Sustainability in Action: Analyzing Mahasarakham University’s Integration of SDGs in Education, Research, and Operations

Woraluck Sribanasarn, Anujit Phumiphan, Siwa Kaewplang, Mathinee Khotdee, Ounla Sivanpheng and Anongrit Kangrang ()
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Woraluck Sribanasarn: Division of Building and Grounds, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Anujit Phumiphan: School of Engineering, University of Phayao, Phayao District, Phayao 56000, Thailand
Siwa Kaewplang: Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Mathinee Khotdee: Faculty of Architecture, Urban Design & Creative Arts, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Ounla Sivanpheng: Faculty of Water Resources, National University of Laos, Vientiane 01020, Laos
Anongrit Kangrang: Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-25

Abstract: The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking has become a widely adopted instrument for benchmarking institutional sustainability performance; nevertheless, empirically grounded evidence from universities in diverse regional contexts remains scarce. This study undertakes a rigorous appraisal of the extent to which Mahasarakham University (MSU) has institutionalized the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within its pedagogical offerings, research portfolio, community outreach, and governance arrangements during the 2021–2024 strategic cycle. Employing a mixed-methods design and guided by the 2024 UI GreenMetric Education and Research indicators, this investigation analyzed institutional datasets pertaining to curriculum provision, ring-fenced research funding, 574 peer-reviewed sustainability publications, student-led community initiatives, and supporting governance mechanisms; the analysis was interpreted through a Plan–Do–Check–Act management lens. The number of sustainability-oriented academic programs expanded from 49 to 58. Student participation in community service activities strongly recovered following the COVID-19 pandemic, and MSU’s GreenMetric score increased from 7575 to 8475, thereby elevating the institution to the 100th position globally. These gains were facilitated by strategic SDG-aligned investment, cross-sector collaboration, and the consolidation of international partnerships anchored in Thailand’s Isaan region. The MSU case provides a transferable model for universities—particularly those operating in resource-constrained contexts—endeavoring to align institutional development with the SDGs and internationally recognized quality benchmarks. The findings substantiate the capacity of transformative education and applied research to engender enduring societal and environmental benefits.

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); UI GreenMetric; sustainability research; university rankings; Mahasarakham University (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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