APRU SDG Education for Global Citizenship - APRU SDG4GC

Shaping the Future of Health & Wellbeing

1 November 2022 – 20 March 2023 - Online Program

The APRU SDG4GC is an intercultural, transdisciplinary and interactive program that fosters global citizenship among students from 60 universities in 19 economies across the Pacific Rim. Co-designed by six core-partner universities in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), the program builds knowledge of global issues and global literacy among students. This is achieved through learning about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring in-depth some of the world’s biggest challenges, and proposing solutions using a framework for collaborative development of social innovation prototypes. The program places critical importance in introducing locally embedded unique case studies among the network members to help students develop a broad array of perspectives and deepen understandings of the SDGs.

In the year 2022-23, the theme of the program will be Shaping the Future of Health & Wellbeing. The program, which will be offered online this year, will explore the many dimensions of wellbeing including social, cultural, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, mental, physical, and economic. It covers a broad range of topics, including mental health, health equity, health care systems and ethics, healthy aging, and global health. By drawing on multiple disciplines and practices, the program builds a strong sense of global citizenship toward resilient global communities.

Key Program Features

Orientation program, interactive lectures, and training provided by APRU member universities, UN agencies, and experts from the field.

UN SDG Primer Course which is self-paced will establish a common base of understanding and approach for the UN system in supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Teamwork with students from 60 universities in 19 economies.

Mentorship program facilitated by academics and design thinking experts will guide teams of students to develop social innovation prototypes to address pressing challenges of our societies globally.

Pitching competition will showcase students’ work and will be judged by a panel of UN experts.

Winning Prize is a week-long visit to Bangkok, Thailand with training at Chulalongkorn University’s Innovation Hub, field trips to spin off companies and startups in rural community to learn innovative practices, and an opportunity to join a key United Nations event in Bangkok.

Certificate of completion jointly issued by partners.

Program Timeline

Dates	Activity	Mode & Time	Duration	Contact Hours
Nov 1-2, 2022	Orientation	Synchronous 0800-1100 Bangkok Time (UTC+7)	3 hrs x 2 days	6 hrs
Nov 2022 – Mar 2023	Social Innovation Workshops	Synchronous 0800-0930 Bangkok Time (UTC+7)	1.5 hrs x 5 sessions	7.5 hrs
	UN SDG Primer Course	Asynchronous	3.5 hrs	3.5 hrs
	Lectures/Meetings with Mentors	Synchronous	1-2 hrs x 5 sessions	5-10 hrs
	Engagement Activities	Synchronous	1.5 hrs	1.5 hrs
Mar 20, 2023	Pitching Competition	Synchronous 0800-1100 Bangkok Time (UTC+7)	3 hrs	3 hrs
Total Contact Hours				26.5-31.5 hrs

* subject to changes.

Introducing our Social Innovation Mentors and Program Designers

Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth
Social Innovation Program Lead Designer, Lead Mentor
Lecturer, School of Integrated Innovation, Chulalongkorn University

Dr. Paola Ardiles Gamboa
Social Innovation Program Co-designer, Health & Wellbeing Workshop Lecturer
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Mr. Ruhimat Soerakoesoemah
Social Innovation Program Co-designer
Head of the Subregional Office for South-East Asia, UN ESCAP

Mr. Savinda Ranathunga
Lead Mentor
Regional Youth Project Manager, UNDP Asia and the Pacific

Dr. Elsie Tsui
Lead Mentor
Head of Social Innovation, Office of Knowledge Transfer Services, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dr. Yung-Pin Lu
Lead Mentor
Assistant Professor in the School of International and Public Affairs; Vice-Director of Third-Sector Study Center; Research Fellow, Institute for Philanthropy Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Dr. Jaime Jayapalan
Lead Mentor
Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya

Dr. Kun Qian
Lead Mentor
Associate Professor and Research Futures Coordinator at the Institute for Asian and Oceanian Studies, Kyushu Universtiy

Ms. Ilhan Abdullahi
Lead Mentor
Manager, Health Promotion Lab, Simon Fraser University

Mr. David Galipeau
Lead Mentor
Founder, SDGx

Ms. Elodie Jacquet
Global Citizenship Program Co-designer, Lecturer
Knowledge Manager, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Simon Fraser University

Prof. Dr. Natalie Konomi
Global Citizenship Program Co-designer, Lecturer
Professor & Manager, Global Strategy Office, Kyushu University

Please click here to view the mentors’ full biography.

Eligibility & Application

Eligibility

Enrolled at an APRU member university during the program period
Undergraduate students in any discipline
Completed at least one year of undergraduate studies
Good command of English language

Application

This program is open to APRU member universities. The deadline for applications is September 28, 2022 (11:59pm UTC+8).

The application has been closed. Thank you for your interest.

Have a question?

Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions about the SDG4GC program.

About APRU

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is a network of 60 leading universities in the Americas, Asia, and Australasia. It brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on practical solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. APRU recognizes the importance in nurturing the younger generation to play an impactful role in addressing global challenges and programs such as the APRU Virtual Student Exchange Program are offered to bring together students from across diverse backgrounds, cultures and continents.

The APRU SDG4GC aims to multiply the Association’s efforts in fostering global citizenship among its students. The program is led by Chulalongkorn University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In partnership with the UN, it is co-designed with Kyushu University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Simon Fraser University, and Universiti Malaya.

Core Partners

In partnership with the United Nations

Supported by