Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research in Asia

Developing a Policy-Oriented Educational Ecosystem: Mechanisms to Enhance Innovative Administration and Learning for Transformation in Private Islamic Schools in Pattani Province, Southern Thailand

Muhammadafeefee Assalihee — 2026-08-07

This study aims to develop a policy-oriented collaborative educational ecosystem to enhance innovative administration and learning in private Islamic schools in Southern Thailand. The research has three objectives: (1) to analyze existing conditions and stakeholder expectations regarding collaborative mechanisms, (2) to design and develop a policy-oriented collaborative educational ecosystem, and (3) to examine its impact on educational quality enhancement. A qualitative Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach was employed, involving 175 stakeholders from 30 private Islamic schools in Pattani Province. Participants included school administrators, teachers, policymakers, community representatives, and private-sector stakeholders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory workshops and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed three key outcomes. First, existing collaborative mechanisms were fragmented and characterized by a lack of shared vision, coordinated structures, effective communication, and sustainable support systems. Stakeholders expressed strong expectations for improving student learning outcomes, strengthening competency-based curricula, enhancing teacher capacity, and promoting learner-centered education. Second, a policy-oriented collaborative educational ecosystem was developed through the establishment of a multi-level mechanism, including a formally recognized subcommittee that strengthened coordination, collective action, and policy integration among stakeholders. Third, the mechanism demonstrated positive impacts on educational quality enhancement, particularly through improved management coordination and the advancement of learner-centered, competency-based teaching and learning practices. This study contributes a context-responsive, ecosystem-based framework that integrates governance, collaboration, and pedagogy, offering a scalable model for strengthening educational quality in private Islamic schools.

Overseas Voting and Electoral Behavior of Thai Migrant Workers in Malaysia in the 2023 General Election

Daungyewa Utarasint — 2026-08-07

This study examines overseas voting and electoral behavior among Thai migrant workers in Malaysia during the 2023 election. Employing a qualitative interpretive paradigm, data were collected through documentary research, non-participant observation at an overseas polling station, and in-depth interviews with 40 participants comprising Thai migrant workers and Thai government officials. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to systematically identify recurring patterns of meaning across interview transcripts. The results indicate minimal overseas voting participation. Of the estimated 171,513 Thai nationals residing in Malaysia, only 3,360 individuals cast ballots overseas, equivalent to 1.96% of the total Thai population in Malaysia. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed that office workers constituted approximately 60% of overseas voters at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, demonstrating greater awareness of voting rights (X1), comprehensive procedural knowledge (X2) acquired through social media, and positive perceptions of election management quality (X3). Electoral behavior followed either candidate-based (CB) or party-based (PB) patterns, determined by regional origin and occupational status. Workers from the southern border provinces exhibited occupation-dependent voting behavior: white-collar employees demonstrated party-based behavior favoring the Move Forward Party, whereas Tom Yam restaurant workers displayed dual patterns—candidate-based constituency voting influenced by social networks and party-based party-list voting supporting the Move Forward Party. Workers from the northern and northeastern regions consistently employed party-based decision-making, predominantly supporting the Pheu Thai Party. These findings confirm that regional origin and occupational status significantly mediate overseas electoral participation and voting behavior among Thai migrant workers, with geographical origin shaping both decision-making patterns and party preferences in transnational electoral contexts.

The Causal Influence on Assertive Behavior of Upper Secondary School Students in the Southern Border Provinces

Chayanon Srithai — 2026-08-07

This study aimed to: (1) examine the goodness-of-fit of a causal influence model of assertive behavior, and (2) investigate the causal factors influencing assertive behavior among upper secondary school students in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The sample, obtained through multistage sampling, consisted of 420 upper secondary school students. Data were collected using questionnaires measuring self-esteem, assertive behavior, personality, and parenting styles. Content validity was verified by experts, and the instruments demonstrated reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) of 0.86, 0.70, 0.70, and 0.65, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling.The results indicated that: (1) the causal influence model, comprising assertive behavior, self-esteem, parenting styles, and personality, fit the empirical data well (χ² = 0.81, df = 4, p = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.00, GFI = 1.00, AGFI = 0.99, CFI = 1.00, and SRMR = 0.00). The model accounted for 21% of the variance in assertive behavior (R² = 0.21); and (2) an introverted-neurotic personality trait had the strongest direct effect on assertive behavior, whereas a permissive parenting style exerted the strongest indirect effect on assertive behavior through self-esteem. These findings suggest that students’ assertive behavior is shaped by the interplay of internal psychological characteristics and environmental factors.

