Khon Kaen City Municipality Conducts a Knowledge-Sharing Session on Local Governance Excellence with Thammasat University Research Team
On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 1:30 PM, at Nakorn Pengjal Meeting Room, Khon Kaen City Municipality, Mr. Teerasak Theekhayuphan, Mayor of Khon Kaen City Municipality, participated in a lesson-learned session on local governance excellence with a research team from Thammasat University, led by Lecturers Jutalak Saento and Prapatpong Preecha.Key municipal officials and stakeholders attending the session included: Mr. Nattakorn Srinawakul (Secretary to the Mayor) Mr. Manop Chongtaku (Education Specialist) Mr. Wittaya Phuyosarn (Municipal Clerk) Ms. Krisana Saensaad (Deputy Municipal Clerk) Mr. Tossapol Wong-asa (Director of Engineering Office) Mr. Arthit Kaewmanee (Director of the Education Office) Ms. Somporn Chaiayut (Director of Public Health and Environment) Mr. Thawatchai Wanapitakkul (Director of Building and Urban Planning) Mr. Saran Paonariang (Director of Education, Religion, and Culture) Ms. Watanyuta Thawatchoti (Director of Social Welfare) Ms. Inthira Kharajaroen (Director of Strategy and Budget) Dr. Channarong Chaiyudom (Director of the Northeastern Child and Adolescent Mental Health Institute) Ms. Panisara Nantawong (Education Specialist at the Mental Health Institute) Parents, students, municipal teachers, and staff
Purpose of the Knowledge-Sharing Session
This initiative was part of a research project assigned by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister's Office, through the Decentralization Committee for Local Administrative Organizations, led by Assistant Professor Ronarong Jandai from Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Work. The project aimed to evaluate and select outstanding local administrative organizations for incentive funding to enhance governance efficiency.
As Khon Kaen City Municipality won First Place in the "Outstanding" category, this session focused on identifying key success factors to serve as a model for other local governments and to be published as an academic article both in print and online.
Focus Areas of the Knowledge-Sharing Session
The discussion was conducted as a focus group interview covering two main areas:
1. Innovation Projects
Key discussion points included: 1. Project name 2. Objectives of the innovation 3. Local environment and context 4. Initial challenges and community needs 5. Innovation process 6. Uniqueness and novelty of the innovation 7. Achieved outcomes 8. Success factors 9. Challenges and obstacles 10. Sustainability of the project 11. Scalability and dissemination strategies
Future Directions
2. Good Governance Practices
Discussions covered: 1. Efficiency and effectiveness of governance 2. Responsibility and responsiveness to community development 3. Transparency and accountability 4. Public participation 5. Rule of law and decentralization 6. Equity and social inclusion 7. Key success factors in governance 8. Challenges in governance 9. Sustainability and future development strategies
Future Directions
The session also explored various perspectives on sustainable local development. Mayor Teerasak Theekhayuphan emphasized that learning from other successful local governments and adapting best practices to local contexts is crucial.
Additionally, Khon Kaen City Municipality plans to expand its "Teacher-Doctor-Parent" program, sharing its model with other organizations interested in study visits. The municipality will publish its findings as an academic article to serve as a blueprint for best practices in local governance and will provide updates on this initiative in the future.