Trilateral Symposium on SDGs: Chiang Mai University (CMU)- Kagawa University (KU) – National Chiayi University (NCYU) September 1st, 2021, ITSC Chiang Mai University

Chiang Mai University’s President Clinical Professor Niwes Nanthachit, M.D. opened the Trilateral Symposium on SDGs, a symposium hosted by Kagawa University and was attended by Chiang Mai University (CMU) and National Chiayi University (NCYU) on September 1^st 2021.

In 2015, United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Agenda aims to be achieved within 15 years, and comprises of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 specific targets and 230 progress indicators. The SDGs stress the importance of balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental, in an integrated and inclusive manner so that no-one is left behind.

Initially CMU hosted the Educational Research Exchange Joint Symposium (EDUREJS) together with KU, with the 2nd EDUREJS hosted by Kagawa University. For the 3rd symposium this year, both Chiang Mai University and Kagawa University agreed to invite National Chiayi University from Taiwan to join the symposium to promote academic and research collaboration between the 3 universities.

Thus this year was the first Trilateral Symposium and was held on SDGs. It was platform to encourage experts, researchers, scholars and students to share and exchange ideas relating to SDGs. The symposium also included a signing ceremony between the 3 universities 2) Satellite Sessions  on 5 areas of potential research collaboration 1) Food Session 2) Health Session 3) Society Session 4) Technology Session 5) Student Session for sharing their experiences while living under COVID-19.

The Trilateral Symposium was a successful milestone for the 3 universities that enabled them to share academic ideas, generate knowledge and build a road map that allows them to move forward together to achieve common goals.