Khon Kaen University’s College of Local Administration collaborates with local government organisations to translate policy agreements into practical, area-based innovation.

Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing on 4 September 2025 between the College of Local Administration (COLA), Khon Kaen University (KKU), and five pioneering local government organisations (LGOs)—namely, the Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organisation, Khon Kaen City Municipality, Sila Town Municipality, Ban Ped Town Municipality, and Ban Kho Sub-district Municipality—COLA aims to elevate academic cooperation, research, and academic services toward participatory development in real-world areas.

For the 2026 fiscal year, COLA has designated the translation of policy agreements into practice (Policy to Practice) as a key mechanism for strategic implementation, aligning with the concept of “University as Development Partner.” This initiative is fully consistent with KKU’s 2026 operational plan and the University’s 2025–2028 strategy for Societal Contributions.

Activity: Collaborative Platform for Idea Generation and Development Co-design

On 12 February 2026, the College organised the “Collaborative Platform for Idea Generation and Development Co-design” workshop at the COLA Meeting Room. The event saw the participation of over 40 administrators and staff from four LGOs—Khon Kaen City Municipality, Ban Ped Town Municipality, Ban Kho Sub-district Municipality, and Khon Kaen Provincial Administrative Organisation—along with COLA faculty members, staff, and students.

The activities encompassed:

1. A panel discussion to exchange information regarding local issues and urgent priorities (Pain Points).
2. Training on Design Thinking concepts for developing public service innovation.
3. A participatory workshop to collaboratively define development challenges.
4. The formulation of at least one Mini Action Plan per area, designed for practical pilot implementation.

This Co-design process signifies a transformative shift in the university’s role, moving from that of a “development planner” to a “co-designer and co-implementer” alongside local authorities. The process places strong emphasis on utilising authentic local data and integrating knowledge from public administration, public affairs management, and local governance.

Outcomes: Three Models for Area Innovation Development

Through brainstorming sessions and the prioritisation of local challenges, the workshop resulted in the creation of three innovative urban development models:

1. “Ped-Separate-Exchange for Happiness (R3-DUCK)” Waste Reduction Model: Developed by Ban Ped Town Municipality, this aims to promote source separation of waste, provide incentives through prize exchange activities, and cultivate environmental awareness within the community.
2. “Khao Niew Eco Street: Travel Smart, Leave No Trace” Songkran Road Model: Developed by Khon Kaen City Municipality, this focuses on creating a prototype for environmentally friendly activity streets during the Songkran Festival, emphasising waste management, public communication, and cooperation among local entrepreneurs.
3. “Reviving the Sound of Muang Chiang Yuen” Arts and Culture Promotion Model: Developed by Ban Kho Sub-district Municipality, this seeks to conserve and revitalise local cultural identity through participatory activities involving youth and the wider community.

All three models are scheduled for pilot implementation in their respective areas on 19–20 February 2026, allowing for the testing of operational guidelines and the collection of data for performance evaluation, measured against KKU’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).

Post-Implementation and Dissemination

The operational results from the pilot areas will be collated, analysed, and documented as lessons learned. These findings will be presented during the “COLA KKU for Community Show & Share” event, a public forum intended to reflect the documented changes occurring in the target areas and to serve as a baseline for assessing the University’s Area-based Impact.

Khon Kaen University’s College of Local Administration is committed to cementing its position as a leading institution in public affairs management within the ASEAN region, continually creating value for society through tangible and sustainable collaborations with local governments.