Assessment of Post-COVID Grassroots Economic and Social Development Projects Using the BCG Economy (U2T for BCG) by Higher Education Institutions in Nakhon Sawan Province Based on the Principles of Iddhipada Dhamma

Abstract

This research article aimed to propose guidelines for developing the implementation of the post-COVID grassroots economic and social revitalization project based on the BCG Economy by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Nakhon Sawan Campus. A mixed-methods research design was employed, consisting of quantitative research with a sample of 184 participants selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of .981 and were analyzed using statistical methods, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with 21 key informants selected through purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. The research findings indicated that the guidelines for developing the implementation of the project, based on the principle of Iddhipada Dhamma, should have been carried out as follows: (1) the government should have considered extending the project implementation period from three months to at least one year or longer, since some communities had never previously collaborated with the university and therefore required additional time to build mutual trust; (2) continuous budget allocations should have been provided to allow project members to develop their potential and skills on an ongoing basis, which would have led to readiness in upgrading products to compete in external markets; and (3) participation from other sectors, particularly the private sector, should have been promoted in terms of knowledge exchange, operational mechanisms, and marketing support, such as purchasing community products, in order to strengthen the grassroots economy. In addition, a collaborative network among communities, the private sector, and the government should have been established to create a fund for sustained support.