BANGKOK (March 6, 2026) – The Centre for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University—acting as the main coordinating organization for the Sustainable University Network of Thailand (SUN Thailand)—in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM Thailand), convened an academic consultation at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn. The meeting aimed to lay the groundwork for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the university context and strengthen academic support for policy-making regarding Climate Change and Human Mobility in Thailand under the “Resilient Futures” project.
SDG Move: Bridging Policy and Practice
During the assembly, Asst. Prof. Chol Bunnag, Director of SDG Move and Secretary-General of SUN Thailand, served as the keynote speaker, leading a brainstorming session among the 14 participating member universities. SDG Move is spearheading the initiative across three core dimensions:
- International Cooperation: Bridging IOM Thailand’s global expertise with the specific context of Thai higher education institutions.
- Curriculum and Research Design: Integrating “Climate Mobility” into academic curricula and establishing specialized doctoral research frameworks.
- Knowledge Platform Development: Co-designing a centralized collaboration platform to consolidate data and research to support future government policy decisions.
Why This Collaboration Matters
This initiative arises as Thailand faces high vulnerability to climate change. According to the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2021, Thailand ranked 9th globally for countries most affected by climate-related events between 2000 and 2019. Projections indicate a massive surge in the population affected by severe flooding, rising sea levels, and prolonged droughts—all of which serve as “push factors” for increasingly complex migration patterns.
Currently, Thailand’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) has yet to explicitly address human migration. This academic movement is a critical catalyst in shifting the narrative of “migration”—viewing it as a positive resilience strategy rather than merely a negative consequence.
Key Initiatives under the “Resilient Futures” Project
The consultation identified four strategic pillars for inter-university cooperation:
- Doctoral Research Grants: Developing a new generation of experts specializing in Climate Mobility.
- Global Academic Support: Providing funding for faculty members to present research on international stages.
- Collaboration Platform: Establishing a systematic digital hub for research accessibility.
- Curriculum Integration: Incorporating climate and migration issues into diverse fields of study.
This collaboration is funded by the European Union (EU). SDG Move will continue to coordinate closely with all partners to translate these consultation outcomes into concrete projects within this year.
Participating University Networks:
- Northern College
- Chulalongkorn University
- Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus
- Kasetsart University
- Thammasat University
- Siam University
- Mahidol University
- Huachiew Chalermprakiet University
- Walailak University
- Suan Dusit University
- Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage
- University of Phayao
- King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
- King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
