Khon Kaen University

SDG Alignment for Doctor of Dental Surgery Program

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Doctor of Dental Surgery Program is fundamentally designed to produce dental professionals who are leaders in promoting health and well-being through excellent clinical care, research, and community engagement. The program's core philosophy is deeply aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by training graduates to provide comprehensive oral healthcare, from prevention to complex treatments, thereby improving the quality of life for individuals and communities. The curriculum's focus on an aging society and special needs patients further strengthens this alignment.

As a professional degree program, it is a cornerstone of SDG 4 (Quality Education), providing graduates with specialized, lifelong learning skills for high-level careers. The curriculum's emphasis on digital dentistry, research, and innovation directly drives SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The program's commitment to serving diverse communities and reducing health disparities makes a significant contribution to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Furthermore, the program fosters the global partnerships essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its emphasis on interprofessional collaboration and engagement with the international academic community.

Best Practices

        The Doctor of Dental Surgery Program at Khon Kaen University has advanced its vision of being a "university for society" by producing graduates who are socially accountable dentists, dedicated to addressing the critical issue of oral health inequality in the Northeastern region. The curriculum systematically integrates the Community-Based Education (CBE) strategy, enabling students to comprehensively apply knowledge and skills from core courses such as Dental Public Health and Epidemiology, Family Dentistry, Integrated Clinical Practice, and Dental Practice in Health Service Systems. Through these courses, students analyze community health problems and design holistic preventive, promotive, and therapeutic interventions in real-world settings.
        This integration of learning and academic service has led to tangible outcomes such as, the provision of oral health screening, treatment, and promotion services to more than 20,000 people per year in remote and vulnerable communities. These efforts have resulted in sustainable and structural impacts, including a reduction in disease prevalence among target populations, increased access to dental services, and measurable improvements in community quality of life, especially among the elderly and persons with disabilities.
        This activity is therefore strategically aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong focus on advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by ensuring universal access to quality oral health services; SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by reducing health disparities and promoting equitable access to dental care for all; and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by producing high-quality dental graduates equipped with 21st-century skills and a civic mindset to serve society, becoming true leaders in advancing sustainable health for the nation.