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Chulalongkorn University
จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย
Established	March 26, 1917
Type	Public
President	Prof. Pirom Kamol-Ratanakul, M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduates	19,313
Postgraduates	11,485 (2004 academic year)
Location	Bangkok, Thailand
Campus	Urban, 2.09 square kilometres (520 acres)s
Anthem	Maha Chulalongkorn
Colours	Pink
Mascot	Rain tree
Affiliations	ASAIHL, AUN
Website	www.chula.ac.th

Chulalongkorn University (Thai: จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย) is the oldest university in Thailand^[1] and has long been considered the country's most prestigious university.^[2] It now has eighteen faculties and a number of schools and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country. It is named after King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), and was established by his son and successor King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917 by combining the Royal Pages School and the College of Medicine.

Its campus occupies a vast area in downtown Bangkok, close to the popular teenagers' hangout, Siam Square, and adjacent to the most prestigious and private sports club, The Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The symbol of the University is the Phra Kiao, a royal insignia. Diplomas were traditionally handed out at graduation by the King of Thailand, created and begun by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII). But at present, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) delegates the role to one of his daughters, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

During the years 1973-1977 Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was a student at the University, becoming the first member of the Thai Royal Family to graduate from a Thai university. Prior to that, Thai royals had always studied abroad.

History

The demands of officials specialized in various fields by the government in the late 19th century Siam was an aftermath of King Rama V’s bureaucratic reforms, which aimed to transform the feudal Thai society into a modernized state. In 1899, the king founded the School for Training of Civil Officials (Thai: โรงเรียนสำหรับฝึกหัดวิชาข้าราชการพลเรือน) in the Royal Palace. Those who graduated from the school would became royal pages – a traditional way of entrance to Siamese bureaucracy – and then served in the Mahattai Ministry. In 1902, the school was renamed to Royal Pages School (Thai: โรงเรียนมหาดเล็ก). On January 1, 1911, King Rama VI renamed the school again to King Chulalongkorn’s Civil Official College (Thai: โรงเรียนข้าราชการพลเรือนของพระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) as a memorial to his father and moved the school to Windsor Palace in the Prathumwan district.

The academic demands, however, increased all over the country as a whole as Siam was modernized. King Rama VI then took the remaining funds of Chulalongkorn’s Royal Equestrian Statue construction combining with his own royal funds to subsidize the construction of a university campus. King Rama VI organized various schools around the city proper into the Chulalongkorn's College. The college offered 8 majors taught by 5 schools including;

• School of International Relations in the Royal Palace
• School of Teacher Training at Baan Somdet Chao Phraya
• Royal Medical College at Siriraj Hospital
• School of Legal Studies
• School of Mechanical Sciences at the Windsor Palace

King Rama VI then realized that the education should be provided to all people not only for the bureaucrats. On March 26, 1917, the college was upgraded to the Chulalongkorn University (Thai: จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย) and the schools were transformed into faculties;

• Faculty of Arts and Sciences
• Faculty of International Relations
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Medicine

The university firstly granted certificates to its graduates. The education for a degree was then prepared. The Rockefeller Foundation reorganized the curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine. In 1923, the Faculty of Medicine became the first faculty to accept students from the secondary education (known as Mattayom). The remaining faculties then followed suit. After the 1932 Revolution, the Khana Ratsadon wanted the legal and political studies to be independent from royalist Chulalongkorn University so they took the Faculty of Law and Political Science into their new Thammasat University in 1933.

In 1938, the Chulalongkorn University’s Preparatory School was founded to provide pre-collegiate education for its students. Those who managed to admit to the university had to spent two years in the Preparatory School before going on to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The Preparatory School, however, ceded to be a preparatory school in 1947 and became Triam Udom Suksa School.

During the 1930s to the 1950s Chulalongkorn University expanded to various fields including Pharmacy (1934), Veterinary Science (1935), Architecture (1939), Dentistry (1940), Commerce and Accountancy (1943), and Education (1957). In 1943, however, the regency government under General Phibun separated the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Science to become the University of Medical Sciences (now Mahidol University).

Chulalongkorn University managed to claim back some of its lost faculties. In 1948, the Faculty of Political Science was re-established. In 1967, the Faculty of Veterinary Science was returned from Kasetsart University and the Faculty of Medicine of Thai Red Cross’ King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from University of Medical Sciences was moved to Chulalongkorn University. In 1972, the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Pharmacy were retrieved.

Academics

Chulalongkorn University main auditorium

Chulalongkorn University consists of 20 faculties and schools:

Other institutions which are associated with the university include The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, The College of Public Health Science, College of Population Studies, Metallurgy and Materials Science Research Institite, The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Environmental Research Institute, Social Research Institute, Institute of Asian Studies, Transportation Institute and Sasin Business School (Sasin Business School was founded by Chulalongkorn University with the support and collaboration of the Kellogg School of Management and the Wharton Business School.)

In the Times Higher Education Supplement World University Rankings 2004, the university was ranked 46th in the world for social sciences and 60th for biomedicine.

