Thammasat Journal

The Strengthening Strategy of Thailand’s Only Curriculum Towards Green Growth and Low-Carbon Society

Kitichai Rattana — 2024-08-28

The forestry curriculum is the only program that has produced a bachelor's degree in forestry for society. Given the rapidly changing environment and the need for graduates of the country's forestry and natural resources organization, this study was conducted to determine a strategy to strengthen the only curriculum in forestry that responds to green growth and a low-carbon society. The study employed survey research combined with value chain analysis of the forestry curriculum, along with an analysis of the environment using the DPSIR framework (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Responses). The study also use tools of learning through action with appropriate techniques.

The strengthening strategy of Thailand’s only curriculum towards green growth and low-carbon society consists of curriculum development in line with the national strategies and external forces, integration of the curriculum with the ecosystem service concept, enhancing skills through various learning resources, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary knowledge and experience, the paradigm shift in working with social networks, creating a job opportunity according to graduate characteristics, and encouraging pride and commitment to educational institutions.

An Assessment of Marginal Utility under Different Choices of Decision-Making: The Natural Experiment of Latex Producer in Trang Province

Padcharee Phasuk — 2024-08-28

This study assessed the marginal utility of selling latex to different buyers by employing the natural experiment technique to establish a study framework and using an econometric model to estimate and measure the utility. Data was collected from 400 individuals and divided equally into two groups. The analysis procedure consisted of three parts:1) testing the experimental group property for intergroup bias. 2) summarizing the general properties of the collected data. 3) evaluating the marginal utility under different choices. The study framework showed that both groups were appropriate for this experiment, considering there was no intergroup bias. In addition, the estimated utility model demonstrated that age, years of schooling, cultivated areas, labor, income from production, and major purchasers significantly affect the utility model. Furthermore, the assessment of marginal utility revealed that selling to middlemen resulted in 320 THB per time per day higher than selling to latex cooperatives.

Theatre in Education for Knowledge Enhancement of Hate Speech Reproduction through Online Media for Thai Youth

Thanasin Chutintharanon — 2024-08-28

This mixed methods research aims to strengthen knowledge about hate speech reproduction via online media for Thai youth by using theatre in education as a fortification tool. Pre- and post-tests and self-reflection notes, created in accordance with dramatic conventions, were used to collect data from 29 students in a higher education institution, aged between 18-22. The results reveal that Thai youth perceived hate speech reproduction in various contexts of Thai society such as dramatic series, schools, workplaces and entertainment circles. Hate speech reproduction has severe effects, including suicide. At the end of the theatre in education activity, all participants’ knowledge increased dramatically, especially their ability to identify hate speech patterns and analyze the elements of hate speech in each statement.

Practices for COVID-19 Prevention of Muslim Communities in Three Southern Border Provinces

Abdullah Chelong — 2024-08-28

This qualitative study aimed to examine the practices to prevent COVID-19 among Muslim communities in three southern border provinces. Purposive sampling was used for participant selection. Data were collected through documentation, in-depth interviews, and observation in three communities: 1) communities in Mueang district, Pattani province; 2) communities adjacent to the Malaysia border, specifically communities in Su-ngai Kolok district, and 3) communities in Waeng district, Narathiwat province. Data triangulation was conducted to validate the data. The data were analyzed, concluded, and presented through descriptive analysis. The study found that the practices of Muslim communities in three southern border provinces for preventing COVID-19 included maintaining physical distancing with others in both normal and critical situation, wearing facial masks in public more often than within households due to community-based communication processes, and regularly washing hands, especially after visiting high-risk areas. Additionally it was noted that Muslim community believes that taking a bath is a practice to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 as well as a religious practice before prayer. The communities also reduced physical contact between individuals in both public and household areas and boosted immunity by taking herbal medicines, exercising, and getting vaccinated.

Learning in Society to Build Insight: The Value of Volunteerism from Learning Experience Outside the Classroom among Generation Z

Kanokwara Phuangprayong — 2024-08-28

Qualitative research based on descriptive phenomenology was conducted to study the value of volunteerism as a learning experience outside the classroom among Generation Z. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from 30 key informants, all first-year students at the Puey Ungphakorn School of Development Studies, Thammasat University, who were born between 1998 and 1999 and had experience as organizational volunteers for one month. The study found that there are 10 organizations where students participate in volunteer work experiences. These are divided into volunteer work related to promoting and developing skills and life skills for children and youth, supporting the development of people with disabilities and the homeless, and fundraising for organizational development. The results showed that 96.7 percent of the students reflected that this volunteer activity was their first volunteer experience, with the benefits of expanding opportunities for target social groups. Moreover, the value that students received as volunteers included expanding their worldview and deeply understanding societal issues of interest, reducing ego, enhancing positive thinking skills, developing time management and teamwork skills, practicing self-discipline and patience, and feeling proud to be part of integrating classroom knowledge to concretely help society.

Business Model Innovation of Social Entrepreneurs: Empowering New Generation Farmers in Upper North of Thailand

Sutawan Satjasomboon — 2024-08-28

Developing a new generation of farmers to become Young Smart Farmers (YSF) is at the heart of the development of Thailand’s agricultural sector. The guidelines focus on developing agricultural social entrepreneurs who use technology, creativity, and innovation to engage in a business. This research aims 1) to study the context of a new generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs in social business innovation, and 2) to study a social business innovation model to increase the operational value of these entrepreneurs in eight provinces of the upper North region. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with eight farmers who have more than five years of business experience. The Snowball Sampling technique was used to select the sample group, and the content was analyzed to identify the business operational pattern.

