NIDA Development Journal

From Theory to Policy to Practice: Exploring Thailand’s Current Self-Reliance Policy and Its Socioeconomic Implications

Thaenphan Senaphan Buamai — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article applies Dependency Theory to analyse Thailand's reliance on core countries in the capitalist system and its effects on national development policy as reflected in the National Economic and Social Development Plans (NESDPs). A qualitative approach was employed. The study analysed the 8^th-13^th NESDPs and the 20-Year National Strategy, and conducted fieldwork in the Kokmueng Community in Songkhla Province. Self-reliance policies have influenced this community since the 8^th NESDP. Data were collected through participant and non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews with nine key informants selected through snowball and purposive sampling.

The findings show that after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 8^th and 9^th NESDPS promoted self-reliance as a response to the crisis. The 10^th to 12^th NESDPs embedded self-reliance into national consciousness and community empowerment. The case of Kokmueng demonstrates the continuing influence of these earlier policies, with the community developing its own strategies to respond to national agendas, highlighting dynamic state-community relations. The 13^th NESDP reframed self-reliance within an entrepreneurial framework, marking a shift from seeing it as an end to using it as a tool for building competitive grassroots economies. The study also traces the policy shifts that reflect the impact of global political-economic structures on domestic policy and identifies key turning points from self-reliance-focused frameworks to entrepreneurial-led development.

Social Media for Collaborative Student Sustainability

Chito Mataac — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines how students utilize social media to collaborate on sustainable consumption initiatives on campus. The objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of social media functionalities in supporting sustainability efforts, identifying student-driven sustainable practices, and proposing platform improvements to enhance collaboration. A survey questionnaire was administered to 460 undergraduate students using convenience sampling, with responses collected in both Thai and English. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing descriptive statistics and frequency analysis for quantitative data, while thematic analysis was conducted on open-ended responses to identify key trends in student collaboration.

The results present that over 80% of students actively engage with social media platforms, primarily Line (80%), Facebook (77.8%), and Instagram (72.0%), using them for communication, organizing sustainability projects, and mobilizing participation. Key themes from the analysis draw attention to the role of social media in enhancing outreach, real-time engagement, and knowledge sharing. However, students identified challenges, such as the lack of integrated collaboration tools, limited content discovery features, and insufficient analytics to measure engagement. The study recommends improving social media platforms by incorporating project management tools, refining content discovery algorithms, and integrating sustainability-focused educational resources. These findings provide insights for universities, social media developers, and policymakers to strengthen digital sustainability strategies and promote student-led environmental initiatives on campus.

Localization of Microfinance Institutions in Yunnan Province, China

REN Wanxuan — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

China’s accelerated economic advancement since 2010 has highlighted the inequalities present in urban and rural development. This investigation delves into the localization and effects of microfinance institutions (MFIs) within the rural context of Yunnan Province, specifically concentrating on the Lijiang Institute of Health and Environment (LIHE). Notwithstanding government subsidies, conventional financial institutions encounter significant challenges in catering to the impoverished demographics of this area. The "Village Bank" initiative spearheaded by LIHE, a microfinance program, has received substantial endorsement from both local governmental entities and community members, effectively fostering local development and environmental sustainability for more than a decade. This paper examines the factors contributing to LIHE’s acceptance among local populations and its role in facilitating local development. It presents a comprehensive overview of microfinance, introduces the “Village Bank” framework, and evaluates the economic, environmental, and socio-political ramifications of LIHE’s initiatives. Additionally, the paper addresses the obstacles encountered by LIHE, encompassing issues of financial sustainability, collaboration with governmental bodies, and local participation. The findings suggest that LIHE’s emphasis on self-organization, local participation, and selective localization of successful microfinance models are key to its success in Yunnan.

Design and Development of a User-Centric Mobile Application to Promote Sustainable Hydration and Reduce Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Consumption: A Case Study of Chulalongkorn University

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigates the efficacy of WaterMap, an innovative user-centric mobile application designed to reduce single-use plastic water bottle consumption at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand-a regionally significant case within Southeast Asia's broader plastic pollution crisis. Employing a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach, we developed and evaluated a system that integrates real-time information on water dispenser locations and water quality with gamification elements to promote sustainable hydration practices. Key informants for the qualitative research were selected from Chulalongkorn University students based on prior participation in environmental surveys, while 17 participants were recruited for quantitative usability testing. Our mixed-methods evaluation, combining quantitative usability metrics (e.g., satisfaction ratings on a 5-point Likert scale) with qualitative thematic analysis, revealed high user satisfaction and a strong perceived potential for reducing plastic waste. Users appreciated the app's ease of use and its role in promoting sustainable behaviors. Notably, 76.5% of participants expressed moderate to high trust in the app's water quality data, while 70.6% reported consistent use of reusable bottles. Areas for enhancement, such as multi-language support and improved gamification engagement, were also identified. This research contributes significantly to the growing body of literature on technological interventions for sustainability, offering valuable insights for developing similar initiatives in other educational institutions-particularly in Southeast Asian contexts facing acute plastic pollution challenges. Our findings demonstrate the potential of combining mobile technology, loT, and gamification to foster behavioral change toward environmental sustainability in higher education settings, with implications for broader public spaces.

Local Businesses Adaptation Using Business Models Linking Tourism and Fisheries in Coastal Areas of Satun Province, Thailand through Participatory Action Research

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research aims to study the adaptation of local businesses using business models linking tourism and fisheries affected by COVID-19 pandemic in the coastal areas of Satun Province, Thailand which is a key challenge in the revitalization of regional economy. Participatory action research (PAR) methods were applied with five main sectors: community, private sector, public sector, political sector and academic sector. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups and Business Model Canvas (BMC) analysis. Moreover, quantitative data were analyzed for means and standard deviations to assess satisfaction and readiness to adapt. The study found seven innovative business models in three main business groups (tourism, fisheries and retail) that clearly reflect community-driven adaptation and innovation, including the transformation of Pakbara from a "passing point" to a "stopover point", as well as Satun Fishery Start-up model for creative use of resources. The successful implementation of these models has been tangible with strong social capital among various sectors. This research filled a gap in the literature that had largely focused on business model innovation in large organizations. It presented empirical evidence of adaptation and innovation in the context of small businesses and communities affected by crisis, which systematically integrates the concepts of organizational adaptation theory, community innovation, and social capital theory. These findings had practical significance for promoting experiential tourism and strengthening local collaborative networks. This also led to important policy recommendations to support infrastructure development and promote entrepreneurial potential for sustainable long-term local economic development.

Review on Biochemistry of Biogas Generation

KYU KYU TIN, Namrata Agrahari, Wirach Taweepreda, Anil Kumar — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Anaerobic digestion or anaerobic biodegradation is regarded as the complex biochemical and biological activities accomplished through the collaboration of various bacterial species. Its outcome is "biogas", mostly comprised of methane and carbon dioxide that can be applied as fuel, electricity and cooking gas to reduce greenhouse gas emission introducing cost-efficient renewable technology for social economics. Through an anaerobic digestion process, several biological steps and various kinds of bacteria are introduced simultaneously. Therefore, Effective control systems and monitoring are necessary to optimize the process and achieve the desired biogas yields. This literature review introduced the basic background of the biochemical process of anaerobic digestion to catch desired biogas yields. Moreover, Life cycle assessments of biogas in order to attain decreased CO2 foot print will be mentioned. Based on the existing knowledge, the composition of complex biopolymers in various feedstock impacts the biogas yields especially the highest fat and protein embrace longer lag time than high carbohydrate in substrates.