"Yala: A City of Thoughtful Urban Design and Cultural Harmony The urban planning of Yala was initiated during the tenure of Phra Rattakitvijarn, the former provincial governor and first mayor of Yala City, between 1937 and 1945. The city’s layout was developed in collaboration with a British advisor, resulting in a well-structured plan that remains recognizable to this day, more than 85 years later. In 2017, Yala was honored with a UNESCO Cities Award, ranking 23rd in the world for best city planning. While the city has naturally evolved with time, its original layout remains largely intact, maintaining its functional elegance and civic order. The city’s core is centered around the City Pillar Shrine, surrounded by the first ring road, which houses key government buildings such as: The Provincial Hall Yala Municipality Office Land Office National Broadcasting Station The second ring accommodates civil servant housing, while the third and outermost ring includes educational institutions, schools, hospitals, and residential communities. Yala is distinguished by its thoughtful incorporation of green urban design: Tree-lined streets are shaded by carefully cultivated pradu (Burmese rosewood) trees, which arch overhead to form natural, elegant canopies. Pedestrian pathways and bicycle lanes further enhance the city’s livability. This harmonious blend of urban planning, greenery, and infrastructure has earned Yala the title of ""Urban Park City""—a testament to its enduring commitment to sustainable, inclusive urban development."
"Project Implementation Areas 1. Yala City Municipality Serves as the central coordinating body for the Learning City initiative, driving citywide strategy and cross-sector collaboration. 2. TK Park Yala (Yala Knowledge Park) A key public learning space dedicated to promoting education, creativity, and access to information for youth and the general public. 3. Urban Communities across Yala These serve as living laboratories for learning, where projects like “Yala Stories” are implemented to co-design and localize educational spaces. 4. Yala Rajabhat University Provides academic support through research, curriculum development, and capacity-building for local learning programs. 5. Local Knowledge and Cultural Centers Function as exhibition and heritage transfer spaces, showcasing local arts, traditions, and collective memory—especially during projects like Yala Stories. 6. Youth Networks and the Association for Children and Youth for Peace in Southern Border Provinces (“Luk Riang” Group) Play a crucial role in fostering learning through arts and culture, actively partnering with the city to promote inclusive youth engagement and peacebuilding."
"Key Challenges 1. Lack of inclusive learning spaces that allow participation from youth and all segments of the population. 2. Limited understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, which affects cross-cultural engagement and inclusive learning practices. Opportunities 1. Yala possesses comprehensive city data covering multiple dimensions—including history, language, arts, and biodiversity—which can be harnessed to enrich learning content and experiences. 2. The creation of safe spaces for learning and cultural exchange provides a foundation for dialogue and social cohesion. 3. The city holds potential to become a replicable model for learning city development, offering practices that can be adapted by other municipalities. Key Strategics Directions 1. City-wide potential mapping has identified Yala’s assets and learning strengths. 2. A local collaboration mechanism has been established to foster partnerships across government, civil society, academia, and youth groups. 3. The city is developing policy recommendations that support Learning City advancement not only in Yala, but also as a guide for other communities seeking to adopt inclusive, culturally rooted learning strategies."
" 1. Yala Local Curriculum Developed by the Yala City Municipality’s Education Office, this curriculum focuses on local identity, culture, and community needs, ensuring education is relevant and accessible to all residents. 2. Provincial Core Curriculum Designed and supported by Yala Rajabhat University, this curriculum addresses region-wide learning goals and strengthens the city’s education ecosystem. 3. “Yala Stories” Program A creative, workshop-based initiative that empowers youth through participatory training. It enhances their understanding of cultural heritage, civic identity, and urban development, while promoting inclusive learning through storytelling and the arts. 4. Learning Spaces at TK Park Yala A dynamic center for informal education and cultural exchange, TK Park Yala serves as a key driver of the Learning City movement, providing opportunities for lifelong learning, digital literacy, and community engagement."
" Driving the Learning City through Research-Based Development 1. The city advances its learning agenda through three integrated research components: - Study of Yala’s social, economic, and cultural capital - Participatory design of inclusive learning spaces - Development of a citywide learning network to establish a mechanism for multi-stakeholder collaboration 2. Cross-Sector Integration - Promoting collaborative governance by integrating efforts from the public sector, private sector, and civil society to collectively shape Yala as an inclusive and sustainable Learning City. 3. Workshop-Based Engagement for Stakeholder Inclusion: Utilizing participatory workshops and hands-on training to actively involve stakeholders from all sectors in the co-creation of urban learning strategies and city development."
" For over 50 years, the image of Thailand’s southernmost provinces—particularly Yala—has been shaped primarily by national media narratives, often emphasizing short-term conflict or crisis. These depictions have rarely reflected the lived reality on the ground: a region where people of diverse cultures and traditions live together in harmony, with mutual respect and shared community bonds that form the quiet rhythm of daily life. To present this deeper, more nuanced reality and promote sustainable urban development rooted in inclusion and learning, the project titled “Yala: A Learning City – A Participatory Process for Building a City through Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity” was launched in 2021–2022. The research initiative is led by Mr. Apinan Thammasena, a scholar at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC), and supported by an interdisciplinary team comprising: - Researchers from the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC) - Scholars from the Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University - Experts from Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus - Yala City Municipality The project aims to transform Yala into a Learning City grounded in social cohesion, cultural identity, and equitable urban development, by collecting and disseminating knowledge, lived experiences, and the beauty of coexistence. It also emphasizes inclusive participation, empowering all sectors of the Yala community to contribute to shaping a city that enhances quality of life for all. The Research Initiative Includes 4 Sub-Projects: 1. “Yala Studies: People, Communities, and Cultural Diversity” Led by Assoc. Prof. Rittirong Jiwakarnon, Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University Focus: Understanding the diverse cultural and social fabric of Yala’s communities 2. “Yala Studies: Biodiversity” Led by Ms. Supaporn Thuannoi, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus Focus: Exploring and preserving the region’s rich ecological and biological diversity 3. “Yala as a Learning City: Developing Model Learning Spaces for Lifelong Learning and Real-Life Integration” Led by Ms. Waranuch Chinwarasopark, independent researcher Focus: Creating prototype learning environments accessible to all age groups and linked to daily life 4. “Social Networks and the Development of Yala as a Learning City” Led by Mr. Apinan Thammasena, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (Public Organization) Focus: Strengthening citywide learning networks and stakeholder collaboration"
" City Name: Yala Status: Province in Southern Thailand Area: Approximately 4,521.078 square kilometers Population: Approximately 617,146 (as of 2023) Languages: Pattani Malay, Thai, Chinese Religions (as of 2022): Islam: 81.95% Buddhism: 17.93%"
