Youth participation in public policy formulation: a case study of the children and youth council of Thailand

Author: Nada Weayusoh

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.DS-23-01

Year: 2023

Academic Program: Development and Sustainability (DS)

Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2023

Examination Committee: Takuji W. Tsusaka (Chairpeson); Vilas Nitivattananon, Djoen San Santoso(Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: Rights of participation are basic rights for all mankind, women and men, black and white, or young and adult. However, there are many obstacles that hamper the ability of some groups of people to be counted, especially young people. To evaluate the effectiveness of participation in youth institutions, the aforesaid theory requires an extensive research network in the particular field of study. However, there has been no recommendation or observation built on this theoretical framework and field of interest so far in Thailand. This research examined the situation, obstacles, and key facilitation of the children and youth council (CYC) of Thailand as a means of officially and legally involving young Thai people in public policy formulation, and explored why the council tended to fail to achieve their own accountability as youth representation at the national level such as in the national children and youth development plan. The overall objective of this study is to find out what drives the CYC’s involvement in the national children and youth development plan in Thailand. The specific objectives are 1) to assess the extent of the CYC’s involvement in public policy formulation on the national children and youth development plan, 2) to explore the obstacles to the CYC as a youth representative in public policy formulation, 3) to identify the key facilitating factors for the CYC’s involvement in the 4-year National Children and Youth Development Plan. The research employed mixed methods. The quantitative method sought to identify the level of children and youth participation in scientific and statistical manners, while the qualitative component sought to explain intangible factors such as personal experiences or attitude. The online survey was conducted with 380 representatives of the local councils in order to find out the individual experience with the council and experience as the council plus, a focus group discussion with four representatives at the local level, and nine key in

Scholarship Donor(s): Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarships (Thailand)

Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development and Sustainability, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Advisory: Full-text is available at https://library.ait.ac.th/ (accessible to local ip address only)

Search keywords index: Nada Weayusoh Youth participation in public policy formulation: a case study of the children and youth council of Thailand Development and Sustainability (DS) Youth — Social networks — Thailand — Case studies;”Social participation — Thailand”; Children and youth council of Thailand