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Khon Kaen University

Bachelor of Architecture Program in Architecture

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Architecture Program in Architecture

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Architecture program is holistically and fundamentally aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by training professionals who shape the built environment in which all human activity takes place. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing creative design, technical proficiency, social responsibility, and environmental consciousness, makes it a powerful contributor to sustainability. The program is a cornerstone of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), with nearly every course focused on designing buildings and urban spaces that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It is a key driver for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by providing the skills to design and construct the physical infrastructure of society. Furthermore, the curriculum's strong emphasis on environmental technology, sustainable materials, and energy-conscious design directly addresses SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As a professional degree program, it is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and is built upon extensive partnerships, embodying the spirit of SDG 17.

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3 Icon SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Alignment Summary: The program supports good health and well-being through the design of healthy buildings. By teaching principles of lighting, ventilation, and non-toxic materials, the curriculum equips architects to create indoor environments that promote physical and mental health for occupants.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213401Environmental Technology in Architecture 1Directly supports good health by focusing on creating comfortable and healthy indoor environments through the control of thermal conditions, lighting, and acoustics (Target 3.9).

SDG 4 Icon SDG 4: Quality Education

Alignment Summary: This professional program provides a high-quality, specialized education that equips students with the advanced creative, technical, and critical thinking skills required for the architectural profession. Through a rigorous curriculum combining design studios, technical courses, and professional practice, it ensures graduates are competent, skilled professionals capable of lifelong learning.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR215801Architectural ResearchEnhances education for sustainable development by enabling students to conduct research to inform their design practice, fostering a culture of evidence-based and critical inquiry (Target 4.7).
AR215702Professional InternshipProvides inclusive and equitable quality education through extensive, supervised professional work experience, ensuring students acquire the technical and vocational skills for employment (Target 4.4).

SDG 6 Icon SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to clean water and sanitation by providing the expertise to design sustainable water and waste systems within buildings and communities. This includes designing for water efficiency, rainwater harvesting, and the proper integration of sanitation infrastructure.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213402Environmental Technology in Architecture 2Contributes to water-use efficiency by teaching the design of water supply and drainage systems in buildings, which can incorporate water-saving fixtures and recycling systems (Target 6.4).

SDG 7 Icon SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Alignment Summary: This curriculum is a key driver for clean energy by focusing on the design of energy-efficient buildings. As buildings are a major consumer of energy, teaching principles of passive design, efficient systems, and the integration of renewable energy is a critical strategy for improving energy efficiency and promoting clean energy.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213401Environmental Technology in Architecture 1Directly supports the goal of improving energy efficiency by teaching the principles of passive solar design, natural ventilation, and efficient lighting (Target 7.3).
AR213402Environmental Technology in Architecture 2Contributes to increasing the share of renewable energy by covering the integration of technologies like solar panels into building design (Target 7.2).

SDG 8 Icon SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Alignment Summary: The program is a direct driver of economic growth, as construction and real estate are major sectors of the economy. It promotes decent work by instilling principles of professional ethics, project management, and construction safety, preparing graduates to lead productive and safe projects.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR214701Professional Practice 1Promotes decent work by ensuring graduates understand and adhere to the ethical and professional standards that protect labor rights and promote safe working environments in the construction industry (Target 8.8).

SDG 9 Icon SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Alignment Summary: This program is the embodiment of designing and building resilient infrastructure. The entire curriculum is focused on the design and construction of buildings and urban spaces, which are the fundamental physical infrastructure of society. The program fosters innovation through its emphasis on new materials, construction technologies, and digital design tools.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213302Structural System Design in ArchitectureIs fundamental to developing quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure by providing the knowledge to design safe and stable building structures (Target 9.1).
AR213301Building Materials and Construction TechnologySupports innovation by exploring both traditional and advanced materials and construction methods, which is essential for upgrading industrial capabilities (Target 9.4).
AR211101Architectural Design 1Forms the foundation for designing the resilient infrastructure that is a primary goal of SDG 9.
AR215801Architectural ResearchEnhances scientific research and innovation by training students to develop new knowledge in areas like sustainable materials, building performance, and design technologies (Target 9.5).

SDG 10 Icon SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Alignment Summary: The program helps to reduce inequalities by promoting inclusive design. The principles of universal design ensure that buildings and public spaces are accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors, thereby promoting social inclusion.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR215611Housing DesignCan contribute to reducing inequality by exploring designs for affordable and accessible housing, empowering the social inclusion of all (Target 10.2).

SDG 11 Icon SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Alignment Summary: This program is the very definition of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Its entire focus is on the design of buildings, the planning of urban spaces, and the preservation of cultural heritage, directly addressing every aspect of a sustainable built environment.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR214503Urban and Environmental DesignDirectly supports inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management (Target 11.3).
AR214502Architectural ConservationIs a cornerstone of Target 11.4, focusing on strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
AR215611Housing DesignIs fundamental to ensuring access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services (Target 11.1).
AR212201History of World ArchitectureProvides the historical context needed to inform the protection of cultural heritage (Target 11.4).

SDG 12 Icon SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Alignment Summary: The curriculum promotes responsible production patterns by focusing on the sustainable use of materials and the efficient design of buildings. It teaches students to select environmentally friendly materials, minimize construction waste, and design buildings that consume fewer resources over their lifecycle.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213301Building Materials and Construction TechnologyPromotes the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by teaching students to select and use construction materials in a responsible and efficient manner (Target 12.2).
AR213401Environmental Technology in Architecture 1Encourages responsible consumption by designing buildings that require less energy and fewer resources to operate (Target 12.2).

SDG 13 Icon SDG 13: Climate Action

Alignment Summary: The program provides essential expertise to take action on climate change. By training architects to design energy-efficient buildings and resilient urban spaces, the curriculum directly contributes to both mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector and strengthening the adaptive capacity of communities to climate-related hazards.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR213401Environmental Technology in Architecture 1Contributes to climate change mitigation by promoting energy-efficient building design, which is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Target 13.2).
AR214503Urban and Environmental DesignStrengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards by teaching principles of resilient urban design that can cope with issues like flooding and heatwaves (Target 13.1).

SDG 15 Icon SDG 15: Life On Land

Alignment Summary: The program supports the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems by promoting site-sensitive design. The principles of landscape architecture and site planning teach students how to design buildings and communities that respect natural topography, conserve biodiversity, and integrate green spaces.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR214503Urban and Environmental DesignPromotes the integration of ecosystem and biodiversity values into local planning by designing with nature and incorporating green infrastructure into urban areas (Target 15.9).

SDG 16 Icon SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to building strong institutions by instilling a deep understanding of professional ethics, building codes, and regulations. This is fundamental to creating an architectural profession and a construction industry that operate with accountability, transparency, and a commitment to public safety.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR214701Professional Practice 1Contributes to developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions by grounding future architects in the ethical and legal principles that must govern their profession, helping to combat corruption in the construction industry (Target 16.5).

SDG 17 Icon SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Alignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its cooperative education model and collaborative design studios. This creates a vital bridge between the university, professional architectural firms, construction companies, and community stakeholders, facilitating the multi-stakeholder collaboration needed to achieve sustainable development.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
AR215702Professional InternshipDirectly encourages and promotes effective public-private and civil society partnerships by immersing students in real-world professional environments, building collaborative experience (Target 17.17).