This October, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) will welcome delegates from around the world as host of THE-ICE IPoE Forum 2025 in Chiang Rai, Thailand. With the Forum theme “Adapting to Global Shifts: Innovating Tourism and Hospitality Education for a Sustainable Future”, there could be no more fitting venue. Sustainability has been embedded in MFU’s philosophy since its inception, and today the university stands as a living model of how higher education can transform communities while shaping the future of tourism and hospitality.
A legacy of sustainable development
MFU’s story begins with the Doi Tung Development Project, launched in 1987 under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra. The project transformed once-barren, opium-dependent hillsides into fertile lands that now sustain thriving communities. By reintroducing forest cover and creating sustainable livelihoods, Doi Tung became a beacon of balanced development – where people and nature could flourish together.
When MFU was established in 1998, it carried this legacy forward. Guided by the principle of “Better Life, Better Future”, the university ensures that education remains a catalyst for sustainable development, not only in northern Thailand but also across the wider region.
Forest planting, people building
Sustainability at MFU is not just institutional – it’s personal. Every incoming student participates in the “Forest Planting, People Building” activity, planting a tree as part of their orientation. This symbolic tradition reinforces the idea that growth and responsibility go hand in hand. Over the years, these efforts have created green corridors that enhance biodiversity across MFU’s 800-hectare “University in the Park” campus, making it both a healthy learning environment and a living laboratory for sustainability.
Tourism, hospitality and events research
For Forum delegates, MFU’s work in tourism and hospitality education is especially relevant. The Tourism, Hospitality and Events (THE) Research Group is dedicated to addressing sustainability challenges in tourism and events management. Its projects range from developing frameworks for responsible events, to studying visitor impacts on local communities to designing sustainable tourism strategies for the Greater Mekong Subregion. Students are actively engaged in this research, ensuring they graduate with both practical skills and a sustainability mindset.
Community-based tourism partnerships
MFU has also become a leader in community-based tourism (CBT). Working with villages such as Ban Had Bai in Chiang Khong District, Ban Santhat and Ban Saew in Chiang Saen District, Ban Pa O Don Chai and Tham Pha Tong in Muang District, and Ban Pa Sak Luang in Mae Chan District, faculty and students co-create tourism products that highlight cultural traditions and local knowledge. These partnerships not only diversify rural livelihoods but also preserve cultural heritage and environmental balance. For MFU students, CBT projects provide immersive, real-world experience in sustainable tourism development – directly connecting classroom learning with community impact.
Environmental awareness and applied research
MFU’s commitment extends into applied research and campus-wide campaigns. Environmental awareness initiatives tackle issues like reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management, and promoting renewable energy. Research into green supply chains, eco-friendly hospitality practices, and even sustainable aviation connects directly with global challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sectors. In this way, MFU ensures that its research is not only academic but also actionable for industry and society.
Why it matters
For tourism and hospitality educators, practitioners, and students, MFU provides an inspiring example of how sustainability can be embedded at every level – from campus design and student life to research, teaching, and community engagement. Its initiatives echo the Forum’s theme: adapting to global shifts, innovating education, and building a sustainable future.
This 19–21 October, experience this vision firsthand at THE-ICE IPoE Forum 2025. Join us in Chiang Rai at Mae Fah Luang University to exchange ideas, forge new partnerships, and explore how tourism and hospitality education can empower our industries to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
Learn more and register here.