Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Master of Science Program in International Technology and Innovation Management at Khon Kaen University is strategically designed to cultivate "innovators" capable of driving sustainable change in the digital era. The program's philosophy—to produce tech entrepreneurs with world-class abilities in digital innovation, intellectual property management, and socially responsible business planning—is powerfully aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The curriculum is a cornerstone for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), fostering the creation of new technologies through courses on Technology Entrepreneurship, Strategic Technology and Innovation Management, and Intellectual Property Management. This directly fuels SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging the creation of high-value jobs and promoting policies that support entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the program's emphasis on Business Ethics and Social Responsibility and Management for Sustainability directly connects to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by instilling principles of responsible business conduct. As a graduate-level program, it is an archetype of SDG 4 (Quality Education), and its focus on thesis and project work, which requires collaboration with various sectors, naturally promotes the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: This master's program provides high-quality, specialized education that equips students with advanced research, technical, and vocational skills for innovation and entrepreneurship. It promotes lifelong learning through a research-intensive curriculum and prepares graduates for high-level employment in the technology sector.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| IC 715 891 | Research Methodology | Directly supports quality education by equipping students with advanced research skills that are essential for innovation and relevant for high-level employment (Target 4.4). |
| IC 715 994 | Thesis | Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity, where students conduct original research, thereby acquiring superior technical and vocational skills for employment and entrepreneurship (Target 4.3 & 4.4). |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthAlignment Summary: The curriculum is designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, which are critical drivers of job creation and sustainable economic growth. By training students to launch and manage technology-based ventures, the program directly contributes to economic diversification and the creation of decent jobs.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| IC 715 702 | Technology Entrepreneurship | Promotes entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation by teaching students how to create and manage new technology-based businesses, which directly supports development-oriented policies and job creation (Target 8.3). |
| IC 715 706 | Business Plan for Technology Startups | Supports the creation of decent jobs by providing students with the skills to develop viable business plans for new ventures, contributing to economic diversification (Target 8.2). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: The entire program is focused on fostering innovation and building the technological capabilities of industries. It provides students with the skills to manage innovation strategically, protect intellectual property, and develop new technologies, thereby promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and enhancing scientific research.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| IC 715 701 | Innovation and Strategic Technology Management | Directly enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of industrial sectors by teaching strategic management of innovation (Target 9.5). |
| IC 715 704 | Intellectual Property Management | Supports innovation by providing crucial knowledge on how to protect and commercialize new technologies, which is essential for a thriving industrial sector (Target 9.B). |
| IC 715 703 | Digital Innovation and Transformation | Fosters innovation by educating on how to leverage digital technologies to transform industries, promoting the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies (Target 9.4). |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionAlignment Summary: The program instills principles of responsible production by integrating ethics and sustainability into its core curriculum. Students learn to manage businesses in a way that is socially and environmentally responsible, preparing them to lead companies toward more sustainable practices.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| IC 715 707 | Business Ethics and Social Responsibility | Encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle by providing a strong ethical foundation (Target 12.6). |
| IC 715 801 | Management for Sustainability | Directly educates on the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, a core principle of responsible production (Target 12.2). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its research-intensive focus and international scope. Thesis and project work often require collaboration with industry, government, and international partners, promoting the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to advance technology and sustainable development.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| IC 715 892 | Seminar in Technology and Innovation Management | Promotes knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder dialogue on cutting-edge technology, enhancing the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.16). |
| IC 715 994 | Thesis | Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to help solve critical sustainability challenges in technology and innovation (Target 17.17). |