On March 4, 2025, in order to increase the sustainability of innovation in the region through integration with the university’s Bachelor of Arts Program in Interdisciplinary Studies of Social Science, Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, in partnership with Equity Lab by the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), organized a workshop titled “Project to expand innovations in educational institutions for educational equality, Year 6 or Equity Partnership’s School Network Season 6”. In addition to lower secondary school pupils from Maekong Wittaya School and Mae Moh Wittaya School in Lampang Province, 33 students from two universities—Thammasat University and Lampang Inter-Tech College—attended the session.
One of the cooperative innovations to improve educational equality between the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), Sea (Thailand) Company, the provider of the Shopee e-commerce platform, the network of international schools, and the EEF expanding opportunity schools is the Project to Expand Innovations in Educational Institutions for Educational Equality, Year 6 or Equity Partnership’s School Network Season 6. In order to develop the potential of students from expanding opportunity schools, it creates a space where students from various educational institutions can learn, exchange, and develop life skills, vocational skills, and 21st-century skills through product development, distribution on the Shopee platform, and revenue generation back to students, schools, and communities. Additionally, it serves as a “space for learning and friendship” for students from other academic institutions. It aids in the development of soft skills, creative thinking abilities, and various other abilities that are necessary for students’ employment in the modern workplace. In addition to adding value through the purchasing of project-related products on Shopee, the network has grown over the last five years to include nine international schools and 53 expanding opportunity schools around the country, generating over 1.5 million baht in revenue.
Our goal for the sixth year is to increase the network’s sustainability by transferring knowledge and innovation to network partners so they may grow in their respective fields.
Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Manager of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), discussed the project’s sixth-year spatial cooperation expansion to innovate the educational network for educational equality. This project has been connected to tertiary educational institutions to connect university and international college students to learn, share knowledge, and collaborate with students in schools run by the Office of the Basic Education Commission, including communities in Lampang Province.
“The younger generation, which includes children and youth, may fix the issue of educational inequality by doing these things on their own. This collaboration will show Thai society that education for children and youth is the first step toward a long-term solution to the inequality issues.”
According to Wongsathon Choonhavan, Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship Analyst at Equitable Education Fund from the Equity Lab, the project supervisor. Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, is one of the higher education networks that has developed into a hub for operations and sustainability creation in Lampang Province.
This is because it has been prepared in many ways, including staff with experience in entrepreneurship and community product development, a curriculum with a teaching plan that aligns with the project’s objectives, and areas with local knowledge and community learning resources. Through collaboration across the corporate, community, and education sectors, this transfer will not only aid in the methodical growth and expansion of innovation but also promote the creation of an ecosystem that fosters the emergence of new entrepreneurs—a crucial pillar of sustainable development.
Dr. Nattagorn Choochouy, assistant to the rector for administration, Lampang Campus, expressed his satisfaction that Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, was involved in and led the sixth year of the project in Lampang Province. Thammasat University, Lampang Campus, spoke about the role of higher education institutions as a center for creating learning opportunities and developing essential skills in the 21st century for children and youth in extended opportunity schools.
“In order to develop a prototype or sandbox for innovative education, which is a crucial first step that helps us recognize the significance of this issue, Thammasat has attempted to serve as a platform for collaboration with the secondary and higher education sectors, as well as the private sector that is driving these issues. Every student who enrolled today contributes to this achievement.”
In addition to laying the groundwork for identity development and product design based on community resources, this activity is regarded as the beginning of learning, exchanging, and forming strong friendships between seniors and juniors from various educational institutions. It also prepares them for the new market era 5.0, where they will apply their knowledge to collaboratively develop local products and sell them on the Shopee platform, bringing in money for communities, schools, and students.
The authors
