Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) – Faculty of Public Policy & Sustainable Development
The Faculty of Public Policy was established by building on the Asian Institute of Technology’s long-standing strengths in development studies, governance, and interdisciplinary research, while responding to rapidly evolving global and regional policy demands. Across Asia, governments and institutions face complex and interconnected challenges -including climate change, environmental degradation, social and gender inequalities, forced displacement, and uneven development – that require integrated, evidence-based, and innovative policy responses.
The Faculty is grounded in international policy frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasize policy coherence across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. In parallel, the Paris Agreement and scientific assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight the urgency of translating climate science into effective public policy, governance reform, and adaptive development strategies, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions of Asia.
Concurrently, the widespread outbreak of war and conflicts have affected marginalized communities the most, further pushing them to deeper vulnerability. Asia’s development and public policy priorities are increasingly shaped by the need to sustain inclusive growth while closing infrastructure and human-capital gaps, managing rapid urbanisation and demographic transitions, and steering digital transformation amid shifting trade patterns and geopolitical uncertainty. Together, these changes in national and regional priorities warrant renewed public policy action to advance inclusion, reduce inequality, and strengthen social justice.
The establishment of the Faculty aligns closely with global efforts to strengthen evidence-informed policy making and institutional capacity, as promoted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) through its Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development framework, and the World Bank. Social justice, gender equality, and inclusion further underpin the Faculty’s mandate, reflecting priorities advanced by UN Women. Regional and global policy responses to migration, displacement, and human security – led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – also inform the Faculty’s interdisciplinary focus.
The Faculty, taking advantage of the locational benefit situated in Thailand, is committed to working closely with civil society organizations and community-based organizations across the Global South. The Faculty offers three closely integrated academic programs, Development, Innovation and Sustainability, Gender and Development Studies, and Public Policy, which together provide strong conceptual foundations, interdisciplinary perspectives, and analytical competencies. These programs prepare graduates for diverse career pathways as policy leaders and advisors, development and programme managers, practitioners, activists, and researchers in governments, international organizations, civil society, academic and research institutions, and the private sector.
A defining strength of the Faculty is its ecosystem of interdisciplinary research initiatives and centers focusing on environmental sustainability, climate change, governance innovation, and social and gender inequality in regional and global contexts. These research platforms are embedded in teaching and supervision, enabling students to engage in research projects, field-based learning, policy analysis, and international collaboration, and to develop the capacity to bridge science, policy, and practice.
Mission
The mission of the Faculty of Public Policy is to advance evidence-based, inclusive, and innovative public policy and governance through grounded high-quality education, interdisciplinary research, and policy engagement. Building on its long-standing strengths in development studies and interdisciplinary research, the Faculty is committed to generating and applying scientific knowledge to address environmental sustainability, climate change, social and gender equality and justice, human rights, peace, governance transformations, as well as broader development challenges in Asia and beyond.
Vision
The Faculty of Public Policy envisions becoming a leading regional center of excellence in public policy and governance, recognized for integrating scientific research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and policy/ program practices. By strengthening the interface between knowledge and decision-making, the Faculty aims to shape sustainable, equitable, fair, and resilient development pathways and to cultivate future policy leaders, researchers, practitioners and advocates/ activists capable of addressing complex global and regional challenges.
Dean’s Foreword
It is with great pride that I welcome you to the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development at the Asian Institute of Technology. The Faculty was established in response to a moment of profound global change. Today’s world is marked by geopolitical uncertainty, climate emergencies, rapid technological transformation, and social and economic crises. These global dynamics are reflected in environmental degradation, widening social and gender inequalities, regional conflicts and political instability, population mobility and displacement, and uneven development. These challenges are reshaping how policy is conceived, implemented, and contested, and they demand leaders, practitioners, activists, and researchers who can navigate complexity with integrity, evidence, and compassion.
Building on AIT’s long-standing strengths in development studies, governance, and interdisciplinary research, the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development is committed to advancing innovative, inclusive, and evidence-based policy solutions and preparing a new generation of leaders, practitioners, activists, and researchers. At our Faculty, policy is understood as both an analytical and ethical endeavor—one that connects research, leadership, advocacy, and implementation to generate meaningful societal impact.
Through strong partnerships with governments, international organizations, development agencies, civil society, and academic networks worldwide, we foster a dynamic learning environment that bridges theory and practice and connects local realities with global policy debates. As Dean, I am committed to nurturing an inclusive, collaborative, and intellectually vibrant academic community, and I warmly invite you to join us in shaping more just, resilient, and sustainable futures.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen
Dean, Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development
