HIGHLIGHTS

• Strategic Integration of SDGs: Thammasat University aligns its research and academic missions with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its identity as a “University for the People” committed to societal impact.
• 23 Centres of Excellence (CoEs): The university has established 23 CoEs (as of April 2025) to produce high-quality research, develop innovations, and cultivate postgraduate talent across diverse fields including health, technology, and social sciences.
• Interdisciplinary Research Approach: A defining strength of the CoEs is their focus on interdisciplinary collaboration—combining expertise from multiple fields to solve complex societal and global problems, particularly those related to the SDGs.
• Direct Contributions to SDGs: CoE research supports multiple SDGs, including SDG 3 (health and well-being), SDG 9 (innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities), SDG 7 and 13 (clean energy and climate), and SDG 12 (sustainable production).
• Driving Thammasat’s Future Vision: The CoEs are instrumental in advancing Thammasat’s dual mission—becoming a “comprehensive university of the future” through research excellence, and serving the public good as a genuinely people-centered institution.

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Amidst the complex and interconnected challenges of the contemporary world—ranging from economic and social issues to environmental concerns—the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a critical global framework for action. Higher education institutions play a vital role in advancing these goals by generating knowledge, fostering innovation, and developing human capital. Thammasat University has demonstrated a clear commitment to integrating the SDGs into all its missions, aligning with its vision of being a “University for the People” that strives to be a reliable resource and a producer of high-quality personnel to serve society. The university’s 23 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) serve as key mechanisms in this endeavour. The establishment and support of these CoEs represent a core strategy for propelling the university towards becoming a “leading, comprehensive university of the future” that prioritises research excellence and interdisciplinary integration to address future challenges.

Overview of Thammasat’s CoEs

Thammasat University has made a strategic investment in establishing 23 CoEs (as of April 9, 2025) to create leading research units with strong specialisations. These centres encompass a diverse range of expertise, from health sciences, engineering, and technology to social sciences, management, and environmental and energy studies. The primary objectives are to produce high-quality, international-standard research, develop innovations that meet societal needs, and cultivate highly capable postgraduate students and researchers. The proliferation of CoEs reflects the university’s extensive and in-depth research capacity, poised to respond to significant national and global challenges.

Driven by the Power of Interdisciplinary Research

A crucial characteristic of Thammasat’s CoEs is their adoption of an interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research approach. This involves integrating knowledge, tools, concepts, and theories from various academic fields to generate deeper insights and complex solutions that cannot be achieved through a single discipline’s perspective. This approach is essential for tackling the SDGs, given their interconnected and multi-dimensional nature.

Evidence of interdisciplinary integration is clear in the missions and research projects of many centres. For example, the CoE in Biomedical Engineering collaborates with computer scientists and medical professionals, while the CoE in Stroke links science, engineering, and clinical medicine. The CoE for Urban Mobility Research and Innovation integrates engineering, urban planning, technology, energy, and public policy. Furthermore, the establishment of centres specifically designed for integration, such as the NailEm CoE (Law-Engineering-Medicine), which aims to develop medical AI considering legal and ethical dimensions, and the DEET CoE (Digital Earth-Emerging Technologies), which merges information technology with social and environmental innovation, further underscores the strategic intent to foster work that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries.

From Research to Global Goals: Linking CoE Outputs with SDGs

The research areas of various CoEs are directly linked to several SDGs, including:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Achieved through the development of medical technologies and innovations (AI, biomedical engineering, traditional Thai medicine), research into critical diseases (stroke, malaria, cholangiocarcinoma), and addressing public health issues with considerations for equity and ethics (NailEm, Creative Engineering Design).
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Driven by the development of advanced technologies (AI, Data Science, electromagnetic energy, materials science), the creation of innovations for society and industry, and the enhancement of logistics and supply chain efficiency.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Through research addressing urban mobility challenges, the development of environmentally friendly construction materials, and the improvement of infrastructure and logistics systems.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action): Achieved via research into clean energy technologies (plasma, fusion, electromagnetism), the development of materials and catalysts for environmental and energy management (e.g., pollution treatment, energy/carbon capture), and the promotion of alternative energy in the transport sector.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Through the development of agricultural and food innovations (TraceThai.com with blockchain, alternative proteins), enhancing agricultural supply chain efficiency, and utilising industrial waste based on circular economy principles.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Achieved by developing innovations that consider disadvantaged groups, creating legal and ethical mechanisms for emerging technologies (NailEm), and supporting policy decision-making with research data.

The Power of Interdisciplinarity Driving the Future

Thammasat University’s 23 Centres of Excellence are a significant force driving knowledge creation and innovation for sustainable development. Their interdisciplinary research approach is central to effectively addressing complex challenges, leading to tangible contributions towards achieving the SDGs. Crucially, the operations of these CoEs are key mechanisms for enabling Thammasat University to fulfil two significant visions: firstly, to become a “leading, comprehensive university of the future” distinguished by research excellence and interdisciplinary integration, and secondly, to uphold its role as a “University for the People” that genuinely benefits and serves the public and the nation, in line with its enduring mission as an institution for the people.