The Academic Service Project in Economics
at Ban Nam Chiao Community, Trat Province
Advancing Community Development Through Local Wisdom and Skill Enhancement: A Project by Burapha University’s Department of Economics The Department of Economics at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Burapha University, has leveraged local wisdom to drive community product development. By focusing on the enhancement of skills (Re-skill / Up-skill / New-skill) among community members, this initiative aims to increase the value of local products and services, thereby generating income and addressing poverty. It also seeks to empower women by expanding their potential and knowledge to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted all economic sectors, severely affecting households and communities. Workers face unemployment and reduced incomes, with heads of households shouldering greater financial burdens. Economic structural issues have further aggravated poverty and inequality, particularly among low-income, unstable labourers who struggle with resource access, development planning, savings behaviour, and chronic debt.
To counter these issues, it is crucial to foster grassroots-level changes that promote robust and thriving communities. This approach aligns with the grassroots or community economy concept, which supports community involvement in economic activities from production to consumption. It emphasizes community participation in planning, implementing, benefiting from, and owning economic initiatives. Burapha University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is dedicated to developing skills for workers and entrepreneurs in the eastern region. The focus is on enhancing women’s roles by creating job opportunities and fostering career development to promote social equality. This project not only contributes to poverty alleviation but also adapts to emerging economic megatrends.
On June 8-9, 2024, the Department of Economics organized an academic service project at the Ban Nam Chiew Tourism Group within the Ban Nam Chiew Homestay Community Enterprise in Laem Ngop District, Trat Province. The project centered on developing community products using local wisdom, enabling the community to effectively utilize their resources. Skills development was provided to 20 individuals, aligning with SDG 1, which aims for sustainable poverty reduction and inequality resolution.
The initiative promotes community self-reliance through comprehensive planning and development of community products and services. Community members assume roles as managers, planners, implementers, and users, fostering sustainable self-reliance, poverty alleviation, and improved quality of life.
Additionally, the evolving economic landscape has increased women’s participation in the labor market, providing income opportunities and reducing family burdens. Developing community products from local wisdom creates job opportunities, generates income, and allows individuals to work within their communities, aligning with SDG 5 and reflecting progress towards gender equality in Thai society. This approach supports the national strategy for creating opportunities and social equity, as outlined in the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan, which incorporates gender-responsive budgeting to reduce social inequality and promote gender equality.
Project Leader: Asst. Prof. Dr. Pannipha Anuraksakornkul,
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences