Collaboration with Local Authorities on Planning and Affordable Housing Development
Walailak University is closely connected with the surrounding local communities, where some residents continue to face socio-economic challenges that affect their access to secure and affordable housing. The Satit Walailak Pattana community, located behind the University, is one such community where households have experienced difficulties in securing stable housing due to limited financial resources, insufficient access to housing finance, and other economic constraints. For some families, these challenges have resulted in continued reliance on rented accommodation, making it more difficult to establish long-term residential and financial stability. Recognizing the importance of adequate housing as a foundation for community well-being and sustainable development, Walailak University has worked in collaboration with local authorities to support efforts addressing housing needs and improving living conditions for local residents.
Collaborative Action to Address Housing and Livelihood Challenges
In 2025, Walailak University initiated a collaborative effort with government partners to address housing insecurity and related socio-economic challenges faced by vulnerable families in the Satit Walailak Pattana community. The initiative brought together the Agricultural Land Reform Office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Thai Buri Subdistrict Administrative Organization, enabling the partners to combine their respective expertise, resources, and local knowledge. The collaboration began with joint field visits and community-level assessments to better understand residents’ circumstances and identify households requiring immediate support. Through this process, five families were identified as lacking adequate and stable housing.
Based on the needs identified through the field assessment, Walailak University took practical action to support the development of safe and affordable homes. The University assisted with land preparation and clearing for construction and provided financial assistance of 200,000 baht per household to support the purchase of construction materials and equipment. This assistance reduced the financial burden on families and enabled them to participate directly in establishing more secure and suitable homes.
The initiative extended beyond housing provision by addressing the broader livelihood needs of participating families. The Agricultural Land Reform Office played an important role in facilitating land-related procedures and supporting families in obtaining appropriate legal arrangements for agricultural land use. This provided an opportunity for households to use allocated land for farming and aquaculture, strengthening their capacity to generate income and produce food for household consumption. By linking housing support with access to productive land, the initiative sought to create a more sustainable foundation for household stability rather than addressing housing needs in isolation.
The Thai Buri Subdistrict Administrative Organization contributed local knowledge, community information, and coordination support throughout the initiative. Its understanding of local conditions helped the partners identify community needs and develop measures that were appropriate to the circumstances of the affected families. This local-government involvement also strengthened coordination between the University, government agencies, and community members, helping ensure that the initiative remained responsive to residents’ actual needs.
Walailak University, through its Center for Academic Services, complemented the housing and land-related assistance with academic and community-based support. The University provided outreach, education, training, and academic services aimed at strengthening residents’ knowledge and professional skills. These activities were intended to enhance families’ capacity to pursue sustainable livelihoods and improve their economic resilience over the longer term.
The partnership therefore established an integrated support framework comprising three key measures:
1. Financial Assistance for Affordable Housing
Each of the five identified families received 200,000 baht in financial assistance to support construction materials and equipment. Combined with land preparation and construction support, this assistance enabled families to develop safer and more stable housing while reducing the financial barriers associated with home construction.
2. Land Allocation for Agriculture and Aquaculture
In addition to housing support, families were provided with access to land for agricultural and aquaculture activities. The Agricultural Land Reform Office facilitated relevant land-use and registration processes, helping establish a more secure basis for families to develop livelihoods, generate household income, and strengthen food security.
3. Career Development and Academic Support
Walailak University provided outreach activities, training, and academic services designed to strengthen residents’ knowledge, skills, and livelihood opportunities. By complementing housing assistance with capacity building, the initiative supported families in developing greater self-reliance and reducing their long-term dependence on external assistance.
Through this multi-agency collaboration, Walailak University and its government partners addressed affordable housing as part of a broader community development challenge. The initiative connected housing support with land access, livelihood opportunities, and capacity development, demonstrating how collaboration between a university and local authorities can contribute to more stable living conditions and sustainable community development.
Supporting Sustainable Development and Cultural Preservation of Tha Wang Community
As one of the historic communities of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Tha Wang represents an important part of the city’s cultural identity and historical development. The community is characterized not only by its historic urban environment but also by local traditions, ways of life, knowledge, businesses, and relationships that have developed over generations. As the city continues to grow and modernize, maintaining the character and identity of established communities such as Tha Wang presents an important challenge. Sustainable development therefore requires a balance between improving the urban environment and quality of life while preserving the cultural heritage, local identity, and ways of life that make the community distinctive.
To contribute to this discussion, Walailak University organized the knowledge-sharing seminar “Extracting the Identity of Tha Wang Community and Challenges in Developing a Learning City for the Future” as part of the Walailak Nakhon Si SDG Series No. 3. The seminar brought together representatives from local government, the business sector, professional organizations, and Walailak University to exchange perspectives on how Tha Wang could develop toward a more sustainable and learning-oriented community while retaining its cultural character.
The discussion recognized that the development of a historic community should not focus solely on physical infrastructure or economic growth. The identity of Tha Wang is also reflected in the everyday lives of its residents, local businesses, cultural practices, traditional knowledge, historic buildings, streets, public spaces, and relationships within the community. Preserving these elements can help maintain a sense of place and continuity while allowing the community to respond to changing social and economic conditions. At the same time, appropriate development can create new opportunities for residents and strengthen the role of Tha Wang within the wider city.
