25 March 2025 – Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL), through its International Relations Office, launched Learning Express 2025, a collaborative programme with Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Singapore, aimed at empowering students to work directly with local communities to identify challenges and co-create sustainable solutions.
Running from 24 March to 4 April 2025, the programme engaged students, academic staff, facilitators, and community stakeholders in Ban Don Luang, Lamphun Province, Ban Choeng Doi, and Ban Ton Nae Noi, Chiang Mai Province.
Using Design Thinking, teamwork, cross-cultural communication, and community engagement, RMUTL and SP students worked directly with local communities to understand their needs, identify local challenges, and develop social innovation solutions based on community contexts. Rather than providing one-way assistance, the programme emphasized community participation and the co-creation of practical solutions for sustainable development.
Learning Express demonstrates how universities can work with local communities, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other development partners to address challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals. The community-based learning model also provides opportunities for student volunteering, knowledge exchange, and the development of educational and social innovation resources that respond to local needs.
Now in its ninth year, the programme strengthens long-term partnerships between higher education institutions and communities while encouraging students to apply academic knowledge to real-world sustainability challenges.