Guidelines for Promoting Youth Leadership in The Digital Age to Promote Sustainable Community Development in Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

This research article aimed to: (1) examine the situation and developmental needs for promoting youth leadership in the digital era to support sustainable community development in Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province; and (2) propose guidelines for promoting youth leadership in the digital era to enhance sustainable community development in Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province. This study employed a Mixed Methods Research design. The quantitative phase involved a sample of 367 participants. Data were collected using a questionnaire whose content validity was verified by five experts, and the overall reliability coefficient was 0.89. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation. The qualitative phase involved in-depth interviews with 12 key informants selected through purposive sampling. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and verified through triangulation techniques.
The results revealed that: (1) the situation and developmental needs for promoting youth leadership in the digital era were at a high level overall. Youth demonstrated the potential to utilize digital technologies for communication, learning, and building social networks. However, they still require support from communities and relevant agencies to enhance systematic participation in community development. (2) The guidelines for promoting youth leadership in the digital era should emphasize the development of digital skills alongside creating opportunities for youth participation in community activities. This should be implemented through integrated collaboration among local administrative organizations, educational institutions, and community networks in order to create learning spaces and continuously strengthen youth leadership roles.