Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Master of Science Program in Environmental Science

SDG Alignment for Master of Science Program in Environmental Science

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Master of Science Program in Environmental Science is holistically designed to produce researchers and professionals who can create new knowledge for solving complex environmental problems. The program's core mission is to conduct internationally recognized, interdisciplinary research, making it a powerful contributor across numerous Sustainable Development Goals. Its most profound alignment is with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through its deep focus on pollution management, environmental technology, toxicology, and ecosystem analysis. By emphasizing sustainable technologies and resource management, the curriculum also directly supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). As a graduate-level program, it is a flagship for SDG 4 (Quality Education), drives innovation under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and fosters the global collaborations essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Best Practices

The Master of Science Program in Environmental Science at Khon Kaen University (KKU) has intensively driven the environmental and governance strategy, recognizing the crisis of plastic pollution contaminating regional rivers and canals, which directly impacts ecological security and community health.
Therefore, the curriculum designed a practical knowledge integration activity under the framework of core courses such as SC 487 501 Sustainable Environmental Management, SC 487 503 Advanced Pollution Treatment Technology, and SC 487 899 Thesis. This involved PhD students working on-site with local administrative organizations and local fishing groups in the river basin to analyze and model plastic waste leakage, and collaboratively develop a Decentralized Waste Management mechanism and innovative upstream recycling system.
The evident result was the pilot implementation of an automatic waste sorting and collection system in five pilot communities, successfully forging a partnership that reduced the volume of plastic waste leaking into the river by 45% within the first six months of operation. This led to the widespread sustainable impact of elevating water environmental quality, restoring the freshwater ecosystem, and strengthening the environmental governance mechanism at the local level by creating a culture of shared responsibility for waste management within the community and locality.
This success underscores the strategic alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through developing a comprehensive and effective urban waste management system; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by promoting waste reduction and reuse in the value chain; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which is central to the collaboration between the academic institution, the government (local administrative organizations), and the community to achieve shared sustainable environmental restoration goals.

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to good health and well-being by addressing the environmental determinants of health. Courses in toxicology and environmental pollution equip graduates to research and mitigate the health impacts of pollution, directly contributing to reducing illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and contamination.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 732	Environmental Toxicology	Directly supports Target 3.9 by focusing on the effects of toxic substances on living organisms, which is crucial for reducing deaths and illnesses from environmental pollution.

SDG 4: Quality Education

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Alignment Summary: As a master's program, this curriculum is the epitome of quality education. It is designed to cultivate expert researchers and academics by providing advanced training in research methodologies and fostering a culture of lifelong learning, thereby contributing to the creation of new knowledge for sustainable development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 838 801	Research Methodology in Environmental Science	Provides the core research skills that define high-quality graduate education, equipping students for high-level employment and lifelong learning in scientific research (Target 4.3 and 4.4).
**SC 838 89X	Seminar / Thesis / Independent Study	These courses are capstone lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3) where students engage with the scientific community and conduct original research, acquiring superior technical and professional skills (Target 4.4).

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

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Alignment Summary: The program is central to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water by training experts in water pollution control and management. The curriculum equips graduates to develop and apply technologies for water and wastewater treatment, assess water quality, and manage aquatic resources sustainably.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 732	Environmental Toxicology	Supports Target 6.3 by studying the effects of pollutants on aquatic organisms, which is crucial for improving water quality.
**SC 837 733	Water Pollution Control and Management	Directly contributes to achieving access to adequate sanitation and improving water quality by reducing pollution (Target 6.2, 6.3).
**SC 837 737	Principles of Water and Wastewater Treatment	Provides the foundational knowledge for designing and operating the systems necessary to ensure safe drinking water and effective sanitation (Target 6.1, 6.2).
**SC 837 738	Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment	Focuses on innovative technologies for water purification, directly supporting access to safe and affordable drinking water for all (Target 6.1).

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to affordable and clean energy by focusing on sustainable energy technologies and the environmental impacts of energy production. Graduates are equipped to research and develop renewable energy solutions and to assess the environmental performance of various energy systems.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 734	Energy and Environment	Directly supports clean energy research and technology (Target 7.A) by analyzing the environmental impacts of energy systems and promoting sustainable energy solutions.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

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Alignment Summary: This program is a catalyst for innovation in environmental technology and sustainable industry. By providing advanced training in pollution control technologies, waste management, and environmental monitoring, it enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities of sectors focused on sustainable development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 731	Environmental Technology	Drives innovation by focusing on the development and application of new technologies for environmental protection and resource management (Target 9.4, 9.5).
**SC 837 735	Air Pollution Control and Management	Supports sustainable industrialization by training experts in the technologies used to control industrial emissions (Target 9.4).

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: The program is essential for creating sustainable cities and communities. It provides expertise in air pollution control and solid waste management, which are critical for reducing the environmental impact of urban areas and making human settlements safer and more resilient.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 735	Air Pollution Control and Management	Directly addresses Target 11.6 by focusing on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities through the management of air quality.
**SC 837 736	Solid Waste Management	Aligns with Target 11.6 by training experts in municipal and other waste management, a crucial service for sustainable cities.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

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Alignment Summary: The curriculum is fundamentally aligned with ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. It trains experts to design and implement systems for the environmentally sound management of wastes, promote recycling, and assess the life-cycle impacts of products and processes, thereby contributing to a circular economy.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 736	Solid Waste Management	Directly addresses Target 12.5 by substantially reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
**SC 837 740	Life Cycle Assessment	Contributes to responsible production by teaching a systematic method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire life cycle (Target 12.4).

SDG 13: Climate Action

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to climate action by fostering the scientific understanding of climate change and its drivers. The study of air pollution and the environmental impacts of energy are essential for improving education and awareness on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 734	Energy and Environment	Directly supports Target 13.3 by improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
**SC 837 735	Air Pollution Control and Management	Contributes to climate action by addressing the sources and control of air pollutants, many of which are also greenhouse gases (Target 13.2).

SDG 14: Life Below Water

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Alignment Summary: The program is fundamentally aligned with the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic ecosystems. Through specialized courses in water pollution control and toxicology, it provides the scientific foundation for preventing marine and freshwater pollution from land-based activities and protecting aquatic biodiversity.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 732	Environmental Toxicology	Directly contributes to preventing and reducing marine pollution (Target 14.1) by studying the effects of pollutants on aquatic life.
**SC 837 733	Water Pollution Control and Management	Aligns with Target 14.1 by providing the skills to manage and mitigate land-based activities that cause nutrient pollution and harm marine ecosystems.

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 toxicology and ecosystem management, which is essential for combating land degradation and halting biodiversity loss.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 837 732	Environmental Toxicology	Supports the protection of terrestrial ecosystems by studying the impact of pollutants on soil organisms and wildlife, providing crucial data for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem health (Target 15.5).

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Alignment Summary: The program's international scope and research-intensive nature foster partnerships for sustainable development. Through seminars and research, students engage with the global scientific community, promoting the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations essential for achieving global environmental goals.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
**SC 838 891	Seminar in Environmental Science 1	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.
**SC 838 89X	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 sustainability challenges.