An interdisciplinary project by Khon Kaen University combines agricultural knowledge with educational practice to deliver hands-on, experiential learning for primary school pupils in Khon Kaen Province.
Khon Kaen University (KKU) is advancing its Youth Volunteers (Yuwachon Arsa) initiative through a project titled “Development of Primary School Students’ Learning Process through Integrated Agricultural Activities.” The project, supported by the fiscal year 2026 budget from the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), integrates expertise from the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Education. It aims to build learning processes for primary pupils through hands-on agricultural activities while providing university students with real-world field experience.
The project partners with Phuwiang Wittayanon School in Wiang Kao District, Khon Kaen Province. The team initiated the work by studying the school and community context, gathering feedback from school administrators, teachers, and pupils, and surveying available local resources. This baseline survey ensured that all designed activities suited both the school and its learners.
An interdisciplinary team of faculty advisors from the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Education guides the initiative. The academic team includes Dr. Prakasit Duangpapeng, Assistant Dean for Student Development and Alumni Relations, who serves as project head and advisor, alongside Asst. Prof. Thabthim Suriyasupapong, Asst. Prof. Sudjai Srijamorn, and Mr. Kanitpong Piyanamvanit as project advisors. They work closely with Mrs. Wanida Khruakraiwan, Director of Phuwiang Wittayanon School, who provides institutional insights and helps ensure activities reflect local needs.
Student participants from both faculties collaborate closely across all stages of the project. The cohort includes students enrolled in courses AG133001 (Principles of Plant Propagation) and AG133101 (Commercial Vegetable Production) from the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, alongside students taking ED330016 (Primary Education for Communities) from the Early Childhood and Primary Education Programme, Faculty of Education. Together, they conducted field surveys, held consultations with school leadership and staff, analysed local data, and co-designed learning modules. Agriculture students applied technical knowledge in crop production, vegetable cultivation, plant propagation, and yield management, while Education students provided expertise in learner analysis, instructional design, and learning management.
To refine the curriculum, students participated in two sequential workshops. In Workshop 1, they analysed field data to design practical vegetable gardening activities tailored for pupils in Primary 4 to 6 (Prathomsuksa 4–6). In Workshop 2, they conducted micro-teaching sessions to practise instructional steps and adjust activities to suit the developmental stages of the pupils and the school context. After Workshop 2, university students put the refined curriculum into practice at Phuwiang Wittayanon School. They led interactive classroom lessons combined with hands-on practice in demonstration plots. Pupils learned the theoretical and procedural aspects of vegetable cultivation and basic income-expense accounting before applying their knowledge in the field under the supervision of university students and school teachers.
This experiential approach allows primary pupils to engage in learning by doing, effectively bridging classroom concepts with practical application. Simultaneously, KKU students gain valuable practice in knowledge transfer, instructional design, learning facilitation, and evaluating learner responses in real-world settings.
Most recently, on 4 September 2026, the project team visited Phuwiang Wittayanon School to monitor progress, evaluate the implementation of the refined activities, exchange feedback with local stakeholders, and discuss continuous improvements aligned with the school’s educational goals. This monitoring visit highlights the core philosophy of the project: utilising the local area as an active classroom. Students learn through a complete cycle—from understanding local contexts and listening to community stakeholders to analysing problems, designing activities, testing, refining, and implementing solutions in the real world. This process helps KKU students link academic theory to field practice while building key skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
For the primary pupils, the project fosters learning through agricultural activities rooted in their own school and community. By emphasising practical application, pupils gain foundational agricultural skills, learn cooperative teamwork, and develop an appreciation for local wisdom and resources. The school can further adapt and expand this activity model for its future educational programming.
The Youth Volunteers project represents a working model that connects the university, school, and local community through interdisciplinary integration, creating valuable learning experiences for both university students and primary pupils while delivering scalable educational practices for the region.
