2.3.5 Staff hunger interventions

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) provided interventions to prevent or alleviate hunger among members of staff. The university served free meals to its staff at its annual New Year gathering, gave free meal coupons to staff at the launch of the SWU Healthy Canteen, and introduced a daily 30-baht meal in every campus canteen as a welfare measure for students and staff. These interventions are direct and practical: they put food in the hands of staff, at no cost or at a price everyone can afford, and they reach academic staff, support staff and contract workers alike.

Free meals for staff at the university's New Year gathering

On 15 December 2025, SWU held a merit-making ceremony and a New Year lunch for its staff at Room 101 of the Lecture Building and Sports Building 1, Ongkharak Campus, to welcome the New Year 2026. The President of SWU, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cholvit Jearajit, opened the event, which was attended by university executives and representatives of staff from units across the university. The event was organised to give New Year blessings and encouragement to staff who had worked hard throughout the year.

The university provided a full meal free of charge. Staff were seated at round tables in Sports Building 1 and served a multi-course Thai-Chinese style lunch with drinks, so that every staff member who attended could share a complete meal with colleagues at no cost.

Figure 1: The President of SWU opening the New Year staff gathering, Ongkharak Campus, 15 December 2025

Figure 2: Staff sharing a free New Year lunch provided by the university in Sports Building 1

Figure 3: Staff from units across the university at the New Year lunch, Sports Building 1, Ongkharak Campus

Source: https://www.facebook.com/prswu/posts/pfbid06wDoBsEPLR8kBG4AHseLmuuJwGbaHqXpYhi4SCkJ2KAfg9xGGR9y9xFjPuqjWZGvl

Free meal coupons for staff at the launch of the SWU Healthy Canteen

On 11 March 2025, SWU and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) launched the SWU Healthy Canteen at the canteen building in front of the Prasarnmit Demonstration School. Staff and students were invited to register for the event, and the university gave free meal coupons to 50 staff and 50 students to use at the university's food outlets, encouraging them to try the healthy menus offered in every shop.

Figure 4: Staff and students at the SWU Healthy Canteen campaign, March 2025

Source: https://www.facebook.com/prswu/posts/pfbid0ZAxKkc4wQ8Sz7NKL5STTSedmdFeaPaq9XV5WL9o2eeJLH1YumNQ39URyKmGHoZHMl

A daily 30-baht meal as a welfare measure for staff

From 1 October 2025, every shop in every canteen at the Prasarnmit and Ongkharak campuses offers at least one complete meal for THB 30. The university describes the programme as a welfare measure for students and staff, and canteen vendors report that staff are among its most regular users. For support staff, cleaners and contract workers on lower incomes in particular, a filling meal at a fixed low price every working day helps to prevent hunger and to ease the cost of living.

Figure 5: SWU announcement of 30-baht meals in every canteen and every shop from 1 October 2025

Figure 6: Examples of 30-baht meals available to staff in SWU canteens

Source: https://www.facebook.com/prswu/posts/pfbid02puWkS7NfGKzLJN4qyyaS5xtdtDE98uauwcMi4PWVFyPMZmZKTjNEr8zzTLuEU4gXl