Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Ph.D. in Community Health Development

SDG Alignment for Doctor of Philosophy Program in Community Health Development

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Community Health Development is holistically designed to produce researchers and leaders who can create and apply knowledge to solve complex public health challenges. The program's core philosophy emphasizes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to health, making it a powerful contributor across numerous Sustainable Development Goals. Its most profound alignment is with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), with a curriculum that covers epidemiology, health policy, and community health system management. By training experts to develop equitable health policies and assess the social determinants of health, the program strongly supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Its focus on managing community health systems and assessing environmental impacts directly contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). As a doctoral-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: This program is fundamentally dedicated to improving health and well-being at the community level. The curriculum provides an in-depth, research-intensive education on epidemiology, health economics, and health system management. It directly contributes to combating diseases, strengthening health systems, and promoting well-being through evidence-based policy and practice.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817721	Health Development Policy and Strategies	Contributes to achieving universal health coverage by training experts to develop and analyze policies that ensure access to quality health services (Target 3.8).
MD817722	Applied Epidemiology for Community Health Development	This core public health discipline is essential for investigating disease patterns, directly supporting the goal of combating epidemics and other health threats (Target 3.3, 3.D).
MD817723	Applied Health Economics for Community Health Development	Supports universal health coverage (Target 3.8) by evaluating the cost-effectiveness of health interventions, ensuring efficient use of health resources.
MD817724	Behavioral and Social Sciences for Community Health Development	Supports the promotion of health and well-being (Target 3.4) by providing theoretical foundations for designing effective community-based health interventions.
MD817726	Health and Environmental Impact Assessment	Addresses Target 3.9 by teaching methods to assess and manage environmental health risks, aiming to reduce illnesses and deaths from pollution and contamination.

SDG 4: Quality Education

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Alignment Summary: As a doctoral program, this curriculum is the epitome of quality education. It is designed to cultivate expert researchers and academics who can generate and disseminate new knowledge in community health, fostering lifelong learning and contributing to the global knowledge economy.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817711	Advanced Research Methodology in Community Health Development	Provides the core research skills that define high-quality doctoral education, equipping students for high-level employment and lifelong learning in scientific research (Target 4.3 and 4.4).
MD817712	Seminar in Community Health Development I	Enhances lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3) by providing a platform for critical analysis and discussion of current research, fostering the skills to create new knowledge.
MD81799X	Dissertation	Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity (Target 4.3), where students conduct original research, thereby acquiring superior technical and professional skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4).

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to clean water and sanitation by training experts in environmental impact assessment. The curriculum equips graduates to identify, assess, and manage health risks arising from water pollution and inadequate sanitation, thereby helping to protect community health.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817726	Health and Environmental Impact Assessment	Directly aligns with Target 6.3 by teaching methods to improve water quality by reducing pollution. Graduates can assess health risks from contaminated water and inform management strategies.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to sustainable economic growth by training leaders who can formulate effective health and development policies. A healthy population is a prerequisite for a productive workforce, and by applying health economics, graduates can contribute to policies that foster both health and economic development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817723	Applied Health Economics for Community Health Development	Contributes to achieving higher levels of economic productivity through a focus on health, which is a key component of human capital (Target 8.2).

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

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Alignment Summary: The program directly addresses health inequalities by training professionals to develop and implement equitable health policies. The curriculum provides the tools to analyze how social and behavioral factors create health disparities and to design community-based interventions that promote health equity for all populations.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817721	Health Development Policy and Strategies	Directly aligns with Target 10.4 by focusing on the adoption of policies that progressively achieve greater equality in health access and outcomes.
MD817724	Behavioral and Social Sciences for Community Health Development	Contributes to Target 10.2 by promoting the social and economic inclusion of all through the study of the social determinants of health.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: The curriculum contributes to creating sustainable and healthy communities. The focus on community health system management and environmental impact assessment allows graduates to improve local health services and mitigate environmental health hazards, contributing to safer and more resilient communities.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817725	Community Health System Management	Supports the creation of safe and resilient human settlements (Target 11.1) by providing skills to manage and improve local health systems.
MD817726	Health and Environmental Impact Assessment	Supports Target 11.6 by providing skills to assess and manage environmental health risks specific to community settings.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

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Alignment Summary: The program promotes responsible production by training experts to assess the environmental and health impacts of development projects. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring that industrial and infrastructure development is carried out in a way that minimizes harm to human health and the environment.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817726	Health and Environmental Impact Assessment	Contributes to the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes (Target 12.4) by providing the tools to assess the potential impacts of industrial projects.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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Alignment Summary: The program helps build strong and effective health institutions by training leaders in policy and systems management. Graduates are equipped to develop and analyze health policies, contributing to more effective, accountable, and transparent public health systems that are essential for a just and well-governed society.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817721	Health Development Policy and Strategies	Directly supports the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions (Target 16.6) by teaching the principles of sound policy-making within the public health sector.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Alignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its multidisciplinary approach to solving complex health problems. The research-intensive curriculum requires engagement with the global scientific community and diverse community stakeholders, promoting the knowledge-sharing and collaborations needed to achieve global health goals.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
MD817712	Seminar in Community Health Development I	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.
MD81799X	Dissertation	Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.16) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to solve critical public health challenges.