Civil society: community learning resource to reinforce learning city mechanism

Abstract

Cross sectoral collaboration mechanism and strategic driving process for learning city, under the research project for Local Networks and Learning in Chiang Mai City regarding to UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, aims to locate and identify resources for community-level learning as well as establishing collaborative mechanisms of traditional and contemporary civil society groups to reinforce a learning city framework through study and analysis of learning resources and ecosystems within three local community areas of Chiang Mai, including the Khuan Kha Ma community, Pa Ha community and Chang Moi community. The development of collaborative mechanisms participated between various sectors by using participation action research process, particularly with four specific civil society groups, in order to stimulate development of local collaborative processes through local content-related resources, including local literature, local study activities, and creation of a cross sectoral local study database, between communities, civil society, young people, and local authorities to facilitate development of networks and mechanisms for a learning city. Working within the learning city framework, to explore and identify resources for learning, the study revealed the that current situation of urban resources is declining over time as assessed by condition and importance with respect to communities and specific groups, such as elders, who continue to value and maintain those resources. Transference of resources important to learning is regressing due to lack of communication with younger generations, especially in community areas, affecting the learning ecosystem and decreasing its importance over time. According to these reasons, it requires capacity-building processes to help create a complete learning mechanism and establish new collaborations with new generation civil society groups. It is imperative to effect connection and involvement with new civil society groups for future urban development.