Khon Kaen University (KKU), led by Prof Thidarut Boonmars, DVM, PhD, Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, sent a team to transfer knowledge and experience on driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), and Social Return on Investment (SROI) to personnel of Nakhon Phanom University. This was conducted under the Workshop Training Project on Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Social Return on Investment (SROI), held on 20–21 August 2026, at the Lecture and Seminar Room, Second Floor, Digital Technology Division Building, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom Province.
The project aims to promote knowledge, understanding, and skills among Nakhon Phanom University personnel in evaluating the outcomes and impacts arising from research and academic service work, enabling them to use empirical data to reflect the value created for stakeholders. It also aims to help personnel apply evaluation results when planning, developing, and elevating projects that create tangible benefits for society.
On this occasion, Professor Dr Surasit Wachirakachorn, Vice President for Research and Academic Services at Nakhon Phanom University, delivered the opening remarks, while Assistant Professor Dr Khomsak Harnchai, Director of the Research and Development Institute, gave the project report. The learning and hands-on practice activities with the team of speakers from Khon Kaen University then began.
Prof. Thidarut shared her experience on the topic of “Driving SDGs at Khon Kaen University,” presenting approaches to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into the university’s missions in education, research, academic services, and social benefit creation. She also highlighted the roles of SIA and SROI as important tools that help universities systematically identify and communicate the “value, outcomes, and impacts” generated from their operations, and use evaluation data to inform development work based on empirical evidence. Prof. Boonmars shared insights on the topic of KKU’s SDG Drive, presenting frameworks for integrating sustainable development goals into core university missions—including education, research, academic services, and societal contribution. Prof. Boonmars highlighted the vital roles of SIA and SROI as key systematic tools that enable institutions to identify and communicate value, outcomes, and impact based on empirical evidence.
In addition, Asst Prof Dr Jakkraphan Suksawat from the Faculty of Economics, KKU, presented on “Principles of Social Return on Investment (SROI) Assessment” for research and academic service work, building understanding of the concepts, principles, and key components of the evaluation. Meanwhile, Asst Prof Dr Siwaporn Fongtong, Faculty of Economics, Khon Kaen University, presented on “Steps in Social Return on Investment (SROI) Assessment,” enabling participants to understand the process and apply it systematically to their projects.
In addition to theoretical learning, the training also provided opportunities for participants to exchange experiences with the speaker team, and to divide into groups to plan workshop activities in preparation for collecting data from sample projects of Nakhon Phanom University. This connected knowledge to real practice—from understanding stakeholders, considering the resulting outcomes and impacts, to preparing data for evaluation—laying the groundwork for personnel to further apply SIA and SROI processes to the university’s research and academic service work.
This collaboration is therefore not merely a transfer of knowledge about evaluation tools, but a joint effort to “build impact assessment capacity” for personnel, enabling them to use the data and evidence obtained from evaluations to develop research and academic service work—from project design and monitoring to communicating the value created for communities and society. This will help ensure that the university’s knowledge and resources can generate outcomes that effectively address local needs.
This knowledge transfer also reflects Khon Kaen University’s role as an institution committed to applying its expertise and experience to create mutual benefits with a network of higher education institutions. Through knowledge exchange and personnel capacity development, it aims to jointly elevate research and academic service work, generate measurable social impact, and drive sustainable positive change for communities and society.
This initiative aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education, through the transfer of knowledge and skill development for personnel in SIA and SROI, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through knowledge exchange and collaboration between Khon Kaen University and Nakhon Phanom University, as well as supporting the application of knowledge and evaluation tools to elevate research and academic service work in order to create tangible value for society.
