RCSD in collaboration with Tembusu College, National University of Singapore, hosted an experiential field school that brought together 28 NUS and 14 CMU students to explore development issues in Northern Thailand.
The program combined lectures, campus activities, and field visits to three communities:
- Ban Nor Lae – examining borderland development and state-local dynamics
- Mae Klang Luang – focusing on community-based tourism, coffee production, and weaving
- Huay E Kang – exploring environmental knowledge, gender roles, and Karen identity
Students participated in field interviews, group discussions, forest walks, and local workshops, culminating in final presentations to academic and community partners.
The program concluded with a student presentation session at the Faculty of Social Sciences, CMU, where groups shared their findings through video projects and discussions. These presentations reflected the students’ understanding of local contexts, cultural dynamics, and development challenges. It was also a valuable space for students to exchange insights with community members, field coordinators, and faculty which highlighting how field-based learning can deepen critical thinking, cross-cultural awareness, and collaborative research skills.
