About
APRU SDG Education for Global Citizenship: The Program at a Glance
The APRU SDG Education for Global Citizenship (APRU SDG4GC) is an intercultural, transdisciplinary, and interactive program that fosters global citizenship among students from 61 universities in 18 economies across the Pacific Rim. Co-designed by six core-partner universities in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), the program builds knowledge of global issues and global literacy among students. This is achieved through learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring in-depth some of the world’s biggest challenges, and proposing solutions using a framework for collaborative development of social innovation prototypes.
The program places critical importance in introducing locally embedded unique case studies among the network members to help students develop a broad array of perspectives and deepen understanding of the SDGs. In the 2025 program, APRU SDG4GC will conduct a hybrid program under the umbrella theme of “Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity” The program will explore the many dimensions of wellbeing including social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, mental, physical, and economic. By drawing on multiple disciplines and practices, the program aims to build a strong sense of global citizenship toward resilient global communities.
The 2025 program is
chaired by Chulalongkorn University
with Universiti Malaya as Vice-Chair.
In partnership with the UN, it is co-designed with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kyushu University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Background
In addition to the challenges of the pandemic during recent years, the world is experiencing increasing conflicts, violence, and injustice. A sense of solidarity in the face of these challenges has brought people from all continents closer together to support each other and work toward better futures. This is creating an unprecedented momentum for global-level societal transformation. It is in this context that a core group of six APRU member universities launched the APRU SDG4GC in 2022 to open a new avenue of international engagement for students and faculty members working with multiple stakeholders in society. As key institutions of higher learning, universities have a clear responsibility to nurture inclusive culture and respect for diversity. This is even more critical today, when the world is undergoing dynamic transitions that demand the resolution of interconnected challenges. The unique network of APRU has been harnessed to cultivate new intercultural, international, and transdisciplinary learning opportunities for participating students, exposing them to a diverse range of cultures and practices. The program has also encouraged active learning initiatives by students themselves through mentorship activities.
Students will
- develop a broad array of perspectives and deepen their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the involvement of unique case studies from APRU network members.
- develop and understanding of SDG3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and larger societal issues faced by their own communities and comparatively, across other communities represented in the cohort.
- gain in-depth knowledge, wisdom and inspiration from actors on the ground in Malaysia or Thailand via onsite community engagement.
- develop ethical understanding and practices of community-engaged research.
- develop skills and understanding of design thinking and social innovation as a tool to design and prototype a new initiative to address a community challenge.
- develop intercultural communication, research, coordination, and presentation skills by learning and working together with a diverse group of students and mentors.
Program
The program introduces locally embedded unique case studies from the network members to
- foster global citizenship via SDG education/learning.
- provide new intercultural, international, and transdisciplinary learning opportunities for the participants.
- co-create knowledge for sustainability via multi-stakeholder engagements, including UN linkages.
- build knowledge of global issues and global literacy among students.
Resource persons
Resource persons from diverse backgrounds are at the core of APRU SDG4GC.
Meet our resource persons for
2025 program!
Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth
Head
Deputy Executive Director: Innovation and Commercialization, Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII), Chulalongkorn University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suwithida Charungkaittikul
Director, General Education Center,
Chulalongkorn University
Prof. Dr. Natalie Konomi
Vice President for International Affairs,
Kyushu University
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schneider
Chief Executive, APRU; Founder of PALAC
Mr. Ruhimat Soerakoesoemah
Head of the Subregional Office for South-East Asia,
UN ESCAP
Mr. Savinda Ranathunga
Regional Youth Project Manager,
UNDP Asia and the Pacific
Prof. Taninee Sahakitrungruang
Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Advisory Group member, APRU Global Health Program
Dr. Jaime Jayapalan
Senior Lecturer, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Ms. Elodie Jacquet
Political Science Department, Simon Fraser University; Principal, Banyan Consulting
Ms. Michiko Yoshida
Project Director
Director, Div. of Global Networking and Engagement, Office of International Affairs and Global Network, Chulalongkorn University
Mrs. Rafiza Hashim
Director of International Student and Mobility Centre, Marketing and Academic Services Department (MASD), Universiti Malaya
Ms. Michiko Yoshida
Chair
Director, Div. of Global Networking and Engagement, Office of International Affairs and Global Network, Chulalongkorn University
Prof. Dr. Natalie Konomi
Vice President for International Affairs,
Kyushu University
Ms. Shally Fan
Director of Academic Links,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ms. Adriana Rojas
Senior Director, Networks and Student Programs,
APRU International Secretariat
Ms. Liang Guo
Deputy Director, International Affairs Division,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
