Chiang Mai University (CMU) has established itself as a pivotal institution for sustainable development through its robust collaboration with national government agencies and regional non-governmental organizations. These strategic partnerships exemplify CMU’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through multi-stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, and policy co-creation that addresses local and national sustainability challenges.
In March 2025, CMU partnered with the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) to launch the groundbreaking “Air For All” initiative, a comprehensive research program addressing northern Thailand’s critical air pollution challenges. This collaboration represents significant international cooperation between academia and government, focusing on data collection for evidence-based policymaking to combat PM2.5 air pollution. The partnership encompasses three critical dimensions: forest fire reduction, technology transfer through big data integration for decision support, and community engagement through knowledge sharing networks.
This initiative embodies policy coherence by integrating environmental sustainability with public health priorities while promoting sustainable development practices. The program enhances statistical capacity in environmental monitoring while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to address the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Building on established partnerships, CMU’s Faculty of Law renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Highland Research and Development Institute (HRDI), a public organization, for the second consecutive year in March 2024. This collaboration focuses on providing legal consultation services to highland communities, exemplifying capacity building through innovative public-private partnerships. The program ensures that marginalized communities can access justice systems, directly supporting SDG implementation by promoting inclusive institutions.
The partnership demonstrates effective global governance principles at the local level by integrating legal expertise with developmental priorities. This synergy has created sustainable pathways for highland communities to engage with legal frameworks that impact their livelihoods and environmental stewardship.
Through the innovative “ADVOCATE” program, CMU’s School of Lifelong Education has forged partnerships with local government organizations across four northern provinces. This initiative, supported by Thailand’s National Research Agency, exemplifies North-South cooperation by connecting academic resources with local governance structures to address aging population challenges.
The program has empowered over 80 local government personnel from eight pilot areas, creating a model for collaboration in senior citizen empowerment. This partnership has facilitated the development of more than 30 community products, demonstrating how triangular cooperation between university expertise, local government resources, and community knowledge can create sustainable economic opportunities.
CMU’s integrated approach to partnering with government agencies and NGOs illustrates the university’s commitment to sustainable development goals implementation through meaningful engagement with policymakers and communities. By facilitating evidence-based decision-making processes and promoting inclusive governance structures, CMU continues to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize partnerships for sustainable development across northern Thailand.