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Khon Kaen University

Bachelor of Science Program in Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Safety

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Science Program in Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Safety

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Safety is holistically and explicitly designed to produce professionals who are at the forefront of creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable world. The curriculum's philosophy, emphasizing the scientific assessment and management of environmental and workplace hazards, provides a direct and powerful framework for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The program is a cornerstone for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through its comprehensive training in occupational health and safety. It is a key driver for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) via its strong focus on environmental health, pollution control, and waste management. Furthermore, the curriculum directly addresses SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting the sound management of chemicals and waste. As a professional science program, it is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and is built upon extensive partnerships, embodying the spirit of SDG 17.

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3 Icon SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Alignment Summary: This program is the embodiment of ensuring healthy lives by focusing on the prevention of disease and injury. The entire curriculum is dedicated to identifying, evaluating, and controlling environmental and occupational hazards that threaten human health, from air and water pollution to workplace safety and ergonomics.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH512101Principles of Public HealthProvides the foundational knowledge of public health, which is essential for understanding how to promote health and prevent disease in populations (Target 3.D).
PH512301Environmental HealthDirectly supports good health by focusing on the control of environmental factors that can harm human health, contributing to the reduction of deaths and illnesses from pollution (Target 3.9).
PH512302Occupational Health and SafetyIs a cornerstone of SDG 3, as it is dedicated to the prevention of work-related injuries and diseases, promoting physical and mental well-being in the workplace (Target 3.9).
PH512402ToxicologyContributes to good health by studying the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on living organisms, which is essential for setting safety standards and preventing poisoning (Target 3.9).

SDG 4 Icon SDG 4: Quality Education

Alignment Summary: This program provides a high-quality, specialized professional education that equips students with the scientific and technical skills necessary to promote sustainable development. Through a rigorous curriculum combining theory, extensive laboratory and field work, and cooperative education, it ensures graduates are competent professionals capable of lifelong learning.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH514891SeminarEnhances education for sustainable development by requiring students to research and present on current environmental and occupational health issues, fostering the skills for lifelong learning (Target 4.7).
PH514892Co-operative EducationProvides inclusive and equitable quality education through extensive, supervised practical work experience, ensuring students acquire the technical and vocational skills for employment (Target 4.4).

SDG 6 Icon SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Alignment Summary: This program is central to ensuring access to clean water and sanitation. The curriculum provides the core scientific and technical knowledge for managing water quality, designing sanitation systems, and controlling water pollution to protect both human health and aquatic ecosystems.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513303Water Supply and SanitationIs fundamental to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for all (Target 6.1 & 6.2).
PH513304Water and Wastewater Quality ControlDirectly addresses the need to improve water quality by teaching methods to reduce pollution and treat wastewater (Target 6.3).
PH512301Environmental HealthSupports the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems from a public health perspective (Target 6.6).

SDG 7 Icon SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Alignment Summary: The curriculum can contribute to clean energy by providing the expertise to manage the environmental and safety aspects of energy production, including renewable energy facilities. Understanding occupational health and safety is crucial for the workers who build and maintain this infrastructure.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH512302Occupational Health and SafetyCan be applied to ensure the safety of workers in the renewable energy sector, supporting the expansion of clean energy infrastructure (Target 7.A).

SDG 8 Icon SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Alignment Summary: This program is a direct driver of decent work. Its entire focus on occupational health and safety is dedicated to protecting labor rights and promoting safe and secure working environments for all workers, which is a fundamental component of decent work and a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH512302Occupational Health and SafetyIs the embodiment of Target 8.8, focusing on the protection of labor rights and the promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers.
PH513305ErgonomicsContributes to decent work by designing jobs and workplaces to fit the worker, which reduces injuries and improves productivity and well-being (Target 8.8).
PH513306Industrial SafetyDirectly promotes decent work by focusing on the prevention of accidents and injuries in industrial settings (Target 8.8).

SDG 9 Icon SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Alignment Summary: The program supports the development of sustainable and resilient industry and infrastructure. By training professionals in pollution control and industrial hygiene, it provides the expertise needed to retrofit industries and build new infrastructure that is environmentally sound and safe for workers.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513306Industrial SafetySupports sustainable industrialization by ensuring that industrial infrastructure is designed and operated in a way that is safe for workers and the surrounding community (Target 9.4).

SDG 11 Icon SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Alignment Summary: This program is essential for making cities and communities safe, resilient, and sustainable. It directly addresses the management of urban environmental health issues, including solid waste management, air and water pollution control, and ensuring the safety of public and commercial buildings.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513307Solid and Hazardous Waste ManagementIs fundamental to making cities sustainable by focusing on the management of municipal and hazardous waste to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities (Target 11.6).
PH513308Air Pollution and ControlDirectly addresses the need to reduce the environmental impact of cities by focusing on the control of urban air quality (Target 11.6).
PH513404Environmental Impact AssessmentSupports inclusive and sustainable urbanization by teaching the systematic process of evaluating the environmental consequences of urban development projects (Target 11.3).

SDG 12 Icon SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Alignment Summary: The curriculum is fundamentally aligned with promoting responsible production patterns. It provides the core scientific and technical knowledge for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, which is essential for sustainable production.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513307Solid and Hazardous Waste ManagementIs the embodiment of Target 12.4 and 12.5, focusing on achieving the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes and substantially reducing waste generation.
PH513404Environmental Impact AssessmentEncourages companies to adopt sustainable practices by requiring a thorough evaluation of environmental impacts before development, promoting responsible production (Target 12.6).

SDG 13 Icon SDG 13: Climate Action

Alignment Summary: The program provides essential expertise to take action on climate change. It prepares professionals to assess and manage the health risks associated with climate-related hazards and to contribute to climate change mitigation through the control of air pollutants that are also greenhouse gases.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513308Air Pollution and ControlContributes to climate change mitigation by teaching the control of air pollutants, some of which are also greenhouse gases or contribute to their formation (Target 13.2).

SDG 14 Icon SDG 14: Life Below Water

Alignment Summary: The program is central to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems by focusing on the control of land-based sources of pollution. The management of wastewater and solid waste is the most critical intervention for reducing the flow of contaminants into rivers and ultimately the ocean.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513304Water and Wastewater Quality ControlDirectly helps to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, by teaching how to manage and treat wastewater (Target 14.1).

SDG 15 Icon SDG 15: Life On Land

Alignment Summary: The curriculum supports the protection of terrestrial ecosystems by providing the expertise to manage land-based pollution. The management of solid and hazardous waste is essential for preventing land degradation and protecting the health of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513307Solid and Hazardous Waste ManagementContributes to the restoration of degraded land and soil by providing the principles for the safe management of waste, preventing soil contamination (Target 15.3).

SDG 16 Icon SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to building strong institutions by instilling a deep understanding of environmental and occupational health laws and ethics. This is fundamental to creating regulatory bodies and industries that are effective, accountable, and transparent in protecting the environment and worker health.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH513401Laws and Ethics for Public HealthPromotes the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all by teaching the legal frameworks that govern environmental and occupational health (Target 16.3).

SDG 17 Icon SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Alignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its cooperative education and practicum components, which create a vital bridge between the university, government agencies (health and environment), and private industry. This collaboration is essential for sharing knowledge and technology to solve environmental and health problems.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
PH514891Professional PracticeRepresents an effective public-private partnership, building collaborative experience between the university and various organizations to strengthen environmental and occupational health systems (Target 17.17).
PH514892Co-operative EducationEnhances the partnership for sustainable development by deploying students into communities and organizations, which builds domestic capacity in environmental and occupational health (Target 17.9).