Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and Khon Kaen Secondary Educational Service Area Office Strengthen Collaboration to Advance Competency-Based Learning through Theatre Arts and Community-Based Education
The Performing Arts Programme under the Bachelor of Fine and Applied Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University, in collaboration with the Khon Kaen Secondary Educational Service Area Office (SESAO Khon Kaen), organised the first workshop for teachers implementing the “Kaen Isan Wat Youth Theatre” extracurricular curriculum from 15–17 June 2026 at the Performing Arts Studio, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University.
The workshop brought together more than 30 participants, including faculty members, executives and personnel from SESAO Khon Kaen, teachers from 15 pilot schools, and students from the Performing Arts Programme.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Associate Professor Thoranat Hin-on, Acting Dean and Vice Dean for Education and Academic Services, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, who delivered welcoming remarks. Assistant Professor Patchaya Akkapram, Vice Dean for Research, Innovation, and Arts and Culture, and Chair of the project, presented the objectives and background of the initiative. Dr Sunet Thongpho, Deputy Director of the Khon Kaen Secondary Educational Service Area Office, officially opened the workshop. Also attending the ceremony were Mr Phatthanaphong Sriworong, Director of the Student Activities and Educational Assessment Group, SESAO Khon Kaen, and Ms Suchira Sakhong, Educational Supervisor, SESAO Khon Kaen.
The initiative builds upon the success of the Kaen Isan Wat Creative Youth Theatre Competition, which has been jointly organised by the Performing Arts Programme and the Centre for Arts and Culture, Khon Kaen University, since 2019. The project has utilised theatre arts and the cultural assets of local Isan communities as key learning resources to develop the potential of secondary school students across Northeastern Thailand.
In 2026, the competition expanded its scope to create a dedicated platform for emerging Isan theatre artists at the higher education level.
At the same time, the knowledge and experience gained by teachers and students throughout the seven-year implementation of the project were systematically compiled and examined through the research project entitled “The Use of Applied Theatre for 21st-Century Youth Development through Community-Based Learning in Northeastern Thailand: A Case Study of the Kaen Isan Wat Creative Youth Theatre Project, 2019–2025.” The study was led by Assistant Professor Patchaya Akkapram and supported by the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts Research Fund.
Findings from the research were subsequently developed into an educational innovation known as the “Kaen Isan Wat Youth Theatre” extracurricular curriculum, which is being formally introduced into the basic education system through academic collaboration with SESAO Khon Kaen.
This teacher training workshop represents a significant step towards educational transformation by systematically connecting the specialised expertise of higher education institutions with teaching and learning practices at the secondary school level. The curriculum integrates theatre arts with local community-based learning through a competency-based educational framework, marking the first large-scale implementation of its kind within Khon Kaen Province’s basic education system.
Throughout the workshop, participating teachers explored key concepts, methodologies, and practical applications through immersive learning experiences, engaging in theatre activities as learners themselves and reflecting on these experiences to gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum. This approach will enable them to facilitate similar learning processes for students in their respective schools.
Over the three-day programme, participants engaged with three core sets of applied theatre tools:
- Self-discovery and personal development through theatre, including the creation of safe spaces and group dynamics, emotional learning, body awareness and movement, communication skills, active listening, and imagination.
- Community and world exploration tools designed to identify local narratives and theatrical resources through field-based learning.
- Integrative theatre practices that connect individuals, communities, and society through reflective learning processes linked systematically to competency development.
The workshop was led by Assistant Professor Patchaya Akkapram and Ms Ratchaneekorn Chanthan, with contributions from Ms Thippayaporn Kandawong and Mr Phongsathon Phutthakhot, independent artists and applied theatre practitioners who are alumni of the Performing Arts Programme.
This collaboration between the Performing Arts Programme and SESAO Khon Kaen reflects the commitment of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and Khon Kaen University to applying academic knowledge and expertise in the arts for the benefit of society. The initiative aligns with the Faculty’s strategic priorities in developing short courses in the arts for learners of all ages, expanding proactive academic services, and enhancing the value of local cultural capital for societal benefit.
Furthermore, the project supports Khon Kaen University’s mission to contribute meaningfully to the development of Northeastern Thailand through education, arts and culture, and the strengthening of local communities.
Beyond transferring knowledge in theatre arts through the “Kaen Isan Wat” approach, the initiative serves as an important mechanism for establishing long-term academic collaboration between higher education institutions and basic education agencies, fostering sustainable youth development grounded in local culture and community engagement.
