3rd Cultural Heritage Management Clinic in Songkhla, Thailand a Success

We are happy to share that our 3rd Cultural Heritage Management Clinic in Songkhla, Thailand, concluded successfully last week on 29 February. Following the first two clinics in Siak, Indonesia, and San Carlos, the Philippines, this clinic continued a legacy of capacity building and development in tourism and preservation in small cities in Southeast Asia. Participants and stakeholders from the first two clinics were also present at the Songkhla clinic as we continue to grow SEACHA’s Heritage Cities Network.

The Songkhla Heritage Management Clinic trained 24 undergraduate students and 5 high school observers in an educational workshop with esteemed academics, including Dr. Piriya Krairiksh, Professor Pitchaya Soomjinda, and Mr Pakorn Rujiravilai. These workshops culminated in student presentations of their own cultural mapping projects, reflecting place-based preservation tactics. These students hailed from 7 different universities and disciplines, namely Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Songkhla Rajabhat University, Kasetsart University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Walailak University, Prince of Songkla University, and Songkhla Vocational College.

Several key figures of Songkhla additionally attended the clinic, including the Mayor of Songkhla – Mr. Wanchai Parinyasiri, Vice Governor – Mr. Amnuay Pinsuwan, Founder of Songkhla Heritage Trust – Mr. Rangsi Ratanaprakarn, Consul for Consular Affairs, Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia Di Songkhla – Mrs. Nunung Nurwulan. With these respected figures in attendance, each student was presented with a certificate upon completion during a closing ceremony for the clinic.

We are also deeply grateful for the university lecturers who assisted in organizing the clinic, our partner, Songkhla Heritage Trust, and PTTEP, our supporter.

Thank you all for attending our 3rd Heritage Management Clinic. We plan to release a report chronicling the clinic at the end of this year, so stay tuned to our emails and social media for more information. We look forward to seeing our Songkhla partners at our next clinic!