University of Phayao Citizenship Law Clinic: A Beacon of Hope for Stateless Students : มหาวิทยาลัยพะเยา

University of Phayao Citizenship Law Clinic: A Beacon of Hope for Stateless Students

From the Classroom to Changing Lives

An academic from the Faculty of Law has become a vital source of support, offering stateless students an opportunity to build an equal future. Assistant Professor Narissara Prasitthipanwang, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Corporate Communication at the Faculty of Law, University of Phayao, and a lecturer in International Law, recounts the simple start of a project that has since transformed the lives of dozens of people.

"Throughout my time teaching Nationality Law, which is part of the course on Private International Law, students would come to me for advice. I found that these students, some of whom were even from the Faculty of Law itself, did not yet possess Thai citizenship. After the course finished, they would often approach me to ask about the process for applying for citizenship, whether they could apply, and how they should go about it," she explains.

From Helping One Student to Changing Dozens of Lives

Before long, word spread, and students from other faculties increasingly sought out the professor for consultation on citizenship development. "They would bring their friends for advice, and I started thinking that it couldn't be just two or three people. There must be a number of students across the university with the same problem who need counseling," she realized.

Phase One: The Beginning of Hope

When an opportunity arose in 2022–2023, the professor received funding from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth). She decided to propose the project, "The Development of Academic and Professional Cooperation Networks to Reduce Inequality and Create Justice for Individuals Without Registered Status in Phayao Province (Case Study of Students at the University of Phayao)," to help students with personal status issues at the university develop their citizenship.

Operations began by coordinating with the central administration and the Student Affairs Division of the University of Phayao. A Committee to Oversee Students Without Civil Registration Status was established , comprising the Vice President for Student Quality, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, an Assistant to the President, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Law, an Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, the Director of the Student Affairs Division, the Director of the Division of Student Quality Development and Disabled Students, the Head of Student Discipline and Excellence Development, and the Law Clinic staff.

The initial survey in Phase One found that approximately 50-plus students had issues with personal status , and that was only the number who felt comfortable enough to come forward for assistance.

The Initial Challenge: Building Trust

Starting the project was not as easy as anticipated. Assistant Professor Narissara spoke about the early challenges: "The issue of nationality is sensitive. Some people have unclear information or are simply unwilling to disclose it, so they were hesitant to join the project".

University data indicated around 50 students with registration status problems , but few students initially dared to come forward. Most who did approach the clinic had relatively clear information and were willing and ready to participate in the citizenship development project.

The situation improved with a more proactive approach, which involved collaborating with the University of Phayao Human Rights Club—a student-run group. With students working alongside their peers, the nature of the work became "peer-to-peer assistance," and the situation began to improve.

"After the project had been running for a while, students began to trust us and started talking among friends with personal status issues. The number of students seeking consultation steadily increased, and many have now successfully applied for and obtained Thai citizenship," she noted.

Official Elevation to a "Citizenship Law Clinic"

The success of the first phase raised a crucial question: How could the project be sustained?

As Phase One neared its end, Assistant Professor Narissara began contemplating the project's sustainability. "We didn't want it to just end when the project funding ran out. So, we wanted to develop it into a specialized Citizenship Law Clinic," she stated.

Learning Space 2023: From Project to Permanent Learning Area

A new opportunity arose when the University of Phayao announced a call for applications to establish a Learning Space 2023. This initiative was part of the university's goal to create learning opportunities for everyone—staff, students, and the public—to develop knowledge and skills that could be applied to enhance education, generate income, promote good health, and alleviate community and societal problems.

The Citizenship Law Clinic submitted its application to become a Learning Space 2023 and entered an award competition. It was selected at the Gold level and officially designated as a Learning Space within the university.

More Than Just Case Management: A Shared Space for Citizenship Learning

What sets this Citizenship Law Clinic apart is its approach: it is not just a place for students to receive advice. Instead, it is a space for development and knowledge transfer, where students with status problems come in to learn alongside the clinic.

The professor further explains that students learn the steps for applying for Thai citizenship. They learn about their own status, which group they belong to, whether they can develop their citizenship, what documents they need to prepare, and whom they must contact.

The clinic's knowledge transfer begins by explaining the basic conditions and procedures for obtaining citizenship. Students with similar conditions are then grouped together. This allows the group to learn the naturalization process collectively. Once a friend in the group completes the process and obtains citizenship, they can share their experience and guidance with their peers.

"It's like peer-to-peer learning, seniors teaching juniors, where everyone gains both knowledge and encouragement," she says.

