Chonburi Province faces multidimensional development challenges, including economic transformation, environmental issues, urban expansion, and the quality of life for its people. The project “Locals Voice: Listening to Chonburi Communities for Sustainable Area-Based Development” was initiated to create a public space where local communities, civil society, and stakeholders can exchange perspectives and reflect on the province’s future, informed by voices from the ground. The project emphasises a people-centred and area-based development approach, promoting equity, human dignity, and the integration of data-driven innovation with environmental sustainability. Collaboration with Thai PBS through the Local Voices platform strengthens public communication and civic participation. This initiative contributes to inclusive, participatory, and sustainable development at the local level.
Project Coordinator: Assoc.Prof.Chainarong Krueanuan, Asst.Prof.Patcharapa Tantrajin and Asst.Prof.Sakrit Isariyanon
Objectives:
The project aims to create a public space for listening to and collecting perspectives from communities and stakeholders in Chonburi Province regarding area-based development. It seeks to promote meaningful public participation in shaping the future of cities and communities through local voices, while integrating academic knowledge with public communication through collaboration with Thai PBS under the Local Voices platform. The project emphasises a people-centred, area-based development approach that values equity, human dignity, and sustainability across all dimensions. In addition, it aims to enhance the capacity of faculty and students through community-based learning and engagement with civil society, thereby contributing to inclusive and sustainable development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Program Activities:
The project is implemented through a public forum entitled “Locals Voice: Listening to Chonburi Communities,” organised in collaboration with Thai PBS under the Local Voices platform. The activity provides an open space for community members, civil society actors, faculty members, and students to exchange perspectives on area-based development in Chonburi Province. The forum is conducted in an inclusive, participatory setting, with initial input from representatives of various sectors to frame the discussion, followed by an open dialogue to capture diverse viewpoints. Insights and recommendations gathered from the exchange are systematically documented, analysed, and communicated to the public through Thai PBS and partner networks. Faculty members and students play an active role in supporting community-based learning and linking academic knowledge with local contexts.
Expected Outcomes (Impacts):
The project created a concrete public space for listening to community voices in Chonburi Province and strengthened civic participation among local communities and stakeholder networks. It fostered knowledge exchange between academia, public media, and civil society, enhancing awareness of economic, social, environmental, and political issues at the local level. Insights and recommendations generated from the forum serve as a knowledge base for public communication and future policy development. The project also enhanced faculty and student capacity to engage with communities through experiential learning, while supporting inclusive, participatory, and sustainable development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Date of Implementation: January 20, 2026