Dynamics of Social Determinants Dynamics of Social Determinants of Health and Social Mechanisms in Returning to Well-Being of Individuals Undergoing Drug and Substance Abuse Treatment: A Phenomenological Study in the Multicultural Context of the Southern Border

Thinadda Pimpuang — 2026-08-07

This phenomenological research aims to (1) explore experiences related to social determinants of health and life skill limitations influencing substance use trajectories in the Southern Border Provinces, and (2) examine the paradoxical dynamics of family and socio-cultural mechanisms that support the recovery process within a multicultural context. Using purposive sampling, the key informants comprised ten individuals undergoing substance abuse treatment. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, with trustworthiness ensured through member checking. Thematic analysis was employed for data interpretation. The findings reveal three main themes. First, the context of vulnerability and the trajectory into substance use stem from life skill limitations and social structures that facilitate easy access to substances, with peer groups acting as both initiators and providers. Second, the paradoxical dynamics of the family function dualistically, serving both as an initial driving force into substance use and as a crucial turning point that draws users back into treatment during crises. Third, socio-cultural capital within the recovery ecosystem—particularly the integration of religious principles and support from community leaders—facilitates psychological healing and the creation of new social spaces. The study suggests that relapse prevention requires addressing social vulnerabilities alongside building a supportive ecosystem interconnected with socio-cultural capital. These findings provide important guidance for public policy formulation in the southern border region.

Poetry as Form of Political Activism and Resistance: An Analysis of Contemporary Burmese Poems

Philip Donald P. Herrera — 2026-08-07

This study analyzed five contemporary Burmese poems through the lenses of Mimetic, Marxist, Postcolonial, and Stylistic theories. It centered on the following: (1) the prevailing poetic visions reflected in the poems, (2) the social issues identified from these poems, (3) the representations of Myanmar based on these aspects, and (4) the recurring linguistic elements identifiable in the poems. The analysis adopted a qualitative approach, employing iterative content analysis and thematic analysis of the textual evidence from the poems. The findings revealed that the prevailing poetic visions were displacement, resistance, and activism, all of which are closely interrelated and reflective of the broader socio-political context of the country. In terms of social issues, the analysis identified the following: (1) extrajudicial killings, (2) the struggle for freedom and liberation, and (3) calls for unity and systemic change. These poetic visions and social issues contribute to a paradoxical representation of Myanmar as a conflict-ridden yet resistant society. The recurring linguistic elements, particularly pronoun use and imperative constructions reflected in the poems, point to the poets' reclamation of identity and their call to action, both of which are prerequisites for the notions of resistance and activism. As such, the study provides an integrative analysis emphasizing how the poetic visions, social issues, and representations of Myanmar are not only consistent with the country's socio-political realities but are also actively constructed through the linguistic and stylistic choices appropriated by the poets. The study therefore contributes to the ongoing discussion on the role of poetry as a mechanism for activism and resistance. Finally, the integrative framework adopted in this study highlights how literary theories unpack the socio-political realities of Myanmar as reflected in these contemporary poems.

Student Satisfaction Dimensions of Public and Private Higher Education Institutions in Dipolog and Dapitan Cities

Van Olem E. Benitez — 2026-08-07

A quantitative, descriptive-correlational design was employed, gathering data from 291 fourth-year students from five public and private HEIs in Dipolog and Dapitan Cities. Respondents were selected using disproportionate stratified random sampling to ensure institutional representation, supplemented by convenience non-random sampling for accessibility. The research tool was a modified questionnaire that underwent rigorous validation, achieving a Content Validity Index (CVI) ranging from 0.90 to 1.00, and demonstrated high reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficients between 0.95 and 0.97. Data analysis was
performed using frequency distributions, weighted means, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to test for significant differences, and Pearson's r correlation to determine relationships between dimensions. The findings revealed that the sample was predominantly female and enrolled in
hospitality management programs; both sectors exhibited high satisfaction levels, though private institutions scored slightly higher in support services and personnel quality; significant differences in satisfaction were identified based on sex, degree program, scholarship grant, and HEI type; and a strong positive association existed among
all service dimensions, suggesting that improvements in one area enhance overall perceived value. The study highlights the need for HEIs to prioritize academic facilities and conduct regular assessments to address disparities in satisfaction across diverse student profiles.

Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and the Learning Space at Suan Mokkh: Guidance Toward Becoming Complete Human Beings

Somchat Phiutongngam — 2026-08-07

This article aims to examine the learning space at Suan Mokkh, where Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu provided guidance toward becoming complete human beings. The main contents comprise: (1) Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu and the revival of Buddhism, (2) the learning space at Suan Mokkh, and (3) Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's guidance toward becoming complete human beings through the learning space at Suan Mokkh.The results of the study indicate that (1) after the middle of the Buddhist Era, as a devoted disciple of the Buddha who strictly adhered to the Buddhist way of life, Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu sought to reform Buddhist teachings in Thailand to align with contemporary developments and support social, economic, and political development. He placed greater emphasis on the practice of Dhamma as a means of addressing various problems arising from moral decline; (2) to promote the practice of Dhamma, he established Suan Mokkh as a learning space to cultivate and develop people through Dhamma; and (3) he provided guidance and taught Dhamma within the learning space at Suan Mokkh to guide individuals toward becoming complete human beings.