On 15 December 2025, Mae Fah Luang University representatives, led by Prof. Dr.Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President, and Asst. Prof. Dr.Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice President, welcomed and provided information to a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Delegation of the European Union in Thailand at the Territorial Defence Student Training Unit.
This site visit was a key component of the Strengthening SDGs Localization Project Phase 2 (SDGs Localization Phase 2: SDGs-L 2.0). The primary goal was to acquire an in-dept understanding of the environmental, social, and economic contexts of the Kok River, specifically focusing on cross-border pollution, water management, and local livelihoods, while also exploring potential areas for future collaboration.
The esteemed delegation was led by Ms. Niamh Collier-Smith, UNDP Resident Representative for Thailand; Dr.Audrey-Anne Rochelemagne, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the Delegation of the European Union in Thailand; Dr.Amornwan Resanond, Project Manager of UNDP Thailand, and Ms. Mantana Sinna, Policy and Planning Bureau of Ministry of Interior.
This critical site visit engaged representatives from a wide range of stakeholders, including related government organisations (such as the Office of Natural Resources and Environment, Irrigation Office, and Fisheries Office), the university, the private sector, and civil society. Each sector presented its ongoing operations and implementation strategies for addressing the complex issues faced by communities along the Kok River.
MFU reaffirmed its role as an intellectual support for society, delivering academic services that respond to community needs through education, professional development, research, and environmental conservation. The university emphasised that addressing Kok River issues requires not only local solutions but also global knowledge exchange, evidence-based policy support, and international collaboration.
MFU demonstrates its dedication to tackling disasters and the climate crisis through focused initiatives:
• Scholarship Programmes: The university awards full scholarships to international students committed to seeking solutions to critical issues such as water contamination, flooding, and PM 2.5 pollution through learning and research conducted in northern Thailand, the Mekong subregion, and international contexts.
• Community Capacity Building: MFU actively engages local communities to build foundational knowledge about waterborne toxins, provides hands-on trainings in water quality monitoring methods, assists in constructing simple water filters, promotes organic farming in contaminated areas, and develops community monitoring networks.
• Collaborative Research: MFU researchers and lecturers are collaborating with various sectors at both national and international levels to explore sustainable solutions aimed at addressing, managing, and mitigating the risks and impacts faced in the Kok River basin.
The SDGs Localization project aims to increase participation of all stakeholders at provincial level for 15 target provinces in Thailand. These provinces include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Ratchasima, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Tak, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Yala. The SDG Profiles are collaborative efforts by the Ministry of Interior, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
Through this engagement, MFU highlighted that the Kok River is not a small or isolated issue, but a critical test case illustrating how local well-being, cross-border environmental governance, and global sustainability goals intersect. MFU’s proven willingness and capacity to address these challenges reflect its long-term commitment to improving the quality of life for Chiang Rai communities while contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future at both national and global levels
