ESG Frontier

Theoretical Construction of Cross-Cultural Youth Sustainable Leadership Development Pathways

2026-06-11T16:43:28+07:00

Facing complex challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and global governance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) are being adopted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ESG concept has gradually become an important direction in global education and talent development. However, most ESG education currently focuses mainly on knowledge transmission, lacking mechanisms for cross-cultural collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term leadership development, making it difficult to effectively respond to future sustainable talent needs.

This study adopts conceptual research and a Theory Building approach, integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global citizenship education Citizenship Education (GCED), Experiential Learning Theory, Problem-Based Learning, PBL), Design Thinking, and Youth Leadership Development Theories, and other related literature, proposing the Global Youth Leadership Pathway through Youth Regional Impact Modules (GYLP-YRIM).

This model advocates engaging in international youth facilitators, local SDG challenges, cross-cultural learning, and design thinking workshops Thinking Workshops), Impact Passport, and international forum participation mechanisms, establishing a pathway for learners to gradually develop into sustainable leaders, and further forming a sustainable ESG talent ecosystem.

In addition to proposing a new educational theoretical framework, this study also provides a theoretical foundation and practical reference for cultivating sustainable youth talent, international educational cooperation, and ESG education innovation.

Keywords: ESG education, SDGs, global citizenship education, cross-cultural learning, youth leadership, talent ecosystem

From Fair Trade to ESG Circular Philanthropy

2026-06-11T16:37:32+07:00

This study develops a comprehensive conceptual framework that reconceptualizes traditional Fair Trade
practices within an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) paradigm through the lens of circular
philanthropy. While Fair Trade has contributed significantly to ethical sourcing and equitable exchange,
its impact remains largely linear, transactional, and constrained in scalability. In contrast, ESG
frameworks provide a broader governance structure but often lack embedded mechanisms for
continuous social value circulation and impact feedback.
To address these gaps, this paper proposes the ESG Circular Philanthropy (ESG-CP) framework, which
integrates stakeholder theory, the triple bottom line, and social impact assessment into a recursive
system of value co-creation. The framework conceptualizes social impact across multiple levels—
cognitive, behavioral, organizational, and systemic—and links them through circular feedback loops that
enable continuous learning and adaptive governance.
Full-text and current issue available at ESG Frontier: https://so17.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ESGF/about/index
ESG Frontier
Journal of Environmental, Social and Governance Studies
Vol. 1, No. 1 (January–June 2026) | Online
This study contributes to the literature in three ways. First, it bridges Fair Trade and ESG paradigms by
extending ethical trade into a dynamic sustainability governance model. Second, it introduces circularity
into philanthropic and social impact processes, shifting from one-way value transfer to regenerative
systems. Third, it offers a scalable and theoretically grounded model aligned with Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
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The findings provide implications for both theory and practice, particularly in ESG reporting, impact
measurement, and the design of sustainable value ecosystems. Future research should empirically
validate the framework and develop operational indicators for multi-level impact assessment.

AI-Driven ESG Governance and Insurance Innovation

2026-06-11T16:34:49+07:00

As climate change, net-zero transition policies, and sustainability disclosure requirements continue to reshape the global economy, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have evolved from voluntary corporate responsibility initiatives into fundamental components of governance, risk management, and capital allocation. Traditional insurance mechanisms have primarily focused on compensating losses; however, under increasing climate-related and transition risks, insurers are expected to play a more proactive role in risk governance and behavioral transformation.

This study explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be integrated with ESG governance, climate risk assessment, and insurance innovation to establish a sustainable finance framework that supports prevention, adaptation, and incentive-based risk management. Using Taiwan as a case study, the research examines the relationships between ESG governance and long-term climate goals, identifies emerging transition, supply-chain, and disclosure risks, and proposes an AI-enabled insurance innovation model grounded in the Principle of Impact.

The study develops a conceptual framework that combines AI-powered risk prediction, dynamic underwriting, and ESG-based insurance product design. Findings suggest that AI-enhanced insurance mechanisms can reduce climate-related financial exposure while simultaneously encouraging sustainable business practices. Furthermore, the proposed ESG Governance–Risk Management–Insurance Innovation framework offers practical implications for regulators, financial institutions, insurers, and corporations seeking to accelerate climate adaptation and sustainable transformation.

The contribution of this study lies in establishing an interdisciplinary framework that bridges AI, ESG governance, and insurance innovation, thereby supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and long-term climate governance objectives through market-based solutions.

