The three Thai municipalities of Rayong, Satun, and Tak Municipality have been formally welcomed into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), marking the latest phase in Thailand’s efforts to advance inclusive, city-led education. Their induction places them among the newest cities to be recognized for turning lifelong learning into a practical, community-wide reality.

For academics and researchers of urban development, these three cities offer compelling case studies for how localized policy, community engagement, and sustainability can converge into globally aligned models of inclusive learning.

The GNLC currently spans 425 cities across 91 countries, connecting nearly 500 million people through shared learning opportunities. And now, they also include these three Thai cities.

Rayong: Innovation corridors and eco-learning networks

Rayong’s model is deeply intertwined with its role in Thailand’s industrial and technological landscape. 

Through the Rayong Eastern Learning Corridor, the municipality links government bodies, educational institutions, and local enterprises to reduce disparities and open new learning pathways. Its Inclusive Learning Academy (RILA) and Provincial Education Foundation expand educational access across all ages, while the Blue-Green Learning Network uses mangrove eco-parks as living classrooms for sustainability education. 

For scholars of urban sustainability, Rayong represents a practical example of how ecological stewardship can merge with workforce development.

Satun: Heritage, storytelling, and grassroots leadership

Satun offers a community-driven model built around cultural preservation, geopark-based conservation, and collective knowledge. 

The Satun Story initiative invites residents to document and share local narratives, reinforcing cultural pride while strengthening informal learning networks. More than 130 trained Learning Administrators, including 15 highly active community leaders, mobilize learning projects in collaboration with TK Park Satun, KMUTT, and local authorities. 

Satun’s approach is particularly relevant to fields such as anthropology, cultural studies, and participatory development.

Tak: Policy-deepened learning embedded in daily life

Tak Municipality stands out for embedding lifelong learning directly into its Local Development Plan (2023–2027), framing learning as a resource that must reach all residents, including marginalized border communities. 

With a focus on participatory governance, its strategy positions lifelong learning not as a standalone project but as an underlying principle of urban planning. This makes Tak a strong reference point for public-policy scholars and researchers of decentralized education systems.

A growing global network and new opportunities for collaboration

UNESCO officials have described the Learning Cities initiative as an effort to redefine education by “turning every street, library, workplace, museum and home into a space for knowledge and innovation.”

For Thailand, now home to 13 recognized Learning Cities, the inclusion of Rayong, Satun, and Tak Municipality broadens opportunities for international research partnerships, student exchanges, urban development studies, and cross-border educational innovation.

For those seeking real-world examples of community learning ecosystems, as well as cities looking to engage in city-to-city collaboration and peer learning, the newest Thai members of the GNLC offer rich terrain for partnerships on sustainability, digital innovation, cultural exchange, and inclusive urban policy, fostering mutual learning across borders.