The Senior People Potential Empowerment Strategies for Community Participation Development by Vocational Education Institutions in Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

This research and development study aimed to (1) to analyze the potential level and potential empowerment needs among elderly people in Chiang Rai Province; (2) to examine the level of educational resources administration of vocational education institutions for potential empowerment of elderly people in Chiang Rai Province; and (3) to construct elderly people potential empowerment strategies for community participation development by vocational education institutions in Chiang Rai Province.  The samples were 400 elderly people and 245 participants including administrators and teachers of vocational education institutions. The research instruments were questionnaire and interview while SWOT Analysis and TOWS Matrix were deployed as a means to construct the development strategies. The results showed that:

1. The empowerment of elderly people, in general was rated at the moderate level in which environment and security were rated at the highest level and identical to the potential of elderly people. The individual aspect analysis indicated that elderly people showed the preference for their community to have good structure, clean and safe environment at high scores.

2.The educational resources of the administration of vocational education empowerment of elderly people in Chiang Rai Province. The aspect showing the highest mean was administration and management. Followed by personal, materials and budget.

3. The elderly people potential empowerment strategies for community participation development by vocational education institutions in Chiang Rai Province consisted of 4 strategic issues. Strategy 1: Career building, income generation and entrepreneurship comprised 5 sub-strategies. Strategy 2: Creating and developing innovations, inventions and information system comprised 4 sub-strategies. Strategy

1. 3: Mobilizing participation and learning society comprised 3 sub-strategies. And, Strategy 4: Developing environment and optimizing living conditions comprised 3 sub-strategies.

Keywords : Potential Elderly People, Community Mobilization, Vocational Education