Bridging Sustainability, Experiential Learning, and Youth Leadership

2026-06-11T16:48:40+07:00

This study proposes the Global Youth Leadership Research and Innovation Model (GYLRIM) as an
integrated framework for advancing youth leadership within sustainability-oriented contexts. Addressing
the growing need for interdisciplinary approaches, the study bridges experiential learning, cross-sector
collaboration, and community engagement to connect education with real-world sustainability challenges.
Drawing upon experiential learning theory and sustainability-oriented development, the research
develops a structured model consisting of input, process, and output layers. The model is applied
through field-based practices that incorporate service learning and community participation. Data were
collected through qualitative approaches, including observations, interviews, and document analysis, to
examine how experiential learning environments contribute to leadership development and innovation.
The findings indicate that experiential and service-based learning significantly enhance youth leadership
capacity, critical thinking, and social responsibility. In addition, cross-sector collaboration among
educational institutions, communities, and public actors plays a crucial role in facilitating sustainable
outcomes. The GYLRIM model demonstrates how the integration of educational resources, cultural assets, and policy support can generate long-term impacts on both individual development and
community sustainability.
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This study contributes to the literature by offering a novel interdisciplinary framework that links education,
sustainability, and youth empowerment. It also provides practical implications for policymakers,
educators, and practitioners seeking to implement collaborative and sustainability-oriented development
strategies. The model aligns with global sustainability agendas and offers a scalable approach applicable
across diverse socio-cultural contexts.

A Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Social Impact of SDG Bootcamps

2026-06-11T16:41:03+07:00

This study develops a conceptual framework for assessing the social impact of Sustainability
Development Goals (SDG) bootcamps, addressing the lack of structured and theory-driven evaluation
models in sustainability-oriented experiential education. While SDG bootcamps are widely adopted as
innovative learning platforms, existing research has primarily focused on descriptive outcomes, with
limited attention to the underlying mechanisms and systemic dynamics of impact generation.
To bridge this gap, this study proposes the SDG Bootcamp Social Impact Assessment (SDG-BSIA)
framework, which integrates three complementary theoretical perspectives: causal pathway modeling,
Social Return on Investment (SROI)-based value logic, and system dynamics. The framework
conceptualizes social impact as a multi-level and evolving process, beginning with individual learning
and competency development, extending to behavioral change and community-level outcomes, and
ultimately contributing to broader sustainability transformation.

The causal pathway model explicates the mechanisms through which experiential learning translates into
societal impact, while the SROI-based value logic captures the multi-dimensional nature of value
creation, including social, environmental, and educational dimensions. Furthermore, the system loop
perspective highlights the recursive and adaptive nature of impact, emphasizing feedback loops and the
role of stakeholder interactions within a broader impact ecosystem.
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As a conceptual study, this research contributes to the literature by advancing a structured, integrative,
and theory-driven approach to understanding social impact in sustainability education. It shifts the
analytical focus from static outcome measurement to dynamic impact processes and systemic
transformation. The proposed framework also provides practical implications for educators, program
designers, and policymakers in designing and evaluating SDG-related initiatives.
Future research is encouraged to empirically validate the framework across diverse contexts and to
explore the integration of data-driven and ESG-oriented evaluation approaches to enhance the
robustness and applicability of social impact assessment in sustainability education.

The Internationalization of Vocational Education

2026-06-11T16:46:48+07:00

This paper explores the internationalization of vocational education from a multidimensional
perspective integrating cultural cognition, philosophical values, and open innovation theory. Against
the backdrop of global industrial transformation and increasing skills mismatch, the study argues that
the development of vocational education is not merely a technical or institutional issue, but is
fundamentally shaped by cultural cognition and value systems.
Through comparative case analysis of Germany and selected Asian countries, the research identifies
three structural challenges: the disconnection between education and industry, the mismatch
between skill training and job requirements, and the misalignment between social perception and
educational choices. Based on these findings, the paper proposes an integrated analytical model of
“philosophy–education–innovation–globalization,” emphasizing that cultural cognition serves as the
foundational driver of system effectiveness and internationalization outcomes.
The study further argues that the essence of vocational education internationalization lies in the
export of value systems and competency standards rather than simple labor or skill transfer. Finally,
it outlines strategic pathways for transformation, including teaching, organizational, evaluation, and
cultural reforms, aiming to promote a shift from superficial internationalization to sustainable, value
driven global engagement.