Educational Innovation to Elevate Community Products

Abstract

This paper presents findings from the third iteration of the Youth Volunteer Program. The Program is a pivotal strategy in the development of the nation and a critical initiative in the reform process of Thailand’s economy in the 21st century. Universities have been key drivers of economic growth in Thailand by contributing to regional development, attracting talent and promoting entrepreneurship. The objectives of this research are to investigate the attitudes of students towards the project, and to examine the attitudes of the community enterprise group towards the project. Questionnaires and interview tools were developed to elucidate the participants' attitudes.

The results indicate that this project can be considered as a starting point for driving change within the Thai education system, by providing students with opportunities to learn from real-life experiences and work in the field. Through such programs, students can develop and acquire new skills, which align with the concepts of upskilling and reskilling. Participants recognized the substantial value of this newfound knowledge and its potential applicability in their future endeavors, emphasizing its contribution to their overall success. Additionally, some participants suggested allocating more time for future studies to be dedicated to project involvement.