Suan Dusit University (SDU) recognizes the pivotal role of higher education institutions as catalysts for international collaboration in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university is committed to fostering knowledge exchange, comparative review, and best practice development through cross-border research partnerships and global academic cooperation. These efforts are designed to enhance collective learning, benchmark successful sustainability policies, and contribute to international best practices in addressing global challenges related to sustainable development.
In 2024, SDU organized the 1st International Symposium on Gastronomy and Sustainable Tourism, held from 24–25 August 2024 at the Graduate School Building, Suan Dusit University, Bangkok. The event was hosted by the Center of Expertise on Gastronomy and Sustainable Tourism and supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) in collaboration with international academic partners, including the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), Macau University of Science and Technology (China), University of Saint Anthony (Philippines), University of Nueva Caceres (Philippines), and Kyungsung University (Republic of Korea).
This international symposium exemplified an international collaboration and sustainability research partnership, serving as a global platform for comparative review of strategies and experiences related to Sustainable Tourism and Gastronomy Tourism. The event aimed to encourage academic dialogue and policy benchmarking by comparing approaches from different countries and identifying effective pathways to achieve the SDGs within tourism, cultural heritage, and local community development.
A highlight of the symposium was the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on Research and Academic Collaboration for Sustainability between Suan Dusit University and its partner universities from five countries. This marked a significant step toward global partnership building and international research cooperation, creating an enduring framework for knowledge sharing and co-creation of innovation for sustainable development.
The symposium also featured keynote lectures and discussions from distinguished international scholars, including Professor Colin Michael Hall (University of Canterbury, New Zealand), Professor Timothy Lee (Macau University of Science and Technology, China), and Professor Thetchai Choibamrung (National Institute of Development Administration, Thailand). Each speaker presented a comparative analysis of sustainability approaches in tourism and gastronomy, focusing on food heritage management, local identity through cultural tourism, and the role of soft power and innovation in achieving long-term sustainability in tourism industries.
Furthermore, the symposium hosted four workshop sessions designed to promote knowledge exchange and identify best practices across key dimensions of sustainable development:
- Gastronomy Tourism – cultural heritage, food identity, and soft power;
- Sustainable Tourism – integrating economic, social, and environmental perspectives;
- IT & AI in Tourism Studies – leveraging digital transformation for sustainability;
- Related Issues in Tourism Studies – policy alignment with the SDGs and community-based development.
Through these collaborative sessions, over 150 researchers, academics, and practitioners from Thailand and abroad engaged in comparative review and global knowledge exchange, identifying strengths and challenges from multiple regional perspectives. The discussions contributed to the formation of international best practices in Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management, reinforcing SDU’s role as a global academic hub in the field of sustainability.
The event demonstrates Suan Dusit University’s commitment to sustainability research partnership and international best practice development, particularly in advancing SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). SDU has met all three THE evaluation components for this indicator:
- Existence of review: Conducted comparative dialogue and review of SDG implementation approaches.
- Evidence provided: Official event documentation and signed MOUs with international universities.
- Publicly available: Evidence and details publicly published on the university’s official website.
Through its leadership in organizing this global symposium, Suan Dusit University exemplifies how higher education institutions can create international collaboration frameworks that generate impactful research, support policy benchmarking, and advance innovation for sustainable development. These efforts affirm SDU’s position as a regional and international leader in promoting global partnerships for the SDGs under the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 (SDG 17.2.4).
🔗 Publicly Available Evidence
- Suan Dusit University. (2024). “1st International Symposium on Gastronomy and Sustainable Tourism.”
https://www.dusit.ac.th/home/2024/1320853.html