As part of the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Workshop Course, the UIS program at the School of Environment, Resources and Development (SERD), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), organized study field workshops in Nakhon Ratchasima City, Thailand. A group of 21 students from nine different nationalities, including 18 master’s and doctoral candidates, participated in this workshop on February 13-14 and April 8-10, 2025.
Under the guidance of Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon and Dr. Malay Pramanik, a multi-scale, multi-sector, and multidisciplinary methodology was demonstrated to address complex urban challenges through experiential learning. The field interactions served as a practical workshop, offering hands-on training and field-based insights to equip emerging urban leaders with the skills to shape smart, inclusive, and sustainable cities.
Participants engaged in a diverse range of activities, combining field observations, interactions with local stakeholders, interactive workshops, roundtable discussions, and site visits to local knowledge hubs and sustainability centers. Through collaborative group work, students applied critical thinking to co-produce and co-develop knowledge for locally relevant urban solutions. Discussions with representatives from local government agencies, NGOs, community organizations, and the private sector helped contextualize complex issues such as waste management, renewable energy transition, green infrastructure, transit-oriented development and planning, urban disasters, and climate-resilient development. The learning framework was grounded in a triple-lens perspective, environmental, ecological, and socio-economic, guiding students to assess urban sustainability from interconnected viewpoints. Participants embraced a systems-thinking approach, enabling a deeper understanding of the interdependence between urban form, infrastructure, governance, social equity, and environmental resilience.
The culmination of the workshops took place at the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, where students presented actionable solutions and received valuable feedback from provincial decision-makers. The presentations catalyzed cross-sectoral conversations, bridging academic innovation with the needs of local and municipal authorities. The visits resulted in refined action plans promoting urban transport solutions, waste reduction, nature-based solutions, and inclusive governance. Participants emphasized the importance of community-driven initiatives, decentralized planning, and adaptive strategies to foster local resilience.
This field experience not only strengthened the practical capabilities of UIS students but also highlighted the program’s unique role in shaping the next generation of urban changemakers. Gratitude is extended to UIS faculty and staff, AIT’s Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS), SERD, and all local partners and contributors for their continued support in making field-based learning a success.