From a Small Spark to a Wider Ripple: Expanding the Network in Northern Thailand

From an initial focus only on the University of Phayao campus in Phase One, the Citizenship Law Clinic progressed to Phase Two. It expanded its scope, though it continues to support former students who have graduated but are still undergoing the application process. It also began to expand its network outside the university.

Regional Cooperation Network

The University of Phayao, through the Faculty of Law, has established an MOU with several leading universities in Northern Thailand, such as Chiang Mai University, Naresuan University, and Mahamakut Buddhist University, as well as others that enroll a large number of students with citizenship issues. This has created a network across the North. If a problematic case arises, they can consult with or share information with one another.

Concurrently, Assistant Professor Narissara has also connected with local wisdom experts and specialists directly involved in this work. The network has expanded regionally and includes key national organizations, such as the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) , further strengthening the network.

The Complexity of the Process Requires Patience

The assistance provided to each student is unique because the requirements for obtaining citizenship vary for each individual. Some need to complete their education to use their degree as supporting evidence. Others, who lack a birth certificate, must find five witnesses for verification, and the central authorities must interview these witnesses. Consequently, the duration of the process differs greatly for each case.

A Common Communication Problem

Another major issue encountered is misunderstanding and miscommunication, such as the belief that "one must graduate with a bachelor's degree before applying for citizenship". In reality, for some groups, obtaining Thai citizenship does not require them to wait until they have a bachelor's degree in every instance.

Assistant Professor Narissara clarifies that "the law categorizes the acquisition of citizenship into several cases. For example, currently, some groups are eligible to apply immediately, such as the 19 groups of ethnic minorities and indigenous people who have long resided in Thailand, can prove they were born in Thailand, and have all required documentation, etc.".

The Role of the Citizenship Law Clinic: Consultant and Follow-Up

The Citizenship Law Clinic does not physically accompany students to submit their citizenship application documents; instead, it functions as a back office. It provides knowledge, reviews documents, and offers consultation.

The main goal is for the students—the case owners—to learn for themselves and compile the documents independently. The clinic remains behind the scenes to provide support, and, crucially, to follow up. This problem does not end with consultation; it requires tracking the current stage of the process and identifying any obstacles.

Assistant Professor Narissara smiles as she recounts, "Even though it seems tiring, it's worth it when you see students obtain Thai citizenship".

The Commitment to Comprehensive Help: Leaving No One Behind

Another interesting aspect is that the clinic does not only assist those who are entitled to Thai citizenship. Groups who were not born in Thailand but are studying there also receive support.

"These children do not currently have Thai citizenship, but we don't abandon them. We help them learn if there are other paths to citizenship, or how they can develop themselves after graduation to improve their life opportunities in the future," she states.

A Vision That Looks Beyond the Problem

What drives Assistant Professor Narissara's dedication to this work is a vision that extends beyond the sheer number of people who receive citizenship. She sees that the students with citizenship issues who have the opportunity to study at the bachelor's degree level are a minority who can reach this point. However, looking back at their villages, there are still many groups of people who do not have access to the education system.

"We want to expand this knowledge to reach as many of those people as possible. It's not limited only to the students who come to study because people in the same family or the same village often have similar rights. This won't just help the individual, but also their relatives in their village community," says Asst. Prof. Narissara Prasitthipanwang.

Sustainability That Goes Beyond Money

Although the project funding from ThaiHealth has ended, the clinic's work continues. The Citizenship Law Clinic has been incorporated into the service system of the Faculty of Law's main Law Clinic.

Furthermore, Assistant Professor Narissara has established a network with all sectors, both academic and professional. The pilot project in Phayao Province, where all network partners are ready to assist one another, has expanded regionally and includes key national organizations, such as the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

A Key Lesson

Drawing on years of experience, Assistant Professor Narissara concludes that helping stateless students is not just about taking on a case and finishing it; it requires creating a sustainable learning system.

"If we only took cases, gave advice, and finished, the operation would be simpler. But we don't do that. The goal is to make it broader because we want this knowledge to reach those who do not have the opportunity to consult with us in person," she explains.

A source of pride is that the efforts have achieved tangible results , as students who participated in the program have used this knowledge to help their friends and people in their own communities.

Moreover, what distinguishes it from other clinics is that it is the only law clinic whose work does not end with consultation; it requires follow-up —it must continuously provide care.

The University of Phayao's Citizenship Law Clinic is not merely a place for legal consultation; it is a space of hope , offering a group of people a future, rights, and the chance to become complete "Thai citizens".

What began in a small classroom with one dedicated professor has grown into a network spanning Northern Thailand. This is a story that proves education can truly transform lives when someone is willing to stand up and act for their fellow human beings.

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