KHON KAEN, THAILAND — On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the Enterprise and Societal Sustainability sector, in collaboration with the Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy sector and the Art and Culture Centre at Khon Kaen University, organised a workshop titled “Creative Development and Enhancement of Local Products through Community Participation”. The project aimed to provide knowledge in designing and developing local products using cultural capital. By elevating these goods into high-value products that align with market demands, the initiative seeks to generate sustainable income for local communities. The event was held at the Khum See Than 1 Meeting Room, Art and Culture Centre, Khon Kaen University.
The workshop welcomed Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, who delivered the welcoming remarks to the participants. Mrs. Yupharat Duangdeethaweesap, President of the Khon Kaen Thai Silk Promotion Association, shared valuable insights and approaches for developing Thai textile products to meet the requirements of contemporary markets. Mr. Worasak Worayot, Director of the Art and Culture Centre, presented the project’s progress report. Associate Professor Niyom Wongpongkham, Ph.D., Vice President for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, presided over the opening ceremony and highlighted the university’s role in supporting community product development through creative processes and integrating academic knowledge to strengthen the grassroots economy.
Associate Professor Wongpongkham stated that this workshop serves as a key mechanism for KKU to drive the creative economy by merging modern design principles with local wisdom to add commercial value to community products. The active involvement of faculty members from the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, who closely guided the 15 participating groups, reflects the university’s commitment to being a true partner to regional communities and entrepreneurs. The university expects this project to initiate a strong collaborative network among academia, communities, and the business sector, ensuring long-term and stable growth for local products.
The core of the project featured interactive workshops focusing on creative product enhancement. Participants were divided into 15 groups to brainstorm and develop product prototypes under the close mentorship of faculty members from Khon Kaen University. The expert team from the Faculty of Architecture included Lecturer Kwanhatai Thada, Lecturer Monthida Lertnimanradee, and Lecturer Anarknanon Rakyart, alongside Lecturer Apinya Asarach and Lecturer Sathaporn Khamchaturas from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. They shared comprehensive knowledge on design, product branding, identity creation, and commercial product development.
This initiative represents an essential institutional framework for propelling the creative economy through cultural assets and local heritage. By establishing solid networks of cooperation between the university, local communities, and entrepreneurs, KKU continues to fulfill its mission of upgrading local products to their highest potential and fostering sustainable social contribution across the region.
