Education for SDGs of Chulalongkorn University

Teaching and Learning

Chulalongkorn University has contributed to an achievement of the SDGs by promoting education for sustainable development at all levels both in Thai and international programs –some could be integrated degree as the double ones. This aims to enhance capacity-building and skill development among the students in order to provide knowledge necessary skills that could lead to the better implementation of the SDGs. Chulalongkorn University is committed in creating an environment where everyone is treated equally and fairly, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religions, disability or ethnic origins. Our university’s commitment is to be fully aware of such diversity within the community, especially among students across equality and diversity of learning to all. Besides, to prepare them for the challenges in real world and to nurturing the future young leader.

Chulalongkorn University have focused several programmes related to the SDGs. For example, the MAIDS-GRID programme which is about international sustainable development. The Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in International Development Studies Program (MAIDS-GRID) is the first of its kind at Chulalongkorn University. This is a unique program in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region and was established in 2003 by the Centre for Social Development Studies (CSDS). The Program and the Centre are both housed in the Faculty of Political Science. We are the first graduate program in Thailand offering MA & PhD in International Development Studies. There are various challenges that impact development, including poverty, environmental degradation and access to resources, dislocation of people, and political conflict, which challenge policymakers, academics, civil society, and the private sector worldwide. Institutions of higher learning in Southeast Asia have a great responsibility to establish programs that base international development in the context of development practice itself. The MAIDS-GRID Program, situated in Thailand, is geographically central within ASEAN and Asia and leverages access to local, regional, and global organizations based in Bangkok and beyond. For more information about Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in International Development Studies Program (MAIDS-GRID), please visit https://www.maids-chula.org/maids-course.

Another sustainable focused programme is Environment, Development and Sustainability (International Program). This Environment, Development and Sustainability Program or EDS Program is a unique, postgraduate program of Chulalongkorn University that has adopted a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to help students gain knowledge and experience across various disciplines in order to contribute to the SDGs achievement. For more information about Environment, Development and Sustainability International Master Programme, please visit http://www.eds.grad.chula.ac.th and http://www.eds.grad.chula.ac.th/about/mission.

There is also the Master of Science in Innovative Engineering for Sustainability program or IES offered by the Faculty of Engineering, which began in 2022. The IES program emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of inclusive growth and the balance between economic, social, and environmental factors. This is achieved through an integrated approach to topics such as infrastructure design, the interconnections among water, energy, and food resources, and sustainable environmental management. These concepts are combined with continuous innovation and advancing technologies to promote sustainable solutions. https://www.eng.chula.ac.th/th/ies

In addition to a commitment to an inclusive and equitable quality education, Chulalongkorn University supports and encourages lifelong-learning through online courses and training courses for students on campus. However, this opportunity is also extended to those outside the campus in order to promote an accessible-to-all’s education. Chulalongkorn University has partnered with other universities of the Upper Central (UC) region and SkillLane Corporation in developing the ‘online-learning platform’ that aims to encourage knowledge-sharing and lifelong-learning where members can share their learning contents and teaching courses. This is also ‘the first online learning and sharing model’ of the country in which more than 30 institutions have already joined.

The university provides number of cross-cutting and integrated knowledge as well as related skills for students through various courses and programs that address the challenges of the SDGs, which can be seen through an effort of the university in offering different range of General Education courses in which there are more than 60 subjects/courses that are SDGs -related for all students across university. These courses can be classified according to the SDGs’ target by which they are addressing as the examples divided by the degrees as follows: