The Office of Academic Service KKU partners with the Provincial Employment Office and Sila Municipality to secure legal employment status and sustainable livelihoods for local disability groups.
Khon Kaen University (KKU), through the Office of Academic Service, continues to advance its Social Devotion strategy by driving an integrated approach to community development. In a strategic partnership with the Khon Kaen Provincial Employment Office and Sila Municipality, the University has facilitated the formal registration of the Sila Sub-district disability groups as “Home-based Worker Groups”. This initiative aims to provide vocational security and tangibly enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities through legal employment frameworks.

              This field operation serves as an extension of the “KKU–KMUTT Vocational Development Project for Persons with Disabilities”, a collaborative foundation established between Khon Kaen University and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. The project previously focused on equipping persons with disabilities and their caregivers with professional artisanal skills. Following the completion of the training phase, Sila Municipality and the KKU Office of Academic Service have transitioned the participants from “trainees” to “professional practitioners” ready for the commercial market.

               On 25 May 2026, the Office of Academic Service conducted a follow-up and support mission alongside the Employment Promotion Group (Vocational Guidance Section) of the Khon Kaen Provincial Employment Office. The team visited the residence of Mrs Lamphan Jaroenkhun, leader of the “Hug Sila” Group in Sila Municipality, Khon Kaen. Officials provided consultancy on regulatory procedures and assisted in document preparation to formalise the “Home-based Worker Group Registration” for handicraft businesses, including the production of fabric bags, neck pillows, and keychains. This legal registration enables 12 members from the “Hug Sila” and “Kaen Jai” groups to accept official contracts from business establishments in accordance with Department of Employment regulations, ensuring legal protection and stable income streams.

               The Office of Academic Service remains committed to the belief that sustainable community development requires a robust ecosystem of cooperation. By merging KKU’s academic expertise with the legal authority of the Provincial Employment Office and the localized administration of Sila Municipality, the collaboration strengthens the self-reliance and dignity of the Hug Sila group. This synergy ensures that the vocational support system is comprehensive, ranging from skill acquisition to legal market entry.

            These efforts reflect Khon Kaen University’s core mission of “Social Devotion” and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, the initiative addresses Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by promoting lawful income; Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities by fostering social equity for persons with disabilities; and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated cooperation between academic institutions, government agencies, and local authorities to ensure no one is left behind.

Support Local Craftsmanship
The public is invited to support the handicraft products of the Hug Sila and Kaen Jai groups to empower persons with disabilities towards self-reliance. Follow their journey and products on Facebook: