Khon Kaen University

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Communication Arts (International Program)

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Communication Arts (International Program) at Khon Kaen University is strategically designed to cultivate professionals who are not only adept in the global media landscape but are also deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices. The program's philosophy, centered on producing creative, work-ready graduates who can respond to societal development, aligns powerfully with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The curriculum is a strong proponent of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), particularly through its Creative Media Technology major, which fosters skills in digital innovation essential for the creative economy. Core courses on ethics, strategic communication, and critical thinking directly support SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting public access to information and media accountability. Furthermore, the program's emphasis on cultural diversity and global media prepares students to navigate and bridge cultural divides, contributing to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). As a comprehensive higher education program that integrates professional experience through internships and cooperative education, it is a clear embodiment of SDG 4 (Quality Education), equipping graduates with the 21st-century skills needed to foster a more sustainable and informed global society.

        Bachelor of Communication Arts (International Program) of Khon Kaen University (KKU) has driven the mission to produce "Global Strategic Communicators" who are ready to face and lead in controlling every situation, especially in an era where Digital Disruption and the Infodemic crisis challenge the credibility and transparency of organizations on the international stage.
        The curriculum focuses on cultivating critical analysis skills and ethical communication through practical learning from key and intensive core courses to enable graduates to effectively create and manage messages. These courses include Crisis Management Communications (which emphasizes coping with emergency situations), Persuasion and Argumentation (which develops presentation skills and building understanding on complex issues), Investigative Journalism (to promote transparency), and understanding the mechanisms of political communication through Revolutionary Movements and Propaganda.
        This focus on high-level skills results in the evident outcome of producing graduates ready to become experts in reputation and crisis management in international organizations, and capable of creating complex communications work with a positive impact on society and organizational governance. This success leads to the sustainable impact on society by producing personnel who play a key role in promoting critical communication and reducing the risk from the spread of disinformation.
        The curriculum activity is therefore clearly strategically aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on driving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) in creating a transparent society and promoting access to reliable information, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) in applying digital technology for ethical innovation communication, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) in producing communications experts with international standards.

Best Practices

        The Bachelor of Communication Arts Program at Khon Kaen University International College has advanced experiential education that is in line with sustainable development. This is done through three major projects that combine theoretical knowledge with practical application in the mass communication and creative industries. The first project, Theatre and Stage Production 2024, was part of IC223004 (Creative Media Technology) and gave third-year students real-world experience in all stages of stage production. The project ran from October 1 to December 6, 2024, with live performances on December 7 and 8, 2024, at the FA Theatre, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. More than 500 people came to the event, including students and people from outside the school. This gave students hands-on experience in front-of-house and backstage management, including lighting, audio, set design, and performance. It also helped them learn how to work as a team, be creative, and solve problems quickly.
        The second project, Dentsu ALPHA Gen 3: Transformation DNA 2025, connected academic study with the digital industry by choosing five third-year communication art students and two faculty members to attend an intensive bootcamp with industry experts in marketing communications and digital industry from June 24 to 27, 2025, at the Krungsri Riverside Office in Bangkok. On July 25, 2025, the participants showed off their work (pitching). They got a lot of practice in both hard skills (such as digital Marketing, data Analytics, and creative Strategy) and soft skills (like teamwork, communication, and high-impact presentation).
        The third project, CA Showcase 2025, took place at the Professional Image Management course on May 20 and 21, 2025, in the Learning and Skills Development Building, 2nd Floor, Social Space. This exhibition gave students a chance to show off their professional image management and strategic communication initiatives, as well as their creative communication arts works, and get feedback and advice from teachers and professionals in the field. One of the best parts was a contest for the best work to encourage academic and professional excellence.
        The overall effects of these initiatives are the full development of professional skills needed for high-value mass communication and creative industries, the ability to put theory into practice, strong networking with top experts and organizations, and the chance to look into different career paths. The faculty learned how to make the curriculum improvement in a way that meets labor-market needs, and the International College improved its national reputation for working with groups and communities both inside and outside the university.
        All three projects are very similar to SDG 4: Quality Education. They promote high-quality learning through experiential education, support full skill acquisition for life and professional skills, fosters 21st-century skills, and strengthen work-readiness as specified in Target 4.4, which aims to increase the number of youth and adults equipped with necessary skills for employment and entrepreneurship. The projects also help SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by giving students chances to learn and improve their professional skills in the creative and digital sectors, which have a lot of economic potential. This helps create employment opportunities and sustainable economic value, which is what Target 8.6, focused on reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training. Finally, the projects demonstrate SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through establishing partnerships between the academic institution, leading private-sector industries, professional experts, and communities both inside and outside the university. This creates a sustainable learning ecosystem and supports long-term human resource development under Target 17.17, which encourages effective government, private sector, and civil society.