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Consequently, Thailand has yet to achieve full democracy because Thai citizens lack understanding of their civic rights and duties due to limited resources, complex bureaucracy, trust issues, technological barriers, and socioeconomic factors. Addressing these challenges requires targeted efforts to raise awareness, improve resource allocation, foster a participatory culture, simplify processes, build trust, and tackle with those mentioned barriers.
Last year, the Promotion of Local Administration Foundation or PLAF organised seminars to provide knowledge on local governance, exchange ideas, and gather opinions through research studies with politicians and civil society groups on provincial governor elections. These seminars were successful and garnered significant interest. Given that this year is crucial for various local elections (7,830 places) in the country, it is essential to educate and motivate university students and youths to learn citizenship and participate in local elections. Emphasizing the importance of local governance is the foundation of sustainable participatory democracy.
Therefore, in this year with the support of KAS, PLAF aims to promote civil rights among the new generation - the university students and new potential candidates for local leaders by empowering them to actively participate in developing strong local governance. This includes promoting voting rights in local elections and engaging in developing local administrative organisations, which are the cornerstone of democracy of the country. Promoting citizenship among these target participants involves helping them understand their roles and duties, thinking critically, analysing situations on point, and taking responsibility for local governance.
Agenda
08.30 – 09.00 Registration and receiving workshop documents
09.00 – 09.30 Welcome Remarks and Opening of the Workshops
1. Representative of the Dean
2. Representative from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Thailand Office
09.30 – 09.45 Presentation of Background and Objectives
Prof. Dr Kovit Puang-ngam, Head of the Project, Representative from Promotion of Local Administration Foundation (PLAF)
09.45 – 10.30 Lecture on “Concepts of Citizenship and Civic Responsibility in Local Administration”
Asst. Prof. Dr Chaiya Thepa and Asst. Prof. Dr Woraphat Mekkhachon from Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University
10.30 – 10.45 Coffee/tea break
10.45 – 12.00 Panel discussion on “The Promotion of Citizenship and Public Participation in Local Governance”
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break
13.00 – 13.30 Review and Q&A on Citizenship and Participation in Local Governance
13.30 – 14.30 Group Discussion and Exchange of Ideas
Asst. Prof. Dr Woraphat Mekkhachon and Asst. Prof. Dr Kanthapat Chanaboon
14.30 – 14.45 Coffee/tea break
14.45 – 15.45 Presentation and Exchange of Proposed Recommendations
15.45 – 16.00 Conclusion and Closing
Topics
Partners
