Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Architecture has partnered with Siam Piwat Academy, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., a leading real estate and retail business developer, owner, and operator of global destinations such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Icon Siam, and Siam Premium Outlet Bangkok, to launch for the first time in Thailand the WORLD CLASS SHOPPING MALL ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT: Managing Urban and Facility for Sustainable Society of the Future course aimed at developing knowledge for excellence in managing world-class shopping malls towards sustainability, creating a positive impact on economic, social, and environmental development, and enhancing the potential of personnel in the retail business to elevate the capabilities of Thais to compete on the global stage. This initiative reinforces the concept of being a platform of opportunity for all sectors through learning principles and ideas from national and international academic experts, understanding the role of shopping malls in the economy and their relationship with cities, and studying real-world case studies of global shopping malls.

This collaboration reflects the importance of developing knowledge and leadership in managing world-class shopping malls towards sustainability (Facility Management for Sustainability) to create an impact in ESG management for the development of Thai shopping malls to grow together. It also allows operators to understand the management of shopping malls as an ecosystem involving real estate developers and personnel from all sectors, recognizing the importance of collaborative management. Currently, Thai shopping malls rank among the best in the world and are a must-visit destination for travelers from around the globe. Shopping malls are thus a key factor in driving the economy, society, and environment of cities. The Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with Siam Piwat, a leader in global real estate and retail development, recognizes the importance of developing knowledge to cultivate leaders in world-class shopping mall management towards sustainability (Facility Management for Sustainability) so that Thai shopping malls can help build a sustainable economic foundation and grow alongside cities.

The World Class Shopping Mall Ecosystem Development: Managing Urban and Facility for Sustainable Society of the Future course is a specialized short-term training program held every Saturday from September 14 to November 2, 2024, organized by the Social Design Center at Chulalongkorn University (CU D4S).

The course content is specially designed under the concept of managing shopping mall districts, from buildings to districts and from districts to cities, creating an understanding of the business ecosystem, from project initiation, staying updated on shopping mall business development trends, methods and approaches to operating world-class retail businesses, shopping mall design, physical resource management, building management, maintaining engineering systems, and professional management of commercial districts. The course collaborates with academics from leading universities such as University College London and Zurich University of Applied Sciences, featuring faculty, speakers, and leaders with extensive experience from Thailand and abroad, including Prof. Michel Pitt and Daniel Von Felten, as well as experts from Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. This course is suitable for shopping mall operators, project developers, business developers, project managers, building managers, architects, and building engineers.

The launch of this course has garnered interest from the business sector, shopping mall operators, and community malls nationwide. The anticipated success of the project aims not only to develop personnel and elevate professional standards in shopping mall operations to enhance competitiveness at the international level but also to establish a long-term collaborative curriculum development plan between Chulalongkorn University and Siam Piwat Academy to further academic and professional knowledge, uniting educational institutions and the private sector to create a positive impact on society towards sustainability.

Assistant Professor Sarayut Sapsuk, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University stated, “The Faculty of Architecture has a policy to enhance extracurricular learning to meet the needs of the industry and the labor market in the country's economy. The World Class Shopping Mall Ecosystem Development training program in collaboration with Siam Piwat Academy aims to elevate knowledge through Upskill & Reskill for those in the labor market, creating understanding in the shopping mall industry, which involves the design and management of large, complex architectural buildings in cities. Particularly, the management of shopping malls in Thailand must develop and coexist sustainably with urban growth without creating problems while simultaneously promoting the regional economy at the district level for stronger growth. Therefore, having a significant number of people in shopping malls necessitates that the personnel managing these malls possess knowledge and understanding of the shopping mall ecosystem, which includes the role and connection of shopping malls with communities and cities, the design of various elements that respond to the behavior of the public and customers, off-hours management, opening and closing times, user-centered design, and the psychology of management that avoids problems and provides seamless service to the public. Through this, the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University aims to create knowledge and understanding to produce professionals for the country's shopping mall industry.”

Mr. Nattawut Kiatchaiyakorn, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. stated that Siam Piwat is a global project developer committed to sustainable business principles and continuously values the development of personnel capabilities both within and outside the organization. This collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, a leading university in the country, is an excellent opportunity to drive and elevate the knowledge and capabilities of personnel in Thailand's retail business to the next level by supporting experts in related fields to provide various knowledge while opening shopping mall spaces to create real-life experiences that reflect Siam Piwat's clear vision of being a well-growing platform for all sectors under the Siam Piwat Academy project, a learning and management institute that exchanges knowledge in real estate development and retail business with Thai educational institutions.

Course Highlights:

  • Lectures and discussions from qualified speakers both domestically and internationally
  • Visits to case studies of global retail management
  • Workshops on case studies under the guidance of speakers
  • Learn to manage the physical systems of leading shopping malls and world-class commercial districts in all dimensions
  • Study the science of design and strategies for developing and managing modern shopping mall businesses
  • Integrate knowledge from academia and professional practice
  • Elevate and develop professional standards for physical resource management towards sustainable social development
  • Share and learn innovations in physical resource management to prepare for future challenges
  • Promote strategic resource management to support organizations and businesses for global competition

This training program will be held every Saturday from September 14 to November 2, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, totaling 8 days and 64 hours. The training fee is 35,000 THB per person. Interested participants can apply from now until August 31, 2024. Please follow the details on Facebook: CUD4S. For inquiries, contact Line OA: @cud4s, phone 02-218-4316, or email: [email protected]