Dr. Kanop Ketchart, Mayor of Nakhon Si Thammarat City Municipality, provided perspectives on the development of Tha Wang from the local government perspective. His participation highlighted the role of municipal authorities in addressing community needs, coordinating urban development, and creating conditions that support residents’ quality of life. Local government plays an important role in ensuring that development initiatives respond to the characteristics of established communities and take into consideration the preservation of local identity and cultural heritage.
From an economic perspective, Mr. Sriroj Anutaraset, Vice Chairman of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Chamber of Commerce, discussed opportunities for strengthening local economic development. For a historic community such as Tha Wang, cultural identity can be an important foundation for supporting local businesses, community-based economic activities, and appropriate forms of cultural and heritage tourism. Supporting local economic opportunities while maintaining traditional character can help ensure that development benefits residents and allows local businesses and community activities to remain part of the area’s future.
Mr. Natthanan Rujiwanichkul, Head of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Center of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, contributed professional perspectives on urban and city development. His participation highlighted the importance of appropriate planning and design in shaping the future of established communities. Urban development in Tha Wang needs to consider the relationship between buildings, streets, public spaces, heritage, and community activities so that improvements to the physical environment do not undermine the distinctive character of the area. Planning can therefore serve as a mechanism for balancing modernization with the conservation of the community’s historical and cultural qualities.
The role of scientific research was highlighted by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee, Head of the Research Station of the School of Science, Walailak University. Scientific research can provide evidence and knowledge for understanding environmental and community conditions and identifying appropriate approaches to address local challenges. By combining scientific knowledge with local knowledge and community experience, development initiatives can be designed to respond more effectively to the actual conditions of the area.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wirut Thinnakorn, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design, discussed the role of urban planning in supporting sustainable development. Appropriate planning can help create a community that is accessible, functional, resilient, and environmentally sustainable while respecting its existing cultural character. In the context of Tha Wang, sustainable planning can help integrate improvements to the urban environment with the conservation of historic spaces, local identity, and the everyday activities of residents.
Representing Walailak University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Director of the Center for Academic Services, highlighted the University’s role in supporting local communities through outreach projects, academic services, knowledge transfer, and collaboration with local stakeholders. Through these activities, the University can connect academic expertise with community needs and create opportunities for local stakeholders to access knowledge, training, and professional support. The University’s role also demonstrates how higher education institutions can contribute to community development beyond the campus by working directly with local authorities and communities.
The seminar provided a platform for different sectors to consider how the development of Tha Wang could be guided by its existing strengths rather than replacing its traditional character with purely modern development. The perspectives shared during the event connected local governance, economic development, urban planning, scientific research, cultural preservation, and academic engagement, reflecting the interconnected nature of sustainable community development.
Particular attention to the community’s ways of life is important because cultural heritage is not limited to physical structures. The knowledge, traditions, occupations, local businesses, social relationships, food, arts, customs, and everyday practices maintained by residents are also valuable components of the community’s identity. Supporting these living aspects of culture can help ensure that development remains connected to the people who have shaped the community over generations. At the same time, creating opportunities for younger generations to learn about and participate in local culture can help strengthen continuity between the community’s past and its future.
Through this multi-stakeholder dialogue, Walailak University contributed to a broader effort to explore how Tha Wang can develop as a sustainable and learning-oriented community while preserving its cultural identity. The collaboration demonstrates the University’s role in bringing together local authorities, economic stakeholders, professional organizations, researchers, and academic experts to exchange knowledge and consider practical approaches to community development. By connecting sustainable urban planning with cultural preservation and community well-being, the initiative supports a development approach in which modernization and heritage conservation can progress together, allowing Tha Wang to retain its identity while adapting to the needs and challenges of the future.
The collaboration has contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in developing Tha Wang as a sustainable community. By bringing together local government, economic organizations, professional practitioners, researchers, and Walailak University, the seminar encouraged the exchange of knowledge across different sectors and provided a shared platform for discussing development approaches that reflect local conditions and community needs.
The initiative also supports the preservation of Tha Wang’s cultural identity while considering the community’s future development. Recognizing traditional ways of life, local knowledge, cultural practices, historic environments, and community activities as valuable assets can help maintain a strong sense of place and belonging. At the same time, connecting cultural preservation with economic development can create opportunities for local businesses and community-based activities, helping residents benefit from the continued vitality of their historic community.
For local authorities and development stakeholders, the exchange of academic and professional knowledge provides useful perspectives for future planning and decision-making. The involvement of specialists in urban planning, architecture, science, economics, and community engagement encourages development to be considered from multiple dimensions rather than focusing on physical infrastructure alone. This can support more balanced approaches that take into account social well-being, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and local economic opportunities.
For Walailak University, the initiative strengthens its role as an academic partner in regional and community development. Through outreach, research, academic services, and knowledge exchange, the University can contribute expertise to local development priorities while learning from the knowledge and experiences of communities and local authorities. This two-way exchange helps strengthen relationships between the University and surrounding communities and creates opportunities for future collaborative projects.
Ultimately, the initiative contributes to a vision of Tha Wang as a community that can move toward sustainable urban development without losing the cultural identity and ways of life that distinguish it. By encouraging cooperation among local authorities, communities, businesses, professional organizations, and academic institutions, the initiative supports a more inclusive and locally informed approach to development. Such collaboration can help strengthen community resilience, improve quality of life, sustain local culture and economic activity, and ensure that the development of Nakhon Si Thammarat remains connected to the history and identity of its communities.
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