Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Financial Technology program is meticulously designed to produce graduates who are not only proficient in modern finance but are also ethically grounded and technologically adept, with a strong understanding of their role in sustainable development. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing digital skills, professional ethics, and entrepreneurial thinking, creates a powerful alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The program makes significant contributions to fostering economic prosperity and inclusivity by focusing on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through its core training in financial technology and business innovation. It addresses issues of poverty and inequality (SDG 1 and SDG 10) by promoting financial inclusion and responsible investment. Furthermore, the curriculum's emphasis on ethics, corporate governance, and sustainable finance directly supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). As a forward-looking business program, it is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and is built upon a foundation of industry partnerships, embodying the spirit of SDG 17.
Best Practices
The Bachelor of Business Administration Program in Finance and Financial Technology at Khon Kaen University is consciously designed to play a leading role in advancing sustainable development in the region, particularly by addressing inequalities in access to financial services for grassroots communities. In response, the program has designed integrated activities under the "FinTech for Sustainable Financial Inclusion in Communities" initiative. This project brings together knowledge from core courses such as Advanced Finance and Financial Technology (BS 923 481) and Blockchain Applications (BS 923 482), combined with innovation skills from the Innovation Creation course (GE 442 001).
A cohort of 45 students collaborated with FinTech experts to engage directly with local communities, developing comprehensive digital financial solutions that are user-friendly and tailored to the liquidity management and funding needs of community enterprises in Khon Kaen province. The tangible outcome was the successful development of five mobile applications/digital accounting platforms, which connected 12 community enterprises and farmer groups to formal credit systems, with a total loan value exceeding 5.5 million baht within six months. These solutions also reduced average financial management costs for the groups by 15%.
The sustainable impact of this initiative is the enhancement of digital financial literacy and the empowerment of communities to own and manage their financial tools, laying a foundation for resilient and inclusive local economies. This activity demonstrates a powerful and practical contribution to SDG 1 (No Poverty) by fostering income security, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by supporting the growth of grassroots enterprises through innovation, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by applying advanced financial technology to build accessible and equitable digital infrastructure.
SDG 1: No PovertyAlignment Summary: This program addresses poverty by training professionals who can expand access to financial services. Courses in financial technology and financial markets are key to developing inclusive financial systems that allow individuals and small businesses to build assets, manage risk, and escape poverty.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN322201 | Financial Markets and Institutions | Contributes to poverty reduction by analyzing the institutions that provide financial services, which are crucial for ensuring all people have access to banking and financial services (Target 1.4). |
| FN323403 | Financial Technology | Directly supports poverty reduction by exploring how technology can be used to create and deliver financial services to underserved populations at a lower cost, promoting financial inclusion (Target 1.4). |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: The program provides a high-quality, specialized education that equips students with the advanced financial, technological, and ethical skills required for the modern economy. Through a curriculum that emphasizes practical application, digital literacy, and professional training, it ensures graduates are prepared for successful careers and lifelong learning.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN324801 | Seminar in Finance and Financial Technology | Enhances education for sustainable development by requiring students to research and present on current issues, fostering the critical thinking and communication skills needed for leadership roles (Target 4.7). |
| FN324802 | Cooperative Education | Provides inclusive and equitable quality education through extensive, supervised practical work experience, ensuring students acquire the technical and vocational skills for employment and entrepreneurship (Target 4.4). |
SDG 5: Gender EqualityAlignment Summary: The program contributes to gender equality by equipping all students with the skills for financial empowerment. By promoting financial literacy and access to financial technology, it provides tools that can help women achieve economic independence and participate more fully in the economy.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN323403 | Financial Technology | Supports women's economic empowerment by exploring technologies that can provide women with greater access to and control over financial resources, in line with Target 5.A. |
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthAlignment Summary: This program is a direct engine for promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. It focuses on developing a highly skilled workforce for the financial and technology sectors, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting the efficient allocation of capital, all of which are essential for creating decent work and a productive economy.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN322101 | Business Finance | Forms the foundation for achieving higher levels of economic productivity by teaching the principles of corporate financial management, which drives business growth and job creation (Target 8.2). |
| FN323301 | Investment | Contributes to economic growth by training professionals who can channel savings into productive investments, fueling innovation and development. |
| FN324501 | Entrepreneurial Finance | Directly encourages entrepreneurship and the creation of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises by teaching the financial principles for starting and growing new businesses (Target 8.3). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: The program is fundamentally about fostering innovation within the financial industry. By focusing on "FinTech," the curriculum is dedicated to upgrading the technological capabilities of the financial sector, developing resilient financial infrastructure, and promoting inclusive and sustainable access to financial services.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN323403 | Financial Technology | Directly supports scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of the financial industry by focusing on innovations like blockchain, AI, and digital payments (Target 9.5). |
| FN324403 | Information Technology for Finance | Promotes access to information and communications technology by teaching the specific IT skills and infrastructure needed for the modern financial industry (Target 9.C). |
| FN324404 | Data Analytics for Finance | Fosters innovation by training students to use data science to develop new financial products and services, enhancing the technological capabilities of the sector (Target 9.5). |
SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesAlignment Summary: The program works to reduce inequalities by promoting financial inclusion. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge of financial technologies and markets to help design and deliver financial services to previously unbanked and underbanked populations, empowering them with economic opportunities.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN323403 | Financial Technology | Directly contributes to reducing inequality by promoting the financial inclusion of all, as FinTech solutions can significantly lower the barriers to accessing financial services (Target 10.2). |
| FN322201 | Financial Markets and Institutions | Supports the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions to create more stable and inclusive financial systems that serve all members of society (Target 10.5). |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionAlignment Summary: The program promotes responsible production patterns by teaching the principles of sustainable finance and corporate governance. Graduates are prepared to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions, encouraging companies to adopt more sustainable practices.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN324601 | Sustainable Finance | Directly encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle by focusing on ESG investing and green finance (Target 12.6). |
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong InstitutionsAlignment Summary: The program contributes to building effective, accountable, and transparent institutions by instilling a strong foundation in professional ethics and corporate governance. This knowledge is crucial for preventing corruption and ensuring that financial institutions operate with integrity and in the public interest.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN324101 | Corporate Governance and Professional Ethics | Contributes to developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions by teaching the principles of good governance, which helps to combat corruption and bribery in all their forms (Target 16.5 & 16.6). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships for sustainable development through its cooperative education program and its focus on the interconnected global financial system. The co-op program creates a vital bridge between academia and the financial industry, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration to achieve the SDGs.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| FN324802 | Cooperative Education | Directly encourages and promotes effective public-private partnerships by immersing students in financial institutions, building collaborative experience for sustainable development (Target 17.17). |
| FN322201 | Financial Markets and Institutions | Enhances global macroeconomic stability through policy coordination, as students learn about the interconnectedness of domestic and international financial systems (Target 17.13). |