Standard 7: Preservation n of Thai Art& Culture, The university sets policies and directions to promote local and national arts and culture, focusing on conservation, preservation, dissemination, and advancement, as well as fostering the development of Thai arts and culture. They aim to create new values according to expertise, outlining directions for promoting local and national arts and culture through operational guidelines covering five aspects: (1) Education, research, and cultural studies, (2) Conservation, promotion, development, and dissemination of culture, (3) Promotion, revitalization, and dissemination of local traditions, (4)Training of cultural instructors and personnel, and(5) Cultural heritage conservation efforts in collaboration with local communities, municipalities, and external network communities involved in arts and cultural activities, such as the Ministry of Culture, Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Cultural Office, and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Buddhism Office. The University Council for Arts and Culture at Rajabhat University in Thailand, along with supporting organizations, promotes arts and cultural activities, research, and develops undergraduate programs focusing on community-based education, research, and cultural studies. For instance, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Creative Economic Cultural Management offers courses on conservation, promotion, development, and dissemination of culture. Additionally, it presents Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan (Phra Borommathat Nakhon Si Thammarat) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as a member of the management committee in the academic and translation document committee. This plays a crucial role in researching the historical background related to the sacred relic of the Phra Borommathat Chedi, which is a significant cultural heritage of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. It continuously promotes the revitalization and dissemination of local traditions, carrying out activities based on the unique customs of Nakhon Si Thammarat. It fosters awareness among staff, students, and the community to participate in activities on Makha Bucha Day. The university organizes activities such as writing Phra Bat cloth, which involves illustrating the life story of the Buddha. Subsequently, these cloths are taken to join the cloth procession to wrap around the Phra Borommathat Chedi, contributing to the preservation of local culture. Additionally, it establishes units for environmental conservation of art and cultural heritage. Additionally, it has been tasked by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to play a key role in collecting data on arts and culture in archaeological sites. This involves creating databases and disseminating them to agencies responsible for cultural preservation. Moreover, it ensures that educational curricula and activities foster knowledge and understanding of the diverse history, arts, cultures, and traditions of both local and national levels. Courses are included in the general education curriculum, such as “Nakhon Si Thammarat Studies,” which covers topics related to historical development, geographical context, environment, religion, culture, local wisdom, folk performances, traditions, important figures, and cultural diversity. This aims to instill a sense of identity and appreciation for the uniqueness of Nakhon Si Thammarat, enabling the application of this knowledge in the modern world. Furthermore, continuous assessment is conducted to develop students, with everyone required to study these subjects to foster, instill awareness, and cultivate pride in the local area. Arts and culture content is seamlessly integrated into specialized courses, employing strategies to incorporate subjects in the educational curriculum and activities aimed at fostering knowledge and understanding of local and national history, arts, culture, and diverse traditions.
Standard 7 – Preservation of Thai Arts & Culture
