5 October 2026 – The Legal Clinic of the School of Law, University of Phayao, has reached a key milestone in driving social change. It has announced a major collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and the Good Governance for Social Development Foundation. A ceremony was held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on academic services under the "Project to Develop a Cooperation System for Legal Assistance and Health-Promoting Policy." The project is part of the broader initiative to develop systems and mechanisms to support health-promoting laws and policies at the local community level. The ceremony took place at the Asawin Grand Convention Hotel in Bangkok.
The ceremony was presided over by Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, Managing Director of ThaiHealth. Assistant Professor Udom Ngammuangsakul, Dean of the School of Law, University of Phayao, signed the academic cooperation agreement as the representative authorized by the President of the University of Phayao.
Unlocking Constraints for Sustainable Solutions
Health and environmental problems at the local level have often run up against legal limitations and bureaucratic complexity, compounded by a limited understanding of how to apply local laws. Recognizing these gaps, the University of Phayao Legal Clinic initiated this project to bring "legal knowledge" directly into communities to help drive solutions and resolve problems for local people.
The "Weaving Three Powers" Concept: Establishing the University of Phayao Network for Health-Promoting Law and Policy
To deliver concrete solutions, the "University of Phayao Network for Health-Promoting Law and Policy" has been established. Its main goal is to work with civil society, government agencies, and local organizations. The network will serve as an academic adviser, focusing on reviewing and seeking knowledge, innovations, and relevant laws in order to remove limitations and obstacles faced by civil society, communities, and local authorities.
Its operations will emphasize integration with ThaiHealth's partner networks, legal networks, and academics from other disciplines to support the advancement of health-promoting laws and policies in local areas. The network will also develop community leaders and local personnel, building their capacity to promote local health-promoting laws and policies through participation. The work is guided by the "Weaving Three Powers" framework: policy power, academic power, and social power.
A Three-Year Cooperation Framework Toward Community Goals
The agreement runs for three years and has three main objectives:
- Building a united network: Establish a strong cooperation system so that communities can receive timely and effective assistance on health-promoting laws and policies.
- Developing laws for communities: Study and design local-level legal measures that promote health and improve people's quality of life.
- Empowering local people: Provide training and skills development for community leaders and local personnel so they can sustainably advance public policies for the common good on their own.
Expected Outcomes for Communities
Under this project, communities will gain an assistance system and local legal knowledge that can be applied in practice to solve health and well-being problems. Community leaders and local personnel will be better prepared and equipped to jointly develop local ordinances or community rules that foster a healthy environment and good well-being in their own areas.
The Legal Clinic of the School of Law, University of Phayao, remains committed to its vision of "Rule of Law Leading to a Peaceful Society," and invites all sectors to join in making Thai society safe, healthy, and livable for everyone.