In October 2005, the university was ranked at 121st in the World University Rankings 2005 by the Times Higher Education Supplement.^[3] Excluding North American and European institutions, it was ranked at 35th. It was also ranked 46th in the world for social sciences, 82nd for biomedicine, and 100th for technology.

In 2006, The university was ranked at 161st in the Times Higher World University Rankings 2006. It was also ranked 80th for biomedicine and 95th for technology.

In September 2006, three universities in Thailand were ranked "Excellent" in both academic and research areas by Commission on Higher Education. Those universities are Chiang Mai University, Chulalongkorn University, and Mahidol University.

The Pillar of the Kingdom

The university aims to realize the vision of its founding father to become “The Pillar of the Kingdom”^[4]: “When Thai society is faced with difficulties and the country is in need of help, Chulalongkorn University will step up to take the initiative to solve these problems. At such times, everyone shall first be thinking of Chulalongkorn University… By taking on a leading role, Chulalongkorn University is to be the “flagship” of this land. It has to inculcate a sense of justice and righteousness into this country.”

To fulfill its vision to become the “The Pillar of the Kingdom” the university aims to produce to following achievements:

• To become a world-class university

• To serve as the kingdom’s source of knowledge

• To establish a quick, close-knit and efficient management system

• To be a welcoming home for the righteous and competent

Notable Faculty and Alumni

• HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej of Songkhla, father of King Ananda Mahidol and King Bhumibol Adulyadej
• HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, princess of Narathiwat, Thailand
• HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, princess of Thailand
• Prawes Wasi, a winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award
• Banjong Pisanthanakun, a Thai film director and screenwriter, notable for his films Shutter and Alone.
• Surakiart Sathirathai, former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
• Mallica Vajrathon, a United Nations Senior Staff Member
• Win Lyovarin, a Thai writer, two-time winner of the S.E.A. Write Award
• Binlah Sonkalagiri, a winner of the S.E.A. Write Award
• Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the deputy leader of the Thai Rak Thai party, former Thailand's Minister of Agriculture
• Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram, daughter of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana
• HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, princess of Thailand
• Apinan Poshyananda, Director-General, Office of Contemporary Art, The Ministry of Culture and one of the top curators in the Asian region
• Montien Boonma, one of the most celebrated Asian contemporary artists
• Thongchai Winichakul, a professor in the History Department, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a specialist in the intellectual and cultural history of Thailand
• Decha Boonkham, Thailand National Artist in the area of applied arts (landscape architecture)
• Krisda Arunvongse, Thailand National Artist in the area of applied arts (contemporary architecture)
• Rawee Pawilai, a renowned expert on astronomy, and Thailand National Artist in the area of literature
• Prayom Songthong, Thailand National Artist in the area of literature
• Supachai Chansuwan, Thailand National Artist in the area of Thai dance
• Khunying Vinita Diteeyont, Thailand National Artist in the area of literature
• Jullatat Kitibud, Thailand National Artist in the area of applied arts (contemporary architecture)
• Nithi Sthapitanonda, one of Thailand's most renowned contemporary architects, and Thailand National Artist in the area of applied arts (contemporary architecture)
• Supa sirising or Botan, Thailand National Artist in the area of literature
• Pinyo Suwankiri, Thailand National Artist in the area of applied arts (Thai architecture)
• Borwornsak Uwanno, a Thai legal expert and a cabinet secretary-general under the Thaksin-government
• Kiatisuk Senamuang, a professional football player
• Sukhumbhand Paripatra, the 15th Governor of Bangkok
• Pasu Decharin, a guru in Blue Ocean Strategy
• Montri Toemsombat, a well-known fashion artist
• Russamee Gulyanamitta or Russy Gulyanamitta, a professional golfer

Honorary Degrees

The University has given honorary degrees to heads of state and other international dignitaries, including two US Presidents:

• Lyndon B. Johnson, October 29, 1966
• Bill Clinton, November 26, 1996

Traditions

Chulalongkorn University student traditions include:

• Chula–Thammasat Traditional Football Match: The annual football match between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University in January at Suphashalasai Stadium. It first started in 1934.
• Loy Krathong: an annual celebration of the full moon night, which usually falls on the first full moon day in November. Since the festival is open to the public, it attracts many people, especially Chulalongkorn students and faculty and those who live in downtown Bangkok, to come to the university to float their Krathongs on the university's pond.
• Chulalongkorn Academic Exhibition: a triennial academic and research exhibition presented by Chulalongkorn University's students and faculty. It is regarded as one of the most important academic fairs in Thailand.

Student activities and clubs

The University is host to 40 student clubs, including the Buddhism and Tradition Club, the Religious Studies Club, the Mind Study Club, and the Thai Classical Music Club.^[5] Chulalongkorn also has a Morals Network, which actively campaigns to protect student activities from damaging the university's reputation. The University's Cheer Club annually organizes the Chula-Thammasat Traditional Football Match.

Notes

See also

• Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University
• Education in Thailand
• Chula United football club

External links

• Chulalongkorn University official website

Coordinates: 13°44′18″N 100°31′57″E / 13.73826°N 100.532413°E / 13.73826; 100.532413