… coming soon …
Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth
Deputy Executive Director: Innovation and Commercialization, Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII), Chulalongkorn University
Mr. Savinda Ranathunga
Regional Youth Project Manager,
UNDP Asia and the Pacific
Dr. Jaime Jayapalan
Senior Lecturer, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kim Schumacher
Associate Professor in Sustainable Finance and ESG, Kyushu University
Dr. Wang Qian
Lecturer, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dr. Terence Yuen
Research Associate, Centre for Social Innovation Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Mr. David Galipeau
Founder, SDGx
Dr. Fung Hon Ngen
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science,
Universiti Malaya
… coming soon …
Prof. Dr. Roland Benedikter
Co-Head of the Center for Advanced Studies, EURAC Research; UNESCO Chair in Interdisciplinary Anticipation and Global-Local Transformation
Prof. Dr. Natalie Konomi
Vice President for International Affairs,
Kyushu University
Prof. Taninee Sahakitrungruang, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Advisory Group member, APRU Global Health Program
Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth
Deputy Executive Director: Innovation and Commercialization, Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (CSII), Chulalongkorn University
Dr. Jaime Jayapalan
Senior Research Officer, Health Well-Being Cluster under Research Cluster Office, Research Management & Innovation Complex, Universiti Malaya
Professor Dr. Yvonne Lim Ai Lian
Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Universiti Malaya
Mrs. Rafiza Hashim
Director of International Student and Mobility Centre, Marketing and Academic Services Department (MASD), Universiti Malaya
Mr. Sanon Wangsranboon
Deputy Governor, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
Prof. Donna S.C. Chu
School Director & Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Dr. Moy Foong Ming
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Prof. Kiat Ruxrungtham, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Scientific Chair of the Chula Vaccine Research Center (ChulaVRC)
Prof. Suttipong Wacharasindhu, M.D.
Strategic Leader, School of Global Health, Chulalongkorn University
Assoc. Prof. Chitsanu Pancharoen, M.D.
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Prof. Dr. Chantana Wungaeo
Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
Prof. Dr. Noran Naqiah Binti Mohd Hairi
Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Ms. Marisa Panyachiva
Partnership and Development Finance Officer, Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand
Dr. Dicky Sofjan
Core Doctoral Faculty, Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Asst. Prof. Dr. Thibodi Buakamsri
Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Asst. Prof. Athapol Anunthavorasakul
Director, Center for Educational Research and Development for Sustainable Development, Chulalongkorn University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wasana Wongsurawat
Head of History Department, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad
Director of UM Sustainable Development Centre, Universiti Malaya
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patricia Nora Riget
Senior Lecturer, Department of Asian and European Languages, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Nur Hairani Binti Abd Rahman
Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Welyne Jeffrey Jhom
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Nishakanthi A/P Gopalan
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Fong Chng Saun
Senior Lecturer, Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya
Mr. Ahmad Rifai
Co-Founder/ Executive Director, Kota Kita Foundation
Mr. Renaud Meyer
UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, ad interim and UNDP Resident Representative
Mr. Ruhimat Soerakoesoemah
Head of the Subregional Office for South-East Asia, UN ESCAP
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tharani Loganathan
Public Health Medicine Specialist and Associate Professor of Global Health at the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Ms. Elodie Jacquet
Political Science Department, Simon Fraser University; Principal, Banyan Consulting
Mr. Savinda Ranathunga
Regional Youth Project Manager, UNDP Asia and the Pacific
Mr. Phinith Chanthalangsy
Regional Advisor for the Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Mr. David Guillermo Quimbayo G.
Program Officer, Networks and Students Programs, APRU
Dr. Sorasich Swangsilp
Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
Dr. Lim Sin How
Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya
Dr. Jiayu Li, M.D.
School of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Dr. Bumi Herman
School of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Ms. Somsook Boonyabancha
Expert Member, Board of Directors, Community Organization Development Institute; Secretary-General, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights
Mr. Arthit Tangtatsawad
Community Organization Development Institute (CODI) Thailand
Ms. Prateep Ungsongtham Hata
Founder and Secretary-General, Duang Prateep Foundation
Xunpeng (Roc) Shi
President, International Society for Energy Transition Studies Professor, University of Technology Sydney
Ms. Iwona Spytkowski
Head of Office, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Thailand
Ms. Elvira Goetz
UN Coordination Officer,
UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Ms. Madelyn Almazora
Programme Management Officer and the Regional Adviser in the Subregional Office for South-East Asia of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok
Asst. Prof. Ts. Dr. Irina Safitri Zen, CSO
Sustainability and Climate Change Specialist, Urban & Regional Planning Department, Kulliyyah Architecture & Environmental Design, International Islamic University Malaysia
Dr. Nitida Nakapreecha
Researcher, Chulalongkorn University
Ms. Natkritta Muaprakhon
Vice President & Administration of Green Youth Thailand
Ms. Pittayaporn Puttasin
Vice President and Content Creator of Green Youth Thailand
Ms. Rajasurang Wongkrasaemongkol
Youth Advocate