Huachiew Chalermprakiet University
From Heritage to Livelihoods: A Three-Phase Area-Based Study on Cultural Capital and Inclusive Community Development
Finalist, Benefitting Society
About
Area-based research and development activities at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University (HCU), guided by the principle “To pursue knowledge to serve society,” demonstrates how cultural capital can drive inclusive and sustainable community development. The three-phase initiative began with mapping over 150 tangible and intangible cultural assets, ensuring community-led prioritization. The second phase translated selected assets into livelihoods through participatory training and the Temple-School-Community-Entrepreneur (TSCE) model, resulting in over 20 cultural products and services, six cultural enterprises, and income increases of 50% to 327%. Knowledge transmission produced more than 800 cultural successors. The third phase expanded inclusivity by engaging migrant workers and vulnerable groups, strengthening social cohesion. With approximately USD 203,125 in funding, the initiative achieved a Social Return on Investment of 8.48 and 4.96 across Phases 2 and 3, and an overall ROI of 35.63, evidencing significant socio-economic impact.
Top 3 learnings
1. Community ownership drives sustainability.
2. Cultural assets can be transformed into inclusive economic value.
3. Integration and inclusivity strengthen system resilience.
| 2026 | |
| Benefitting Society | |
| Finalist, International |
