Vocational Education and Public-Private Partnerships in Rural Subsistence Marketplaces

This project studies the intersection of vocational education, government programs, and rural subsistence marketplaces. The Thai government has encouraged reforesting efforts to reduce the impact of flooding during rainy seasons in northeastern Thailand. To increase local support, the Thai government developed programs to increase the economic viability of forestry, including the introduction of valuable mushroom cultivation in the reforested areas. However, these efforts have met with resistance due to demand for more arable land, combined with the lack of knowledge of the benefits of forestry, as in recent decades, the economy of these regions have shifted towards farming, away from forestry. This project will explore the process and impact of creating educational content to communicate sustainability goals and economic benefits to subsistence farmers. The project will build on existing relationships with local stakeholders to develop vocational educational materials for ongoing research and impact within the community.