The Challenges of Creating and Maintaining Higher Education Quality under Conditions of Rapid Economic Development in Thailand

Abstract

Higher Education in Thailand dates back to the late nineteenth century when the first comprehensive Thai university, Chulalongkorn University, was established by upgrading the existing Civil Service College to the university level in 1917. Several specialized universities were later established in Bangkok after the revolution of 1932, namely, Thammasat in 1933, Mahidol, Kasetsart and Silpakorn in 1942. In a period of accelerating rural development, the government focused on establishing universities to serve such development. Regional universities were then established throughout the country, such as Chiangmai in the north, Prince of Songkhla in the south, and Khonkaen in the northeastern region.