You walk into Sirikunakorn 3 Meeting Room on that October morning, surrounded by over 200 eager faculty members and researchers. The air buzzes with anticipation as three of Thailand’s most prestigious universities prepare to unveil something revolutionary. Today marks the moment when academic collaboration transforms into a tangible tool for measuring social impact.
KKU Joins CMU and PSU to Launch SROI Platform for Project Evaluation and Sustainable Development
Catalyst
The spark ignited from a simple yet profound realization: traditional project evaluation wasn’t enough. On October 27, 2568, Khon Kaen University (KKU) united with Prince of Songkla University (PSU) and Chiang Mai University (CMU) under their collaborative initiative “Three Forces for the Nation” (3 พลังเพื่อแผ่นดิน). Together, they recognized that measuring only financial returns left a gaping hole in understanding true project value.
As Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, explained, “SROI, or Social Return on Investment, is a crucial methodology for evaluating project value. It looks beyond financial returns to measure the social benefits generated for stakeholders. By converting social returns into monetary values, SROI enables project managers to concretely measure and communicate the value of their projects, leading to sustained social development.”
Rising Action
The challenge became clear as the three universities embarked on their mission to enhance capabilities among personnel driving academic cooperation and social impact assessment. Meanwhile, they faced the complex task of developing a comprehensive platform that could handle multifaceted evaluations. The sustainable development assessment landscape demanded innovation that could bridge academic theory with practical application.
Throughout the development process, the teams grappled with creating a system that could evaluate outcomes across three critical dimensions: economic impact, social impact, and environmental impact. Each dimension presented unique challenges in measurement and quantification, requiring sophisticated methodological approaches.
Turning Point
The breakthrough arrived with the third SROI Practitioner Workshop.
Hosted by the Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability of Khon Kaen University, the workshop sessions between October 27 and 28, 2568, became the pivotal moment. Suddenly, abstract concepts transformed into practical applications as participants dove into sub-groups covering SROI concepts, practical application, calculation formulas, and analytical interpretation.
The workshop methodology proved that complex social return calculations could be made accessible and actionable. Participants discovered how to convert intangible social benefits into concrete monetary values, revolutionizing their approach to sustainable development project assessment.
Resolution
The official launch of the SROI Platform marked the culmination of extensive collaboration among Thailand’s three leading universities. Over 200 faculty members and researchers witnessed the unveiling at Sirikunakorn Building, representing a new era in project evaluation capabilities. The platform now stands as a testament to what academic partnerships can achieve when focused on genuine societal impact.
This groundbreaking tool ensures that future projects align with sustainable development goals while addressing authentic societal needs. The three-university partnership has successfully created both the methodology and the technological infrastructure necessary for comprehensive impact assessment.
As this SROI Platform begins its journey into academic and professional practice, it promises to reshape how we measure success in social development projects. For those ready to embrace this revolutionary approach to project evaluation, contact Mr. Supphachok Pathee, Project Coordinator, at 084 953 3481 to explore how this platform can transform your impact assessment capabilities.
