PSU, PMU-A held “Reviving a City's Soul” festival and the “Eat Pray Love Hat Yai” event, expanding cultural capital to create new value through research
Prince of Songkla University, in collaboration
with the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU-A) and higher
education institutions, opened the cultural festival titled “Reviving a City's
Soul: from Research to Area Development”, held from 10 to 12 February 2023 in
Hat Yai, Songkhla. The event aimed to showcase various works under the "University
Research Framework and Cultural Capital for Area Development" concept,
covering all four regions of Thailand, supported by PMU-A and the Office of
National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council to
enhance the quality of life and competitiveness of entrepreneurs. The event was
opened with a welcoming speech by Mr. Jesadapong Chukaew, Deputy Mayor of Hat
Yai, followed by a report delivered by Asst. Prof. Dr. Jumphon Chuenjitsiri,
Acting Vice President for Legal and Academic Services. The event also featured
a lecture on the topic "Research and Development of Cultural Capital"
by PMU-A Director Dr. Kitti Satjawattana. PSU President Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat
Keawpradub, and representatives from relevant agencies attended the opening ceremony,
alongside tourists and interested participants.
The event “Reviving a City's Soul Festival: from
Research to Area Development” is held in Thailand’s four regions (North,
Northeastern, Southern, and Central). The aim of the event is to provide opportunities
for cultural entrepreneurs to develop their own potential through the exchange
of knowledge, selling cultural products and services, and to organize academic
activities and cultural performances that are linked to the preservation of the
original values and identity. Reaching these goals is expected to increase
local awareness, and pass down cultural capital to the next generation.
The next cultural festival will take place in the
northern region from 24 to 26 February 2023, at the General Sampao Chusri
Building, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai province; continuing in the
northeastern region from 10 to 12 March 2023 at Walking Street along the Mun
River, Muang District, Ubon Ratchathani province; and will end in the central
region from 31 March to 2 April 2023 at the Luanrit Community, Yaowarat Road,
Bangkok.
In parallel to the festival, Prince of Songkla
University’s Hat Yai Campus together with network partners organized the event
"Eat Pray Love Hat Yai No. 2". This event originated from a PSU
research project titled “Hat Yai City, cultural capital based on community
identity”. PSU President Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub opened the event at
Niphat Uthit 1 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, and it lasted from 10 to 12 February
2023.