Local History and the Process of Building Innovation Communities: A Synthesis of Research Projects Conducted by 18 Rajabhat University from 2023 to the Present

Abstract

This research consists purposes were 1. to develop knowledge and understanding of methods for studying local history and 2. to highlight the importance of local historical study methods in fostering the creation of innovation communities. This study employs a qualitative research approach, based on an examination of relevant documents. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis. The research findings reveal the following 1) Knowledge and understanding of local history study methods and the process of building innovation communities from 2023 to the present are closely related to the Thai government’s policy known as “Soft Power” or creative power, which aims to promote Thailand’s socio-economic development. On one hand, this policy focuses on generating income and enhancing the grassroots economy of local communities; on the other hand, it emphasizes human resource development to enable communities to adapt effectively to contemporary socio-economic changes. In particular, research projects conducted by all 18 Rajabhat Universities nationwide, supported by funding from the Program Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU-A), have undertaken initiatives to explore the roots of cultural capital through local history approaches. These initiatives have sought to further develop and creatively transform local cultural capital, generating both economic value and cultural significance through the establishment of cultural markets. Such markets include creative products derived from cultural capital, such as food, clothing, herbal products and souvenirs, as well as services based on cultural capital, including traditional herbal massage and compress therapy, community innovators, and traditional folk performances and 2) The importance of local history study methods in contributing to the creation of innovation communities is evident throughout the implementation of research projects by the 18 Rajabhat Universities. Beyond producing methodological approaches and bodies of knowledge concerning community formation histories and the roots of cultural capital, as well as organizing cultural markets to generate income and strengthen the grassroots economy, these projects have simultaneously fostered the development of local communities into what may be described as “innovation communities” These communities exhibit distinctive characteristics, including (1) innovation communities focused on repositories of community historical knowledge and cultural capital, as exemplified by Ban Pha Bong Community, Mueang District, Mae Hong Son Province, under the responsibility of Chiang Mai Rajabhat University (2) innovation communities centered on local curricula, such as the “Traditional Knife-Making” curriculum in Ban Mueang Tao Community, Phayakkhaphum Phisai District, Maha Sarakham Province, overseen by Maha Sarakham Rajabhat University (3) innovation communities emphasizing multicultural diversity, as seen in the cultural area of Hiran Ruchi Subdistrict, Thonburi, Bangkok and (4) innovation communities characterized by participatory processes and the emergence of new forms of civic consciousness, found in research project areas of Roi Et Rajabhat University, Sisaket Rajabhat University and Yala Rajabhat University others.