Shaping citizens for the Future: A needs assessment of active citizenship among undergraduate students in Bangkok

In today's interconnected world, the role of active citizenship has become increasingly significant in responding to complex societal challenges that transcend national borders. However, studies assessing the needs required to foster active citizenship remain limited. This study aimed to identify and rank the priority needs related to key components of active citizenship among undergraduate students, while also examining the gaps between students' expectations and the existing conditions of these components in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 421 undergraduate students were selected through a stratified random sampling procedure, representing three principal fields of study: Humanities and Social Sciences, Applied Sciences and Technologies, and Health Sciences. Data on social responsibility, civic literacy, and civic participation were collected using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire assessing both current and desired conditions. The data were subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, together with the Modified Priority Needs Index (PNI modified ). The findings identify social responsibility as the most critical area requiring improvement, followed by civic literacy and civic participation. The study concludes that current higher education practices remain insufficient in fostering active citizenship, particularly in strengthening students' sense of social responsibility. Thus, the study recommends that universities should reconsider and redesign both curricular and co-curricular programs to incorporate contextually relevant learning experiences that promote ethical reasoning, civic engagement, and social awareness. The study provides specific guidelines on how universities can better prepare graduates for participation in civil society while remaining responsive to local institutional and cultural contexts.