University sustainability programs with international collaboration (ED.7)

Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University (SNRU) actively strengthens its global and local networks under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) to implement meaningful sustainable development frameworks across education, research, and community outreach.

1. Cross-Sectoral Dialogues & Local Impact

• Strategic SRI Mechanism for Poverty Alleviation: SNRU partnered with SDG Move to establish a “Strategic Network Mechanism Design Workshop for Driving the Science, Research, and Innovation (SRI) System.” This pilot initiative, led by Vice President Prof. Dr. Tosawat Seetawan alongside researchers from Thammasat University, focuses on localized poverty alleviation strategies to inform national policy.
• Youth & Regional Perspectives: Through platforms like the 7th Rajabhat University National and International Research and Academic Conference (RUNRAC VII), the university emphasizes youth perspectives aligning with the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model and SDGs.
• Regional SDG Index & Community Well-being: The Faculty of Management Science executed stakeholder reviews regarding regional sustainability indexes, expanding focus areas to include educational development, sustainable agriculture, and community mental health training.

2. Global MOU Commitments & Academic Networks

SNRU maintains a comprehensive international relations network across several countries to deliver global sustainability education and collaborative scientific breakthroughs:

• Partner Countries & Institutions: Active alliances span the USA (Northwestern University), Sweden (Uppsala University), South Korea (Sungkyunkwan University), China (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics), Japan (AIST, Kanazawa University), Vietnam, India, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

3. Key Joint Sustainability & Alternative Energy Projects

The Center of Excellence in Alternative Energy (CEAE) at SNRU serves as a major hub for international research collaborations:

• e-ASIA Joint Research Program: A 3-year collaborative research track on alternative energy materials among SNRU (Thailand), Kanazawa University (Japan), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN, Indonesia).
• SNRU and AIST (Japan): Ongoing joint research on thermoelectric conversion solutions, highlighted by the annual “Production, Evaluation, and Application of Thermoelectric Modules Workshop” (PETM) and joint technical displays featuring proprietary clean energy units like the ‘TeC bot’ and ‘portable TeC.’
• SNRU and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS, Indonesia): A dedicated collaborative project focusing on the fabrication of alternative energy materials.
• Universitas Brawijaya (Indonesia) Engagement: Academic exchange visits, including an institutional tour by Prof. Ing. Setiawan P. Sakti, M.Eng., to advance shared knowledge in laboratory-scale clean energy innovations.
• Sustainable Agriculture Innovations: Transnational initiatives directly engaging Thai farmers alongside Japanese research counterparts to deploy alternative energy innovations, targeting SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

The Project for fabrication alternative energy materials, by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) and Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University

“Production, Evaluation, and Application of Thermoelectric Modules 2024” (PETM2024) between Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University and The AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)