16.2.4 Participatory bodies for stakeholder engagement

Srinakharinwirot University recognises that meaningful engagement with local stakeholders is a vital part of the university’s mission to remain socially responsive and accountable to the communities it serves. To this end, formal participatory bodies have been established to ensure that local residents, local government authorities, and civil society representatives have structured mechanisms for involvement in decision-making. These bodies serve not only as consultative forums but also as channels through which community perspectives are integrated into university policies and long-term planning. Through these structures, the university ensures that community voices are institutionalised rather than incidental, and that governance processes reflect the shared interests of academia, government, and civil society.

The SOOK ASOK Network Alliance has partnered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to jointly develop the Asok area, establishing four pillars of well-being—Happy Mobility, Healthy Lifestyles, Environmental Well-being, and Engaging Activities—aimed at creating a more livable district.

The SOOK ASOK Network, in collaboration with educational institutions and businesses along Asok Montri Road, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to advance the Asok area toward becoming a more livable district and to enhance the quality of life for the Asok community through four creative well-being initiatives: Happy Mobility, Healthy Lifestyles, Environmental Well-being, and Engaging Activities. The signing was witnessed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, at Srinakharinwirot University.

The SOOK ASOK initiative was launched through a coalition of organizations based in the Asok district. Its founding partners are Srinakharinwirot University, Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP), Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited, Rutnin Eye Hospital, Heritage Estates Co., Ltd., FICO Corporation Co., Ltd., GMM Grammy Public Company Limited, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, and The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage. The coalition recognizes the importance of developing and upgrading Asok one of Bangkok’s key financial districts.

The SOOK ASOK project commenced in late 2022, with partner organizations conducting joint consultations to plan and determine directions for area development. In addition, comprehensive studies have been undertaken including data collection, on-site environmental analysis, target-group interviews, and stakeholder workshops to generate in-depth insights that reflect the needs and challenges of those living and working in the area

A needs assessment of 555 respondents in the Asok Montri area including business operators, space users, and residents found that the most frequently cited concern was public safety, specifically the condition of sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and the availability of adequate lighting at key locations. Secondary concerns related to the area’s physical infrastructure, such as the quality and width of walkways and the adequacy of amenities, which were seen as falling short of user needs. Respondents also highlighted environmental issues, including air quality, noise, cleanliness around commercial premises, and the lack of a systematic waste-management regime.

Stakeholder participation:

• Kiatnakin Phatra Financial Group (KKP) 

• Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited 

• Rutnin Eye Hospital

• Heritage Estates Co., Ltd. 

• FICO Corporation Co. Ltd.

• GMM Grammy Public Company Limited 

• Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited

• The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage.

Contact us: https://www.facebook.com/WELOVESOOKASOK/

Integrated Development Project for Holistic Health Management: ASOK Model

Srinakharinwirot University, as an urban higher-education institution located on Sukhumvit 21 (Asok), recognizes the gravity of local issues ranging from unsafe pedestrian sidewalks and passenger piers, insufficient awareness of waste management, and health risks faced by street-level service providers (such as sanitation workers, police officers, motorcycle-taxi drivers, and roadside vendors), to conditions in shopping centers with sizeable workforces and limited healthy food options. The area also lacks supervised exercise spaces that provide proper guidance on genuine well-being. In response, the University proposes developing Sukhumvit 21 (Asok) as the “ASOK Model.”