Khon Kaen University hosts the inaugural Social Return on Investment training to establish a professional network of social impact assessors and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
On 7–8 May 2026, Khon Kaen University (KKU), Chiang Mai University (CMU), and Prince of Songkla University (PSU) advanced their “Three Powers of the Land” strategic alliance by launching the “SROI Assessor (Batch 1)” workshop. Hosted by KKU at the Khon Kaen University Science Park, the programme aimed to build the capacity of personnel to evaluate Social Return on Investment (SROI) and to promote the practical application of this knowledge across various organisational frameworks.
Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability at Khon Kaen University. In her welcoming remarks to over 50 participants from diverse sectors, the Vice President emphasised the importance of exchanging knowledge and experience in economic and social impact assessment. She noted that the initiative serves to build a standardised network of social value assessors capable of driving sustainable social development in the future.
The workshop featured intensive sessions and practical activities led by SROI experts from the three partnering universities. Dr. Wittawat Hemtanon from the Faculty of Economics, PSU, introduced the “Principles of SROI,” followed by Assistant Professor Palakorn Satsue, also from PSU, who detailed the “SROI Stages,” providing a systematic overview from planning to outcome analysis.
Representing the Faculty of Economics at KKU, Assistant Professor Siwaporn Fongthong delivered a lecture on “Scope and Stakeholder Identification” to clarify project boundaries and stakeholder analysis. This was complemented by Assistant Professor Jakkaphon Suksawat, who spoke on “Impact Pathway and Indicators,” focusing on the effective design of impact trajectories and social outcome metrics. Furthermore, Assistant Professor Chaiwat Nim-Anussornkul from the Faculty of Economics, CMU, addressed “Financial Proxy and Over-claiming” to improve accuracy in social valuation, while Associate Professor Anaspre Chiaravan from CMU shared techniques on “Designing Questions to Identify Stakeholder Outcomes” to enhance data collection and analysis skills.
A significant highlight of the programme was the introduction of the “SROI KKU Platform.” This system was developed by KKU to support the collection and management of SROI data.Participants trialled the platform, learning how to input data and manage SROI documentation systematically. The platform is designed to enhance the efficiency of monitoring, evaluation, and social impact data management within their respective organisations.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, including designing SROI evaluations, conducting social impact analyses, and interviewing stakeholders using real-world case studies. This practical approach ensured that attendees gained deep insights that can be immediately applied to their professional duties.
This collaboration reflects the collective strength of higher education institutions in developing the knowledge, tools, and human resources necessary for social value assessment. By empowering personnel with these skills, the three universities aim to enhance research and academic services that effectively address the nation’s sustainable development goals.
Furthermore, this project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through promoting lifelong learning and capacity building; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by supporting the development of efficient evaluation tools; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which highlights the power of academic networks in generating knowledge to drive Thai society towards a sustainable future.
