Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Master of Arts Program in Law and Social Development

SDG Alignment for Master of Arts Program in Law and Social Development

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Master of Arts Program in Law and Social Development is holistically designed to produce graduates with advanced knowledge to analyze and solve complex social problems through the integrated lens of law and development. The program's core philosophy, which emphasizes interdisciplinary research and social ethics, makes it a powerful contributor across a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals. Its most profound alignment is with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), with a curriculum that deeply explores human rights, community rights, and the role of law in governance. By training experts to understand the legal dimensions of development, the program strongly supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Its focus on environmental policy and natural resource management directly contributes to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). As an international, graduate-level program, it is a flagship for SDG 4 (Quality Education) and inherently fosters the collaborations essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

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Alignment Summary: The program supports good health and well-being by examining the legal and policy frameworks that govern health systems. By understanding the intersection of law and health development, graduates can contribute to creating more effective and equitable health policies, ensuring that legal frameworks support the right to health for all.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468733	Law and Health Development	Directly supports good health by providing the legal and policy knowledge needed to strengthen health systems and ensure access to healthcare, aligning with Target 3.8 on achieving universal health coverage.

SDG 4: Quality Education

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Alignment Summary: As a master's program, this curriculum represents a high level of quality education. It is designed to cultivate expert researchers and professionals by providing advanced training in interdisciplinary research methodologies and fostering the lifelong learning skills necessary to address complex legal and social challenges.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468712	Research Methodology in Law and Social Development	Provides the core research skills that define high-quality graduate education, equipping students for high-level employment in research and policy analysis (Target 4.3 and 4.4).
HS46889X	Thesis/Independent Study	These courses are capstone lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3), where students conduct original research or in-depth study, thereby acquiring superior technical and professional skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4).

SDG 5: Gender Equality

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Alignment Summary: The curriculum promotes gender equality by providing a deep understanding of human rights law. This knowledge is crucial for developing and advocating for laws and policies that eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls and ensure their full and effective participation in public life.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468731	Human Rights and Development	Directly supports gender equality by providing the legal framework to analyze and combat discrimination, aligning with Target 5.1 to end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to decent work and sustainable economic growth by providing the legal frameworks necessary for sound economic policy. By understanding the intersection of law and economic development, graduates can help create stable and predictable legal environments that foster sustainable business practices and protect labor rights.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468734	Law and Economic Development	Contributes to sustainable economic growth by providing the legal framework for economic policies that promote development, innovation, and decent work (Target 8.1, 8.3).

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

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Alignment Summary: The program is fundamentally focused on understanding and reducing inequalities. The curriculum provides a deep dive into human rights and community rights, equipping graduates to develop policies and legal strategies that promote social inclusion and empower marginalized groups.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468711	Theory of Law and Social Development	Provides the theoretical tools to analyze the root causes of social and economic inequality, which is essential for developing policies to reduce it (Target 10.2).
HS468731	Human Rights and Development	Directly aligns with Target 10.3 by providing the legal principles to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws and policies.
HS468735	Community Rights and Natural Resource Management	Contributes to empowering and promoting the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of origin or status, by focusing on the rights of local communities (Target 10.2).

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: This program is central to creating sustainable communities by focusing on the legal frameworks for community rights and natural resource management. Graduates are equipped to contribute to participatory planning processes that safeguard cultural and natural heritage and ensure that communities have a voice in their own development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468735	Community Rights and Natural Resource Management	Directly supports Target 11.3 and 11.4 by strengthening participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and safeguarding community-level cultural and natural heritage.

SDG 13: Climate Action

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to climate action by training experts in environmental law and policy. This knowledge is crucial for developing and implementing legal frameworks that integrate climate change measures into national policies and strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468732	Law and Environmental Policy for Social Development	Directly supports Target 13.2 by focusing on the integration of climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

SDG 15: Life On Land

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Alignment Summary: The program is at the core of efforts to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The curriculum provides a deep understanding of environmental law and community-based natural resource management, which is essential for combating land degradation and halting biodiversity loss.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468732	Law and Environmental Policy for Social Development	Provides the legal and policy knowledge needed for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems (Target 15.1).
HS468735	Community Rights and Natural Resource Management	Supports the sustainable management of all types of forests and halting deforestation (Target 15.2) by empowering local communities to manage their resources.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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Alignment Summary: The program is instrumental in building strong institutions. The entire curriculum is designed to strengthen the rule of law by providing advanced education in the theories of law and development, human rights, and community rights. Graduates are equipped to ensure equal access to justice and to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468711	Theory of Law and Social Development	Provides the foundational knowledge for building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels (Target 16.6).
HS468731	Human Rights and Development	Contributes to promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice by focusing on international human rights standards (Target 16.3).
HS468735	Community Rights and Natural Resource Management	Promotes responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels by focusing on community-level governance (Target 16.7).

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Alignment Summary: As an international program with an interdisciplinary focus, this curriculum inherently builds partnerships for sustainable development. Through seminars and research, students engage with the global academic community and diverse stakeholders, promoting the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations essential for achieving the SDGs.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
HS468891	Seminar in Law and Social Development	Promotes the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.6) by requiring students to engage with and present on international research, fostering a culture of global knowledge-sharing.
HS46889X	Thesis/Independent Study	Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.16) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to solve critical legal and social challenges.