IST Joins SRU Local Development Strategy Workshop, Presenting Tourism-Based Projects for Sustainable Community Development
Lecturers from the International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, participated in the workshop and project presentation forum under the university’s strategic budget for local development for fiscal year 2026, presenting projects that connect tourism, local wisdom, creative economy, environmental responsibility, and sustainable community development.
Participating in a Knowledge Exchange Forum for Local Development
The International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, participated in the workshop and presentation of project outcomes under Suratthani Rajabhat University’s strategic budget for local development for fiscal year 2026. The activity was held during 9–10 July 2026 at Bang Bai Mai Pracharat Floating Market, Bang Bai Mai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Surat Thani Province.
The forum served as an important platform for knowledge exchange, lesson sharing, and the presentation of local development project outcomes from various university units. Through the Knowledge Marketplace & Pitching format, project leaders were able to present their concepts, outputs, outcomes, and development directions in a concise and practical manner while receiving constructive feedback from experts and relevant partners.
IST’s participation in this activity reflects the school’s role in applying knowledge in tourism, hospitality, community development, and local identity communication to support practical and sustainable area-based development.
IST Lecturers Presented Local Development Projects
During the forum, lecturers from the International School of Tourism presented projects related to local development in several dimensions, including local product upgrading, community participation, natural resource and environmental management, Go Green tourism, and sustainable tourism management in Bang Bai Mai.
Ajarn Jaree Prommana
Presented the project:
อาจารย์ จารี : นำเสนอผลงาน โครงการการยกระดับผลิตภัณฑ์ GI เงาะโรงเรียนนานารด้วย Soft Power และเศรษฐกิจสร้างสรรค์ตามแนวทาง BCG โดยการมีส่วนร่วมของชุมชน เพื่อความยั่งยืน
Ajarn Phongkrit Nuntanakorn
Presented the project:
อาจารย์ พงกฤต: นำเสนอผลงาน โครงการการสร้างการมีส่วนร่วมของคนในชุมชนท้องถิ่นในการบริหารจัดการ ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม อย่างสมดุลและยั่งยืนการส่งเสริมกิจกรรมท่องเที่ยงแบบ Go Green ฯ เพื่อการพัฒนาที่ยั่งยืน
Ajarn Witchuta Haicharoen
Presented the project:
อาจารย์ วิชชุตา : นำเสนอผลงาน โครงการกายกระดับภูมิปัญญาและสร้างมูลค่าเพิ่มของสวนมะพร้าว ด้วยการจัดการการท่องเที่ยวอย่างยังยืนของตำบลบางใบไม้ จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี
Connecting Tourism, Community, and Local Wisdom
The projects presented by IST lecturers shared a common direction: using local areas as the foundation for development. They emphasized the value of local resources, community products, local wisdom, natural assets, ways of life, and community stories, transforming them into practical approaches that can support tourism development, income generation, and improved quality of life.
The presentations also reflected IST’s academic direction, which extends beyond classroom-based teaching. The school focuses on applying knowledge to real community contexts through research, academic service, community capacity building, and collaboration with local partners.
From Academic Knowledge to Sustainable Area-Based Development
Through the Knowledge Marketplace & Pitching forum, IST lecturers had opportunities to exchange ideas with experts and project leaders from other university units. This process supported the improvement of local development work by providing useful recommendations, strengthening project directions, and helping academic initiatives respond more clearly to community needs.
The activity therefore functioned as a presentation platform, a lesson-sharing forum, and a networking space between the university and local communities. It was especially relevant to issues related to community-based tourism, local identity conservation, value creation from local resources, and grassroots economic development.
Key Contributions from IST Participation
The participation of IST lecturers reaffirmed the school’s role as an academic unit that helps drive local development through knowledge in tourism and hospitality. The presented projects highlighted important development directions as follows:
Adding Value to Local Resources
Applying tourism, marketing, Soft Power, BCG, and creative economy concepts to upgrade local products and resources for community benefit.
Strengthening Community Participation
Encouraging local people to participate in managing natural resources, environmental assets, and sustainable tourism activities.
Promoting Go Green Tourism
Linking tourism activities with environmental awareness, balanced resource management, and responsible development.
Enhancing Local Wisdom through Tourism
Elevating coconut garden wisdom and community identity through sustainable tourism management in Bang Bai Mai.
Strengthening IST’s Role as an Academic Mechanism for Communities
The International School of Tourism continues to integrate teaching, research, and academic service with local development. Its participation in this forum demonstrates how the expertise of lecturers can be connected with real community issues and transformed into development approaches that benefit local areas.
IST remains committed to developing tourism and hospitality that create value for communities, support grassroots economic growth, and promote responsible use of local resources. This approach aligns with Suratthani Rajabhat University’s mission as a university for local development and contributes to sustainable community transformation.
SDG Report & Relevant Goals
This activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals through IST’s participation in knowledge exchange, project presentation, and local development support based on tourism and community-focused academic work.
| SDG Goal | Target Description | Connection to IST Participation |
|---|---|---|
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SDG 4: Quality Education | IST’s participation supported knowledge exchange among lecturers, experts, project leaders, and partner networks. It also promoted the application of academic knowledge to real local development contexts. |
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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | The projects presented by IST lecturers relate to local product upgrading, community-based tourism, Soft Power, creative economy, and value creation from local resources, supporting grassroots economic development and income opportunities. |
|
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | The presentations were connected to community participation, local wisdom, sustainable tourism management, environmental resource management, and the development of Bang Bai Mai as a community-based tourism area. |
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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | The Knowledge Marketplace & Pitching forum created a collaborative space among the university, lecturers, experts, project leaders, and communities to exchange knowledge and jointly drive sustainable local development. |
IST’s participation in the workshop and presentation forum under SRU’s local development strategy demonstrates the school’s commitment to applying tourism and hospitality knowledge for community benefit, strengthening local value, and supporting sustainable development through academic-community collaboration.
