Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program

SDG Alignment for Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Master of Urban and Regional Planning program is holistically designed to produce planners and researchers who can create sustainable and resilient human settlements. The program's core philosophy, which emphasizes integrated and participatory planning, makes it a powerful contributor across a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals. Its most profound alignment is with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), with a curriculum that comprehensively covers sustainable development, infrastructure planning, land use, and disaster resilience. By training experts in economic and social planning, the program strongly supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Its focus on infrastructure and transport is a key driver for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Furthermore, by addressing environmental and natural resource planning, the curriculum has significant relevance to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). As a graduate-level program, it is a flagship for SDG 4 (Quality Education) and fosters the collaborations essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 4: Quality Education

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Alignment Summary: As a master's program, this curriculum represents a high level of quality education. It is designed to cultivate expert planners and researchers by providing advanced training in research methodologies and fostering the lifelong learning skills necessary to address complex urban and regional challenges.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 002	Research Methods in Urban and Regional Planning	Provides the core research skills that define high-quality graduate education, equipping students for high-level employment in research and planning practice (Target 4.3 and 4.4).
AR 471 89X	Thesis/Independent Study	These courses are capstone lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3), where students conduct original research or in-depth study, thereby acquiring superior technical and professional skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4).

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to decent work and sustainable economic growth by training leaders who can formulate effective regional development plans. The curriculum provides the tools to analyze economic systems and design strategies that promote sustainable tourism and create productive employment.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 105	Tourism Planning	Directly supports policies for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture (Target 8.9) by training professionals to manage the tourism sector effectively.
AR 471 202	Urban and Regional Economics	Contributes to achieving higher levels of economic productivity (Target 8.2) by analyzing the economic structures of cities and regions to inform development policies.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to building resilient infrastructure by training experts in infrastructure and transport planning. This knowledge is essential for developing efficient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure systems that support economic development and community well-being.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 102	Infrastructure and Public Service Planning	Supports the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure (Target 9.1) by focusing on the planning and management of essential public services.
AR 471 104	Transportation and Traffic Planning	Directly contributes to building resilient infrastructure by focusing on the planning of effective and sustainable transport systems (Target 9.1).

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: This program is fundamentally focused on creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient human settlements. The curriculum provides a deep understanding of sustainable development principles, urban and rural planning, land use management, and disaster resilience, equipping graduates with the skills to shape a sustainable future for cities and regions.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 003	Urban and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development 1	Directly supports Target 11.3 by providing skills for inclusive and sustainable urbanization and participatory planning.
AR 471 004	Urban and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development 2	Builds upon foundational knowledge to implement sustainable planning projects, contributing to integrated policies and plans for inclusion and resource efficiency (Target 11.B).
AR 471 101	Urban Development Planning	Directly supports inclusive and sustainable urbanization (Target 11.3) by focusing on the comprehensive planning of urban areas.
AR 471 103	Land Use and Physical Planning	Contributes to Target 11.3 by teaching the principles of effective land use management, which is essential for sustainable urban development.
AR 471 201	Rural Development Planning	Supports positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning (Target 11.A).
AR 471 205	Disaster Resilient Planning	Directly aligns with making cities and human settlements more resilient to disasters, a key component of Target 11.5.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

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Alignment Summary: The program promotes responsible production and consumption patterns by training experts in natural resource and environmental planning. This knowledge is crucial for developing policies that ensure the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources within urban and regional contexts.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 204	Natural Resources and Environmental Planning	Directly contributes to the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2) by teaching principles of environmental planning and resource conservation.

SDG 13: Climate Action

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to climate action by training experts in disaster resilient planning. This knowledge is crucial for strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and for integrating climate change measures into local and regional policies.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 205	Disaster Resilient Planning	Directly supports Target 13.1 by strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

SDG 15: Life on Land

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Alignment Summary: The program is at the core of efforts to protect and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The curriculum provides a deep understanding of natural resource planning, which is essential for combating land degradation and integrating ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 204	Natural Resources and Environmental Planning	Provides the foundational knowledge for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.1) and aligns with Target 15.9 by teaching methodologies to integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning processes.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Alignment Summary: The program's research-intensive nature and focus on integrated planning foster partnerships for sustainable development. Through seminars and research, students engage with diverse academic fields and community stakeholders, promoting the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations necessary to achieve the SDGs.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
AR 471 007	Seminar in Urban and Regional Planning	Promotes the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.6) by requiring students to engage with and present on national and international research, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing.
AR 471 89X	Thesis/Independent Study	Represents a significant contribution to partnerships (Target 17.16) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared to solve critical planning and development challenges.