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Khon Kaen University

Bachelor of Engineering Program in Environmental Engineering

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Engineering Program in Environmental Engineering

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Engineering Program in Environmental Engineering is holistically and explicitly designed to produce professionals who are at the forefront of creating a sustainable world. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing the application of scientific and engineering principles to solve complex environmental problems, provides a direct and powerful framework for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The program is a cornerstone for a multitude of environmental goals, with a profound impact on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through its comprehensive training in water and wastewater treatment. It is a key driver for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) via its focus on solid waste management, pollution control, and industrial ecology. Furthermore, the curriculum directly addresses SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by equipping graduates to manage air pollution, understand climate change impacts, and design systems that protect ecosystems. As a professional engineering program, it is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and supports the creation of green jobs (SDG 8).

SDG Related Course(s)

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

Alignment Summary: This program directly supports good health and well-being by training engineers to manage and mitigate environmental factors that are hazardous to human health. The control of air, water, and solid waste pollution is fundamental to preventing disease and creating healthy living environments.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN423401Public Health EngineeringDirectly supports good health by focusing on the engineering aspects of public health, such as safe drinking water and sanitation, which are critical for preventing the spread of disease (Target 3.9).

SDG 4 Icon SDG 4: Quality Education

Alignment Summary: This professional engineering program provides a high-quality, specialized education that equips students with the advanced technical skills and knowledge necessary to promote sustainable development. Through a rigorous curriculum combining theory, extensive laboratory work, and cooperative education, it ensures graduates are competent professionals capable of lifelong learning.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN420498Environmental Engineering ProjectEnhances education for sustainable development by enabling students to conduct a comprehensive design or research project, applying their knowledge to solve real-world environmental problems (Target 4.7).
EN014002Engineering Cooperative EducationProvides 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: This program is the embodiment of engineering for clean water and sanitation. Its curriculum is dedicated to the design, operation, and management of systems and infrastructure for water supply, water treatment, and wastewater management, directly addressing every aspect of this critical goal.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN423202Water Supply EngineeringIs fundamental to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by teaching the design of water treatment and distribution systems (Target 6.1).
EN423203Wastewater EngineeringIs a cornerstone of sanitation, covering the principles and design of wastewater collection and treatment plants to improve water quality and protect ecosystems (Target 6.2 & 6.3).
EN424213Water Resources ManagementDirectly supports the integrated management of water resources by focusing on the sustainable use and allocation of water for various needs (Target 6.5).

SDG 7 Icon SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Alignment Summary: The curriculum contributes to affordable and clean energy by exploring technologies that can generate energy from waste. This provides a sustainable solution for waste management while also contributing to the share of renewable energy in the energy mix.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424311Solid Waste ManagementContributes to increasing the share of renewable energy by covering technologies like waste-to-energy incineration and anaerobic digestion, which convert waste into usable energy (Target 7.2).

SDG 8 Icon SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Alignment Summary: The program supports economic growth by training professionals for the rapidly expanding green economy. Graduates are equipped for careers in environmental consulting, pollution control technology, and sustainable resource management, all of which are key sectors for sustainable economic development and the creation of green jobs.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN010003Professional and Ethical PracticePromotes decent work by ensuring graduates understand and adhere to the ethical and professional standards that protect labor rights and promote safe working environments (Target 8.8).

SDG 9 Icon SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Alignment Summary: This program is essential for upgrading industry and infrastructure to be sustainable and resilient. It provides the core knowledge for designing and retrofitting industrial facilities with clean, environmentally sound technologies and for building the essential infrastructure for pollution control and resource management.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424411Industrial Pollution ControlDirectly supports the upgrading of infrastructure and industries for sustainability by focusing on the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes (Target 9.4).
EN420498Environmental Engineering ProjectEnhances scientific research and innovation by training students to develop new and improved environmental technologies (Target 9.5).
EN424413Environmental Systems ModelingFosters innovation by teaching how to model complex environmental systems, which is crucial for designing effective and innovative solutions to pollution problems (Target 9.5).

SDG 11 Icon SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Alignment Summary: This program is the embodiment of engineering for sustainable cities and communities. It directly addresses the critical environmental challenges of urbanization, providing the expertise to manage municipal solid waste, control air pollution, and ensure safe water and sanitation, all of which are essential for making cities safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424311Solid Waste ManagementIs fundamental to making cities sustainable by focusing on the engineering and management of municipal solid waste collection, treatment, and disposal systems (Target 11.6).
EN424312Air Pollution EngineeringDirectly addresses the need to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by focusing on the control of urban air pollution (Target 11.6).
EN424511Environmental Impact AssessmentSupports inclusive and sustainable urbanization by teaching the systematic process of evaluating the environmental consequences of urban development projects (Target 11.3).

SDG 12 Icon SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Alignment Summary: The curriculum is fundamentally aligned with promoting responsible production patterns. It provides the core engineering principles for the environmentally sound management of all wastes, pollution prevention, and the development of a circular economy through waste minimization, recycling, and reuse.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424311Solid Waste ManagementDirectly focuses on achieving the environmentally sound management of wastes throughout their life cycle to minimize their adverse impacts (Target 12.4), and substantially reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse (Target 12.5).
EN424411Industrial Pollution ControlEncourages companies to adopt sustainable practices by teaching pollution prevention and cleaner production technologies (Target 12.6).
EN424412Hazardous Waste ManagementIs critical for the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals and wastes, in accordance with agreed international frameworks (Target 12.4).

SDG 13 Icon SDG 13: Climate Action

Alignment Summary: The program provides the essential engineering expertise to take action on climate change. It addresses the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions through air pollution control and waste-to-energy technologies, and it strengthens adaptive capacity by designing infrastructure that is resilient to climate-related hazards like floods and droughts.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424312Air Pollution EngineeringContributes to climate change mitigation by teaching the control of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants from industrial and mobile sources (Target 13.2).
EN424213Water Resources ManagementStrengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards by designing systems to manage water resources in the face of changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events (Target 13.1).

SDG 14 Icon SDG 14: Life Below Water

Alignment Summary: The program is central to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems by engineering the solutions to prevent land-based pollution. The design of advanced wastewater treatment plants is the most critical intervention for reducing the flow of nutrients and contaminants into rivers and ultimately the ocean.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN423203Wastewater EngineeringDirectly helps to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, by teaching how to design systems to treat wastewater before it is discharged into waterways (Target 14.1).

SDG 15 Icon SDG 15: Life On Land

Alignment Summary: The curriculum supports the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems by providing the expertise to manage land-based pollution. The management of hazardous waste and the remediation of contaminated sites are essential for preventing land degradation and protecting biodiversity.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN424412Hazardous Waste ManagementContributes to the restoration of degraded land and soil by providing the engineering principles for the safe treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, preventing soil contamination (Target 15.3).

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 and environmental law. This is fundamental to creating regulatory bodies and industries that are effective, accountable, and transparent in protecting the environment and public health.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN010003Professional and Ethical PracticeContributes to developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions by grounding future engineers in the ethical principles that must govern their profession (Target 16.6).

SDG 17 Icon SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Alignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its cooperative education model, which creates a vital bridge between the university and environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and industries. This collaboration is essential for ensuring that engineering education is relevant and that graduates are prepared to contribute to sustainable development.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
EN014002Engineering Cooperative EducationDirectly encourages and promotes effective public-private and civil society partnerships by immersing students in real-world environmental engineering organizations (Target 17.17).