The results reveal that the context of social business innovation for a new generation of agribusiness entrepreneurs begins with solving problems in the community as an operational goal. Innovations are introduced to reduce the business operation costs throughout the production, processing, and distribution stages. This approach focuses on standardized products, systematic operational structure, and knowledge and innovation exchange within the network to modernize processes. Furthermore, the focus is on solving social problems by using new knowledge and innovation, thereby creating economic and social values simultaneously.

Opinions of Judges and Public Prosecutors on Medico-Legal Reports, Medical Certificates and Medical Expert Opinion

Pairoa Praihirunkit — 2024-08-28

A clear, unambiguous medical report can serve as valuable evidence in court. However, law enforcement officers who use medical reports, such as judges and public prosecutors, have a limited understanding of medical information and related terminology. This research aims to study the opinions of judges and public prosecutors on medico-legal reports, medical certificates and medical expert opinions. The goal is to propose guidelines for developing the knowledge of judges and public prosecutors and for improving the development of medical expert witness examination. The present research surveyed the opinions of 100 judges and 100 public prosecutors, totaling 200 participants, using a questionnaire with a Likert scale of 1-5. Both groups agreed that autopsy reports should contain words describing specific causes of death. Wound examination reports should convey the severity and circumstances of crimes. Sexual trauma examination reports should include written commentary on evidence of abuse and the purpose of the acid phosphatase determination. Regarding age reports, judges consider them very valuable, while public prosecutors consider them less valuable, possibly because judges must consider age as an important factor in determining sentences. In addition, judges and public prosecutors suggested improvements for the use medico-legal reports, medical certificates, and medical expert opinions. These suggestions could help guide judges and public prosecutors in making more efficient use of medical documents.

Gap Analysis of Key Development Issues for Sustainable Development in Northern Thailand

Katesuda Sitthisuntikul — 2024-08-28

This study aimed to explore key development issues in Northern Thailand under sustainable development goals and to conduct a gap analysis on these issues to establish research directions for sustainable development in the region. To identify key development issues, document analysis was used to develop questionnaires addressing the economy, society, and environment. Forty questionnaires completed by experts were analyzed to prioritize key development issues based on significance scores. The significance score was calculated as the average of severity score plus the average of the impact score minus the average of the policy effectiveness score and the average of the policy adequacy score. A workshop was also organized to verify, discuss, and conclude the key development issues with experts. In addition, document analysis was used for the gap analysis of the key development issues, which were classified into knowledge discovered, knowledge required, and research directions for development. Another workshop was organized to verify, discuss, and conclude the gap analysis with experts. The result indicated four key development issues and their research directions: 1) resource allocation and community economy – database updates of resources and agricultural systems, decentralization of resource management, adaptation of the young generation to agricultural sector, innovation in processing and distributing agricultural products, and the development of a learning ecosystem; 2) PM, forest fire, and environment – database updates of PM, policy and decentralization of resource management, land management to reduce forest fires, and establishing cooperation with Asian countries; 3) good governance – policy obstacles, good governance law and decentralization, participatory action research for developing a prototype area of decentralization to local community, and good governance; and 4) education system - policy and structure of education, participatory action research for learning how to develop communities, use of technology for learning innovation, suitable educational design for communities, and the development of education personnel.

The Royal Prerogative to Veto Draft Constitutions and Constitutional Amendments: An Analysis from the Perspective of the Constituent Power Theory and Thai Constitutional Court’s Decisions

Arpakorn Kongpermpool — 2024-08-28

The article aims to study the monarch’s royal prerogative to veto the draft constitutions and constitutional amendments. This prerogative was examined through related theories, constitutional provisions, and comparative constitutional history in the context of politics and government in Thailand and abroad, as well as court rulings. The goal was to better understand the use of royal powers in the constitutional process. The study indicates that most Thai constitutions have legislated to recognize such royal prerogative, both explicitly and implicitly. Although the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, Buddhist Era 2560 (2017), does not explicitly legislate the royal power to veto additional constitutional amendments, it also does not provide the legislature with the authority to confirm such amendments for the Prime Minister to proclaim in the Royal Gazette as the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, as if the King had already given his Royal Assent as in previous constitutions. The Constitutional Court, stating in its rulings that no constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand has ever been completed without the consent of the King, who is the Head of State, suggests that the Court tends to view the King as the final authority in deciding whether any political document becomes or does not become the constitution. While some rulings of the Constitutional Court refer to the constitutional founding power as belonging to the people, the aim is to make the amendment of the constitution more difficult, thus reflecting a judgement in the context of maintaining the constitution as the supreme law without denying the status of having the final decision-making authority. This reflects the phenomenon in the current constitution-making process where the King has participated in defining the content of the new constitution draft and has the power to veto amendments passed by referendum, without any constitutional means for the public to confirm the intention to use the original draft in any way.

The Study of Generation Z Cadets’ Inspiration and Educational Journey

Samoekan Sophonhiranrak — 2024-08-28

The Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School is an option for youth who have a clear career goal of joining the military or police force in the future. Admission to the school is highly competitive, and prospective applicants spend years in preparing for the entrance exams. It is thus of interest to systematically investigate the thoughts, beliefs, and life plans of young people on this path. The current study aimed to examine the motivations and reasons of young people who make this choice, as well as their educational journeys before and after entering the preparatory school. Twelve military school cadets were interviewed by using semi-structured interviews, followed by thematic analysis of their interview transcripts. The findings indicated that the motivation to choose this educational path was influenced by various factors, such as close relationships, family members, and the values of the locality where they grew up. The belief that working for the government provides secure employment was important. The fact that the cadets had prepared for years by the time they reached the age when they could apply for the school reflects their determination. Moreover, many of them had a clear goal of joining a specific force (the police force, the air force, the navy, or the army) after graduating from the preparatory school.