This competition opened new perspectives and worlds for us."

Learning Express Programme 2025: Creating Sustainable Innovations for Community Problems

In addition to Learn Lab 2025, both also participated in Learning Express Programme 2025, a collaboration between Bangkok University and Singapore Polytechnic. This program allows students from both institutions to explore community lifestyles, identify problems, and collaboratively create innovations through Design Thinking processes. "This project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Architecture and Singapore Polytechnic, with student groups from various fields working together. It aims to bring students from all disciplines—humanities, engineering, or architecture—to team up and use their specialized expertise to solve real community problems."

Nine's team, participating in this project for the second year, shared: "After surveying the area and asking villagers about the problems they face, we found that waste management is a key issue. My team designed new-style trash bins made from leftover PVC pipes in the community. We improved the design to separate the outer bin from the inner one for easy repair and reuse, reducing the need to buy new ones and decreasing new plastic bin production, which is a sustainable solution."

Meanwhile, Kiawsa's team focused on improving the quality of life for community members. "Our team developed and built upon a chatbot that Singapore Polytechnic students had started, turning it into a comprehensive application for the community—a one-stop service with various functions such as booking co-working spaces. We worked with architecture students to design interior spaces and focused on user experience design to best meet needs, which was well-received and generated interest from the community."

Participating in this project not only allowed both students to work with peers from different faculties but also to practice English language skills in real situations. "Since the project included students from Singapore, we had to communicate in English throughout. It was an opportunity to apply the English we've been learning all our lives and to open our minds to different perspectives from friends of different cultures, helping us grow and develop skills for working with others significantly."

Valuable Lessons from Laboratory to Competition Stage

Participating in both projects not only opened new experiences for the two students but also built upon skills cultivated from being members of the Robot Studio laboratory, one of the projects of the Faculty of Engineering, Bangkok University. "We have developed various valuable skills through being members of Robot Studio, through working on diverse projects and taking on different roles in each job."

They continued, "Many people may view being a 'duck' that can do many things but isn't an expert as not good, but for us, being a duck means having all-around abilities that help us handle various situations, develop ad-hoc problem-solving skills, and be open to new opportunities, which are important skills for the future world."

Stepping out of the comfort of the classroom into real competition arenas not only helps students develop necessary skills but also broadens their worldview, builds networks, and paves the way for new future opportunities. It serves as inspiration for the next generation of students to dare to step outside traditional frameworks and discover the potential hidden within themselves.