Date: August 2025
Pre-Conference: UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Sustainability Briefing, United Nations ESCAP, Bangkok
Conference: Main Academic Conference, Bangkok, Thailand
Hosted by: Graduate School of Business, Siam University | Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | School of Global Studies, Thammasat University
Category: News / Sustainability, Academic Research & International Collaboration
Overview
With the 2030 deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals rapidly approaching — and with only a fraction of global targets on track — Siam University’s Graduate School of Business, in collaboration with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, convened the 18th National and International Academic Conference on “Sustainable Horizon: Transforming Ideas into Impact.”
The conference tackled one of the most pressing questions in sustainable development today: What comes next after 2030? Bringing together academics, policymakers, practitioners, and students from across Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region, the event sought to move beyond rhetoric and translate sustainability thinking into concrete, scalable action.
Pre-Conference: Asia-Pacific Sustainability Briefing at UN ESCAP
In a remarkable distinction for a university-led conference, delegates were welcomed to a pre-conference programme hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) at its Bangkok headquarters — one of the most prestigious UN venues in the Asia-Pacific region.
The pre-conference featured an Asia-Pacific Sustainability Briefing, offering delegates direct engagement with UN perspectives on regional sustainable development challenges, emerging frameworks, and the post-2030 development agenda. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit, Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Business, Siam University, addressed delegates from the UN ESCAP podium — a moment that underscored the elevated ambition and international standing of this academic collaboration.
The experience gave conference delegates — including students, researchers, and faculty — a rare opportunity to engage with UN-level sustainability analysis before bringing those insights into the academic conference itself.
The 18th Conference: A Legacy of Academic Excellence
The conference is the 18th in a long-running national and international academic series — a testament to the sustained commitment of Siam University’s Graduate School of Business to rigorous, applied research on business, economics, and sustainable development.
This edition’s theme — “Sustainable Horizon: Transforming Ideas into Impact” — captured the spirit of the moment: a recognition that the world has generated enormous knowledge about sustainability challenges, but that the urgent task now is translating that knowledge into measurable, lasting change.
The question “What’s next after 2030?” framed the intellectual agenda of the entire event — pushing participants beyond the current SDG framework to think boldly about the shape of global development commitments, institutions, and incentives in the decade that follows.
A Tri-University Collaboration with Regional Reach
The partnership between Siam University, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and Thammasat University’s School of Global Studies gave the conference exceptional depth and regional reach. Each institution brought a distinct perspective:
- Siam University GSB contributed its longstanding expertise in business education, applied research, and its deep network of industry and policy relationships in Thailand
- SUSS (Singapore) brought a regional and international dimension — connecting the conference to one of ASEAN’s most respected higher education ecosystems, with a particular strength in social sciences and lifelong learning
- Thammasat University’s School of Global Studies added a lens of global affairs, international relations, and cross-border sustainability policy analysis
The presence of international delegates alongside Thai participants — visible in the large group photographs taken at UN ESCAP — reflected the genuinely multi-national character of the academic exchange.
Key Themes and Sessions
The conference explored a broad range of sustainability dimensions, including:
- Post-2030 development frameworks — what global institutions, governments, and businesses need to commit to as the SDG deadline approaches
- Green economy transition — pathways for ASEAN economies to decarbonise while maintaining growth and equity
- Digital and technological transformation as an enabler of sustainable development goals
- Business model innovation for sustainability — how companies can embed ESG principles into core strategy, not as compliance but as competitive advantage
- Education and skills for sustainability — preparing the next generation of changemakers with the competencies to drive the transition
Significance for Siam University
This conference represents Siam University at its most internationally ambitious — convening at the United Nations, partnering with a leading Singaporean university, and asking the questions that matter most as the global sustainability agenda evolves.
For students who participated — presenting research, attending the UN ESCAP briefing, and engaging with international experts — the experience combined intellectual rigour with real-world exposure at the highest level. For the institution, it reinforces Siam University’s identity as a serious, globally-connected university committed to producing not just graduates, but agents of sustainable change.
Key Takeaways
- The 18th Sustainable Horizon Conference elevated its ambition with a pre-conference UN ESCAP engagement — giving delegates direct access to Asia-Pacific sustainability intelligence at the highest institutional level
- The tri-university collaboration between Siam University, SUSS, and Thammasat University created a conference with genuine regional depth and international academic credibility
- The central question — “What’s next after 2030?” — positioned the conference at the leading edge of the global sustainability conversation, anticipating the post-SDG era rather than simply reporting on it
- Dr. Jomphong Mongkhonvanit’s address from the UN ESCAP podium reflected Siam University’s growing presence and recognition in international sustainable development discourse
- The conference series — now in its 18th year — represents one of Thailand’s most sustained academic commitments to sustainability research and international scholarly exchange
The 18th National and International Academic Conference on “Sustainable Horizon: Transforming Ideas into Impact” — hosted by Siam University Graduate School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and Thammasat University School of Global Studies, with support from UN ESCAP.