Mahidol University is taking a major step forward in its sustainability journey, moving beyond policy to real-world action. From January 21 to 23, 2026, the Salaya campus buzzed with energy as the university hosted an intensive three-day workshop focused on embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into teaching, research, and campus operations.

To bring a fresh, global perspective to the training, Mahidol teamed up with CIFAL Victoria from the University of Victoria, a center affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Dr. Crystal Tremblay, Director, and Dr. Nicole Bates-Eamer, Associate Director of CIFAL Victoria, flew in to lead the sessions, guiding the group through a curriculum that covered everything from building a culture of sustainability to practically integrating the SDGs into teaching, research, and daily operations.

The program was designed for a special group of 24 faculty and staff members, handpicked as “Change Agents” for their passion and existing work in community engagement. The goal was to give these leaders the tools they need to champion sustainability across campus. Prof. Dr. Sompop Prathanturarug, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Quality Development, and Social Engagement, kicked off the event to set the tone. He emphasized that while the university has a clear strategy for social engagement, hitting those targets requires a collective mindset shift from everyone involved.

For the grand finale, Assoc. Prof. Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, Vice President for Global Partnerships and University Council, joined the group to deliver the closing remarks. She highlighted how crucial international collaboration is for solving big global problems and personally presented certificates of completion to each participant. These equipped 24 Change Agents are ready to bridge the gap between big ideas and on-the-ground action, driving Mahidol University toward a greener, more sustainable future.