Khon Kaen University

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Business Administration (International Program)

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Business Administration (International Program) at Khon Kaen University is strategically designed to cultivate a new generation of business leaders who are not only proficient in global commerce but are also deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices. The program's philosophy explicitly aims to produce graduates who are responsible for society and the environment, a vision that directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The curriculum provides a robust framework for understanding and promoting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through its three specialized majors: Global Business Management, International Marketing, and International Entrepreneurship. These tracks equip students with the skills to foster innovation, support industrial development, and create new ventures, directly contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). A cornerstone of the program is its emphasis on sustainability and ethics, as evidenced by core courses like Sustainable Business Management and Business Ethics. This focus directly aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by teaching students how to integrate social and environmental considerations into business operations. By extension, this fosters the development of strong, accountable, and transparent institutions, a key target of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Furthermore, the program's international scope and courses on cross-cultural management prepare graduates to operate effectively in a globalized world, fostering the international cooperation essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). As a comprehensive higher education program, it is a direct contributor to SDG 4 (Quality Education), developing graduates with the critical thinking, digital literacy, and global perspective needed to drive sustainable development forward.

        Bachelor of Business Administration (International Program) of Khon Kaen University (KKU) has transitioned beyond traditional business teaching toward cultivating "Digital Business Leaders for Sustainability" who possess the capability to guide organizations through the storm of Digital Disruption and cope with the Climate Change crisis in the tourism and service industry.
        The curriculum uses the philosophies of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Global-Local Integration as the core for learning. Students are equipped with a Blueprint for Practical Application through the integration of in-depth knowledge from key courses such as Sustainable Tourism Management (which focuses on creating business models responsible for the world), Information and Communication Technology for the Tourism Business (which promotes the use of digital innovation), Introduction to Tourism Management, Tourist Behavior, and Logistics for Tourism. All of these synthesize the necessary skills for analyzing and solving business problems in a global context.
        This practical learning has resulted in the evident outcome of producing graduates capable of expertly designing and presenting business plans driven by sustainability using advanced digital technology. This success leads to the sustainable impact of elevating the regional tourism and service business sector to become a model of the Green & Digital Economy and truly aligns with the important global missions under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Best Practices

Blood2Breath Campaign

        Khon Kaen University, through the International College, has developed innovative teaching and learning that concretely integrates sustainable development into the international business curriculum. In the course IC104761 SEMINAR IN GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, the "Blood2Breath Campaign" (#68-P064) was organized as an activity that combines health service for society through blood donation with environmental conservation through tree planting, under the International College's Sustainable Education Transformation strategy.
        This project was designed for students to learn through experiential learning in managing social projects that create impact on both the community and the environment. The campaign was conducted continuously over four sessions from March to April 2025 at diverse locations: Science Park (March 18, 2025), Toyota Kaennakorn Co., Ltd. (March 21, 2025), Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University (March 31, 2025), and Meeting Room M301, Basic Skills Development and Collaborative Learning Building (April 24, 2025). Implementing the project in various locations both inside and outside the university demonstrates the expansion of service outreach to the wider community, especially through engagement with the private sector such as Toyota Kaennakorn, which exemplifies cross-sector collaboration between academia and business for sustainable development.
        The tangible outcomes were that students developed project management skills in the global business context, leadership, teamwork, and a sense of corporate social responsibility-all essential competencies for 21st-century business leaders. At the same time, the project generated a positive impact for the community through blood donation drives supporting patients in need at hospitals, and tree planting to increase green spaces and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
        The broader impact was the cultivation of a culture of giving and sharing among students and university staff, the promotion of health and environmental awareness in the business community, the development of a model for integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the international business curriculum, and the creation of partnerships among the university, private sector, and local communities to drive integrated sustainable development.
        This project is clearly and strongly aligned with three core SDGs. It supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being directly through blood donation activities that strengthen the public health system and save lives, as well as promoting health and well-being, consistent with the "Health service outreach" and "Health promotion activities" indicators in THE Impact Rankings, which emphasize community health services and the promotion of healthy behaviors. It advances SDG 13: Climate Action through tree planting activities that absorb carbon dioxide, increase green areas, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, in line with the "Low carbon university" and "Education for climate action" indicators, which focus on reducing greenhouse gas emission and providing education on climate change. It also supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by building partnerships among Khon Kaen University, the private sector (Toyota Kaennakorn), public health agencies, and local communities to implement projects with multi-dimensional sustainable development impact, consistent with the "Relationships to support the goals" and "Cross-sector collaboration" indicators that emphasize cross-sector partnerships to achieve the SDGs.
        Additionally, the project supports four key faculty-level indicators of the International College: IC68-03 (number of projects supporting student learning experiences in sustainability/SDGs), IC68-04 (average course evaluation scores), IC68-05 (percentage of accredited programs with good or higher results), and IC68-18 (satisfaction assessment).
        The Blood2Breath Campaign is therefore an outstanding example of integrating global business management education with sustainable social and environmental impact, reflecting Khon Kaen University's commitment to producing graduates with both academic excellence and a strong sense of social responsibility, and to build cross-sector partnerships for sustainable development at both local and global levels.