2 September 2026 — Huachiew Chalermprakiet University (HCU) participated in the SDSN Thailand Webinar under the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Service: Advancing Sustainable Development through Service Learning, Civic Engagement and Volunteering.” Supported by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and SDG Move, the webinar brought together participants particularly from across the ASEAN region, with speakers from different ASEAN countries sharing perspectives, experiences, and practices in advancing sustainable development through meaningful engagement with society.

The webinar highlighted the transformative role that higher education institutions can play in connecting academic learning with community needs and sustainable development. Through service learning, civic engagement, and volunteering, universities can provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and competencies to real-world challenges while simultaneously generating positive outcomes for communities.

For HCU, participation in this regional platform contributes to strengthening the University’s capacity to integrate sustainability, social responsibility, and community engagement into its academic and institutional activities. Insights and practices shared by ASEAN speakers provide valuable reference points for enhancing initiatives that connect teaching and learning with community service and encourage students and university personnel to become active contributors to sustainable development.

The webinar also reinforces the importance of moving beyond awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals toward action and measurable societal impact. Service learning can transform the community into an extended learning environment where students develop not only disciplinary knowledge but also social responsibility, collaboration, problem-solving, intercultural understanding, and a stronger awareness of the challenges faced by communities.

HCU’s participation is particularly aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education, by promoting experiential and socially responsive learning; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, by strengthening university-community engagement; SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by fostering responsible citizenship and civic participation; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by facilitating regional knowledge exchange and collaboration among higher education institutions and sustainable development stakeholders.

More importantly, the regional exchange provides HCU with opportunities to benchmark and further develop its approaches to service learning, volunteering, and civic engagement, transforming knowledge gained from ASEAN partners into initiatives that can create tangible benefits for students, communities, and society.

Through continued participation in regional and international sustainability networks, HCU strengthens its role as a socially responsible higher education institution—one that not only educates graduates but also mobilizes knowledge, partnerships, and university-community engagement to create meaningful and sustainable societal impact.