KKU, CMU, and PSU Collaborate to Launch National SROI Platform for Enhanced Social Value Assessment Standards in Sustainable Development
Khon Kaen University (KKU), in partnership with Chiang Mai University (CMU) and Prince of Songkla University (PSU), recently organized the “SROI Practitioner Workshop under the ‘Three Powers for the Land’ Cooperation,” held on October 27 and 28, 2025. The workshop took place at the Sirikunakorn Meeting Room 3 at KKU.
Workshop Overview
The event drew participation from over 150 staff members across the three universities and aimed to improve competencies in socio-economic impact assessment. Training sessions focused on the principles of Social Return on Investment (SROI), enabling attendees to apply effective evaluation techniques within their respective institutions.
Importance of the Initiative
During the workshop, Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, emphasized the importance of the “Three Powers for the Land Cooperation.” This initiative seeks to facilitate knowledge transfer among leading universities in Thailand and aims to establish national standards for socio-economic impact assessment, which are crucial for tracking project outcomes and advancing social progress aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Launch of the SROI Platform
A key highlight of the workshop was the official launch of the “SROI Platform for the 3 Universities.” This collaborative platform is designed to simplify the processes of economic and social impact assessment within Thai higher education. Executives and representatives from KKU, CMU, and PSU were present at the launch.
Resource for Social Impact Assessment
The newly established platform is intended to serve as a centralized resource for the collection and analysis of transparent and auditable data regarding social impact. It is expected to significantly improve the measurement of social value from various development projects.
Training Sessions
Participants engaged in a combination of theoretical and practical training throughout the two-day workshop, which included topics such as SROI concepts, stakeholder identification, outcome analysis, and the development of metrics and impact objectives. Expert instructors from the participating universities led the sessions, which involved hands-on activities with the SROI Platform to facilitate the exchange of relevant case studies.
Commitment to Sustainable Development
The collaboration under the “Three Powers for the Land” initiative underscores a commitment to enhancing academic resources to meet sustainable development goals, particularly in areas such as education quality, economic growth, reduced inequality, institutional transparency, and partnerships for development.
Significant Progress in Social Value Assessment
The SROI Practitioner Workshop and the introduction of the SROI Platform mark significant progress toward establishing standardized social value assessment mechanisms in Thailand, positioning universities as pivotal centers for social learning and innovation, while promoting equitable and sustainable growth in the future.
This article is based on information from Khon Kaen University.
