Following the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Chiang Mai University has set out on becoming “a leading university with social responsibility and sustainable development”, on the basis of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). The goals of CMU BCG Platform are divided into three dimensions: Medicopolis, the city of medical innovation, Biopolis, the centre of research and innovation for industrial development based on the notion of biobased economy, and Creative Lanna, the centre and leading agent in knowledge, arts and culture and innovation for preserving the local spirit.
Clinical Prof. Niwes Nantajit, President of CMU, has asserted that sustainable development is an issue of global concern and the United Nations has established “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” as guiding principles for international development, employed for the purposes of successful economic, social and environmental development. Implemented in 2015 and expected to be achieved by 2030, these goals include 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health and well-being, 4. Quality education, 5. Gender equality, 6. Clean water and sanitation, 7. Affordable and clean energy, 8. Decent work and economic growth, 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure, 10. Reduced inequalities, 11. Sustainable cities and communities, 12. Responsible consumption and production, 13. Climate action, 14. Life below water, 15. Life on land, 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions and 17. Partnerships for the goals.
CMU, the first regional university in Thailand founded in 1964 due to the demand of the people in expanding educational opportunities to the regional areas, prioritises the community and the local society, and has employed SEP and SDGs as the core principles upon becoming ‘a leading university with social responsibility and sustainable development’ that gives back to the society, both domestic and international. The three dimensions of proactive strategies are 1. environmental and energy innovation, 2. food, health and elderly care innovation and 3. Creative Lanna, in line with the four core missions – education, research, academic services and integrated administration. Incorporating knowledge and cooperation from all parties, the University’s development takes a unified approach, an identity of the University, in answer to the Royal Thai Government’s BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) policy.
To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, SEP for SDGs by CMU Platform links CMU’s proactive strategies and missions to the SDGs, resulting in three dimensions of CMU BCG Platform.
Medicopolis is a city of medical innovation for the better local economy and quality of life through the promotion of the society of good health, the reduction of unequal access to technology and services and the production of medical research, innovation and added values to drive the local economy. It is expected that the added economic values would amount to at least 2.52 billion baht by 2022 through the operations of CMU’s health facilities such as the Centre for Medical Excellence, Medical Hub, Thai Traditional Complementary Medicine (TTCM), Senior Wellness Centre, Hariphunchai Centre for Medical and Public Health Services, Long Term Care, Geriatric Medical Centre (GMC), Doi Kham Veterinary Health Centre and Centre of Elephant and Wildlife Research Chiang Mai.
Biopolis is the centre of research and innovation for industrial development through biobased economy. The expected added values are at least 1.26 billion baht by 2022. It is operated by several CMU organisations, including Mae-Hia Agricultural Training and Research Centre, Lanna Rice Research Centre, Energy Research and Development Institute, Northern Science Park and Science and Technology Park.
Creative Lanna is the centre and leading agent in knowledge, arts and culture and innovation for preserving the local spirit, which is expected to generate at least 420 million baht worth of added values by 2022. The operating organisations include Lanna Architecture Centre, Chiangmai Street Arts, Muang Kung Village, CMU Creative Lanna (CLC), Chiang Mai University Art Centre and Centre for the Promotion of Arts and Culture Chiang Mai University.
The University has established the guideline for research and academic services that enables cooperation from the public, private, social and community sectors to achieve the SDGs on the local and national scales. Moreover, SDGs have been integrated into the curricula and the personnel development programmes to create awareness and engagement from all groups. CMU is determined to play a part in strengthening the community, the society and the country by building networks of cooperation on the regional and national levels in order to achieve the SDGs through integrative practice.
For further information on the University’s mission on sustainable development, visit https://sdgs.cmu.ac.th.