Social Impact Assessment of Academic Service Knowledge Utilization: A Case of SROI Program at Thammasat University Social Impact Assessment of Academic Service Knowledge Utilization : A Case of SROI Program at Thammasat University

Abstract

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the utilization patterns of knowledge gained from the Social Return on Investment (SROI) training program, 2) analyze project characteristics, implementation areas, and number of beneficiaries, and 3) assess alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This quantitative research collected data through questionnaires from 105 participants.

The results showed that most participants were academics (59.05%), held doctoral degrees (41.90%), and had more than 10 years of work experience (62.86%). The knowledge utilization was at a high level, particularly in organizational project evaluation (59.05%) and research applications (45.71%). Most projects focused on education and learning development (26.67%), were distributed nationwide especially in the northern region, benefited populations ranging from small to large scale (up to 60,000 people), and aligned with SDGs, particularly quality education (36.19%).

Policy recommendations include expanding target groups for training, establishing policies to support SROI implementation in organizations, and developing a monitoring system for training participants. Practical recommendations include developing specialized curricula, creating user-friendly manuals and tools, and establishing learning networks among training participants.