Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Education Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Education Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Education Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education is profoundly and holistically aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by cultivating the next generation of educators who are foundational to creating a just, equitable, and sustainable future. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing holistic child development, inclusive pedagogy, and community collaboration, makes it a powerful engine for achieving the SDGs. The program is the very embodiment of SDG 4 (Quality Education), with its entire focus on training teachers to provide inclusive and equitable quality education for all children. This focus directly addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring that all children, including those with special needs, have access to foundational learning. Furthermore, the curriculum's emphasis on child health and safety directly supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), while courses on citizenship education and family relations contribute to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The extensive practicum component is a model of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), building strong ties between the university and local school communities.

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

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Alignment Summary: This program directly supports the health and well-being of young children, which is a critical component of SDG 3. By training future teachers in child development, nutrition, and safety, the curriculum ensures that early learning environments are safe and promote the healthy physical and mental development of all children.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED213317	Health Promotion and Safety for Early Childhood	Directly supports good health by focusing on the prevention of accidents and the promotion of healthy practices, contributing to the reduction of mortality in children under 5 (Target 3.2).
ED212211	Early Childhood Development and Learning	Aligns with promoting well-being by providing a deep understanding of the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children, which is essential for creating supportive learning environments (Target 3.4).
ED102208	Developmental Psychology	Contributes to mental health and well-being by equipping teachers to understand and support the psychological development of their students (Target 3.4).

SDG 4: Quality Education

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Alignment Summary: This program is the embodiment of SDG 4. Its entire curriculum is designed to produce highly qualified teachers who can provide inclusive, equitable, and high-quality early childhood and primary education. Every course, from pedagogy and curriculum design to subject-specific teaching methods and practicums, is focused on ensuring that all children have access to learning opportunities that promote sustainable development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED101101	Education and Teachership	Forms the foundation of quality education by instilling the core principles and philosophy of the teaching profession (Target 4.C).
ED213315	Learning Experiences Arrangement for Early Childhood	Is fundamental to ensuring that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development and pre-primary education (Target 4.2).
ED212213	Language for Early Childhood	Ensures that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy by focusing on foundational language skills (Target 4.6).
ED414701	Practicum in School 1	Directly contributes to increasing the supply of qualified teachers through extensive, supervised practical training in real school environments (Target 4.C).

SDG 5: Gender Equality

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to gender equality by training teachers to create inclusive and non-discriminatory classroom environments. Understanding family relations and child development is key to challenging gender stereotypes from an early age and ensuring that all children, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to learn and thrive.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED313324	Family Relations and Collaboration with Parents	Supports gender equality by providing an understanding of diverse family structures and the importance of challenging gender stereotypes in both home and school environments (Target 5.1).

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

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Alignment Summary: This program is a powerful tool for reducing inequalities by providing the foundation for social mobility through education. It places a strong emphasis on inclusive education, training teachers to empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all children, including those with special needs and from diverse backgrounds.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED312214	Early Childhood with Special Needs	Directly aims to reduce inequality by empowering and promoting the social and academic inclusion of children with disabilities (Target 10.2).
ED414427	Citizenship Education	Contributes to reducing inequality by teaching the principles of social justice, human rights, and equal opportunity (Target 10.3).
ED213315	Learning Experiences Arrangement for Early Childhood	Ensures equal opportunity by focusing on creating learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of all young learners (Target 10.3).

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to sustainable communities by fostering an appreciation for local culture and arts from a young age. By integrating local traditions into the curriculum, future teachers can help to safeguard and promote the intangible cultural heritage that makes communities unique and resilient.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED213319	Art, Music, and Movement for Early Childhood	Can contribute to safeguarding cultural heritage by incorporating local and traditional art forms into the curriculum, strengthening community identity (Target 11.4).

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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Alignment Summary: The program is essential for building peaceful and inclusive societies by educating future citizens from an early age. It provides the tools to create safe, non-violent, and inclusive learning environments and to teach the principles of human rights, democracy, and global citizenship.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED414427	Citizenship Education	Promotes peaceful and inclusive societies by teaching children about their rights and responsibilities, democracy, and the importance of the rule of law (Target 16.7).
ED213321	Classroom Management in Early Childhood	Contributes to ending abuse and violence against children by focusing on creating safe, supportive, and non-violent learning environments (Target 16.2).

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Alignment Summary: The program's practicum and school-based components are a powerful example of multi-stakeholder partnerships. These represent a deep and sustained collaboration between the university and the local education system, including schools and communities, all working together to build capacity and achieve quality education for all.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
ED414701	Practicum in School 1	Represents an effective public-public partnership, building collaborative experience between the university and local schools to strengthen the education system (Target 17.17).
ED414702	Practicum in School 2	Enhances the partnership for sustainable development by deploying student teachers into communities, which builds domestic capacity in education (Target 17.9).
ED313324	Family Relations and Collaboration with Parents	Enhances multi-stakeholder partnerships by teaching future educators how to work collaboratively with families and communities to support student learning and well-being (Target 17.17).