Articles
University as a knowledge marketplace: tropical campus design for innovative agricultural education
Article number
1356_13
Pages
85 – 92
Language
English
Abstract
Background and objectives: current agricultural technology has shifted its paradigm to focus more on food security, innovation, and environmental stewardships, especially in the urban environment.
Furthermore, the educational methods and expectations have shifted in new ways, both from the growing technology and socio-environmental uncertainties.
Environmental designers and agricultural educators need campus spaces to research, teach, and provide examples that reflect these changes.
Thus, this study aimed to understand perspectives, ideas, and primary goals for campus design regarding innovative agricultural education, both for urban, peri-urban, and suburban environments in northern Thailand.
Methods: the researchers interviewed the employees at the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University.
Chiang Mai University was selected due to its unique location in the middle of Chiang Mai, a large tourist city in northern Thailand.
The employees were interviewed by both in-depth interviews and focus groups.
The interview data were analyzed in categories including spatial requirements for agricultural education, research functions, and well-being for students and staffs.
Results: the collected data showed that many participants had initial ideas to adapt the existing campus for the new and evolving agricultural technology.
The Faculty of Agriculture instilled the vision of Smart Agriculture for Better Life’ to employees.
The vision was reflected through some design goals of the physical campus such as the innovation alley, BCG smart farm, and agrotourism.
However, uncertainties regarding future management and maintenance, educational climate during and after pandemic, and climate changes were discussed.
Perspectives: this research provides design ideas from agricultural innovation campus in northern Thailand and similar regions.
It is novel and significant because it showed a part of an evidence-based design process within the Southeast Asian climatic and cultural contexts.
Designers, planners, and researchers can apply such processes in future site development.
Furthermore, the educational methods and expectations have shifted in new ways, both from the growing technology and socio-environmental uncertainties.
Environmental designers and agricultural educators need campus spaces to research, teach, and provide examples that reflect these changes.
Thus, this study aimed to understand perspectives, ideas, and primary goals for campus design regarding innovative agricultural education, both for urban, peri-urban, and suburban environments in northern Thailand.
Methods: the researchers interviewed the employees at the Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University.
Chiang Mai University was selected due to its unique location in the middle of Chiang Mai, a large tourist city in northern Thailand.
The employees were interviewed by both in-depth interviews and focus groups.
The interview data were analyzed in categories including spatial requirements for agricultural education, research functions, and well-being for students and staffs.
Results: the collected data showed that many participants had initial ideas to adapt the existing campus for the new and evolving agricultural technology.
The Faculty of Agriculture instilled the vision of Smart Agriculture for Better Life’ to employees.
The vision was reflected through some design goals of the physical campus such as the innovation alley, BCG smart farm, and agrotourism.
However, uncertainties regarding future management and maintenance, educational climate during and after pandemic, and climate changes were discussed.
Perspectives: this research provides design ideas from agricultural innovation campus in northern Thailand and similar regions.
It is novel and significant because it showed a part of an evidence-based design process within the Southeast Asian climatic and cultural contexts.
Designers, planners, and researchers can apply such processes in future site development.
Authors
V. Surinseng, C. Wongmeuang, E. Yaipimol, C. Wanitchayapaisit, N. Charoenlertthanakit, P. Suppakittpaisarn
Keywords
innovative agriculture, food security, campus design, qualitative study, research-through-design
Groups involved
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
- Working Group Urban Horticulture
- Working Group Landscape Horticulture
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