Chulalongkorn University Platform for Aging Research Innovation and Thailand Platform for Aging Research Innovation

“Chula ARi is a research platform addressing the challenges of population aging. It aims to conduct impactful research and develop a comprehensive system considering health, social, economic, environmental, and technological aspects. Key outcomes during 2018-2023 include a national action plan for older persons, a database system for the public, and prototype systems to serve the needs of older persons in nine of Bangkok’s urban poor areas. In 2020, Chula ARi received recognition from the MSDHS for its outstanding support towards the aging society.

In 2022, Chula ARi established partnerships with Thai universities to bolster elderly welfare in urban settings. Thai ARi united scholars, officials, local leaders, and stakeholders in devising community systems. Four pilot communities saw a prototype in action, leading to a nationwide research innovation platform. Thai ARi has boosted urban communities’ capacity to provide supportive systems for active aging.”

The Chulalongkorn University Platform for Aging Research Innovation (Chula ARi) was founded in 2018 with the support of the University Second Century Fund. Its purpose is to bring together knowledge and expertise from various disciplines and faculties to tackle the challenges associated with an aged society in Thailand.

Chula ARi aligns with the University’s mission to create knowledge and innovations that promote sustainable development through partnerships and networks in Thailand and internationally. Its goal is proactively utilizing integrated sciences to 1) conduct policy research that can provide practical guidance for policy debates and shape national policies, 2) conduct action research in specific areas, and 3) generate community databases and create public awareness on aging issues.

Chula ARi is committed to tackling the prevalent demographic aging trend nationally and globally. The Chula ARi has yielded three essential outcomes to address these challenges effectively.

First, the third National Action Plan for Older Persons was drafted by Chula ARi and its network. This plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap for proactive geriatric efforts, considering the needs of current and future older individuals. This Action Plan has been ratified by the government and implemented as a critical strategy for an aging society from 2023 to 2037.

The second outcome involves developing a database system for policy planning and research on population aging. This system will also be used to communicate research findings and raise public awareness of the situation of older persons and the aging society.

The third outcome derived from action research is establishing a fully integrated community system in low-income Bangkok neighborhoods encompassing all aspects of health, social, economic, environmental, and technological development, which support healthy and active aging in low-income Bangkok neighborhoods. Chula ARi strives to create a human security system that advances aging-in-place, social participation, reducing inequalities, promoting intergenerational solidarity, and strengthening the capacity of the urban community. Chula ARi’s work supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, i.e., SDGs 3, 10, 11, etc.

In 2020, Chulalongkorn University received recognition for its remarkable performance in CSR from the MSDHS for its outstanding support towards the aging society from the success of Chula ARi.

Chula ARi has been working with Thai regional universities on the Thai ARi program since 2022. Thai ARi aims to improve the well-being of elderly individuals in urban communities. It achieves this by bringing together academics from various institutions, local government/community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop socio-economic and technological innovations and community services accessible to people of all ages. The project has researched older persons and their communities, resulting in a prototype system for an aging society in four pilot urban communities. The program has successfully connected research and practice, empowering urban neighborhoods to improve the living standards of elderly residents. Chula ARi and Thai ARi are expanding their prototype model to other communities in Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Region of Thailand. They also intend to share the knowledge gained with other countries in ASEAN.