A Contemporary Framework for Integrating Knowledge in Higher Education Through The Performing Arts

Abstract

       The study aimed to investigate Thailand’s higher education culture and the structure of performing arts for an integrative learning approach to support 21st-century learning skills. A mixed-methods design was employed: qualitative data were collected from experts across multiple disciplines and then analyzed and synthesized to develop performing arts-based learning activities. These activities were implemented with university students, with pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments conducted using structured quantitative instruments. The study focused on enhancing students’ capacity for knowledge integration and adaptive learning.

The results revealed that performing arts-based integrative activities served as an effective pedagogical strategy for cultivating 21^st-century competencies, including creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The approach demonstrated both immediate and sustained benefits in preparing students for real-world application of knowledge across diverse contexts, thereby contributing to educational innovation within the Thai higher education system.