On July 30–31, 2025, Khon Kaen University, led by Prof. Thidarut Boonmars, D.V.M., Ph.D., Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, collaborated with Chiang Mai University, represented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Pairach Piboonrungroj, Assistant to the President, and Prince of Songkla University, represented by Asst. Prof. Dr. Jumphon Chuenjitsiri, Vice President for Legal and Academic Services, to advance strategic cooperation under the framework of “Three United Forces for the Nation.” The activity featured a hands-on knowledge exchange workshop held at Meeting Room 210, President’s Office, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus.
The meeting aimed to establish a joint framework for developing a national standard system for assessing socio-economic impacts at both mission and project levels. The collaboration also focuses on co-developing training curricula to enhance personnel capacity and testing a centralized platform for managing assessments, which can be expanded for nationwide application.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University, warmly welcomed the executive teams from all three universities. In his opening remarks, Asst. Prof. Dr. Jumphon Chuenjitsiri emphasized the vital role of universities as key drivers of societal progress through research and standardized impact assessment systems.
Experts from multiple disciplines, including medicine, agriculture, economics, social sciences, and the creative economy, joined the event to share knowledge and jointly plan practical training sessions. The team also scheduled a pilot test of the assessment tools at Chiang Mai University in August.
This collaborative effort aims to accelerate progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities, SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. The alliance highlights the shared commitment of Khon Kaen University, Prince of Songkla University, and Chiang Mai University to implement comprehensive socio-economic impact assessments. The outcomes of this initiative will strengthen systematic evaluation processes, enabling evidence-based policy development and practical strategies that deliver long-term benefits for Thai society.
