Thammasat University
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{{Infobox_University |name = Thammasat University |native_name = มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ |image = Image:Thammasat University seal.gif |established = 1934 |type = Public |staff = - |rector = Prof. Dr. Surapol Nidhikraipoj |students = - |city = Bangkok |country = Thailand |campus = Both urban and rural |colours = Yellow and red |mascot = Dome building, "Yung Thong" tree
|website = http://www.tu.ac.th }}
Thammasat University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์), formerly known as the University of Moral and Political Science (มหาวิทยาลัยวิชาธรรมศาสตร์และการเมือง), is the second oldest university in Thailand and is often considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the country. The University was established on June 27, 1934, and initially offered four major fields of study: law, commerce and accountancy, politics, and economics. This was later expanded to cover courses in other subjects such as social work, journalism, and liberal arts. Over the past 70 years, the University has produced a large number of graduates who have greatly contributed to the development and progress of both the society and the country.
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Overview
Since 1934, 240,000 students have attended the university. Alumni include prime ministers, top-level politicians and officers, Bank of Thailand governors, as well as most of the city's governors. Its business, law, economics, and political science schools have been ranked among the top in Southeast Asia.Template:Ref Recently, the students in the Master of Sciences Degree Program in Marketing (MIM) at Thammasat Business School have won the second time, the World’s Renowned Business Plan Competition: "Global Moot Corp" 2005 held at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin.
At Tha Phrachan campus, compact campus and richly storied past, Thammasat University's students have played several crucial roles to the development of the country's democratisation. On more than one occasion, demonstrations comprising students and citizens turned into a massacre on the campus and in the environs. A turning point in Thailand's history was on October 6, 1976, when a brutal massacre by the military and police took place.
Nowadays, Phrachan campus is still the main symbol for Thai human rights, free voices and democratic society in the country. Since its inception, the university's students have repeatedly spearheaded the exercise of Thai citizens' rights, freedom and openness, creating an environment that had not previously existed in Thailand.
Realizing the significant impact of science and technology on the country's economic growth, in the 1980s and 1990s Thammasat University initiated degree programs in engineering, technologies, physical sciences, and medicine at its Rangsit Center, Pathum Thani.
The university is also a member of LAOTSE, an international network of leading universities in Europe and Asia. And there are cooperations between some of the top universities around the globe as well. One of the regional cooperation is the Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic and Research Network.
Campuses
Currently, the university has six campuses across the country but the main campus is at Thaprachan, where all the social sciences fields take place.
- Tha-Prachan Center Located upon Chao Phraya River inside Rattanakosin Island, Bangkok. Tha-Prachan was the site of the 1976 Thammasat student uprising killing about 300 following the return of former dictator Thanom Kittikachorn to Thailand, as well as of another uprising in May 1992 following the appointment of Suchinda Kraprayoon as prime minister.
- Rangsit Center The largest campus, located in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok. Situated next to Asian Institute of Technology and Thailand Science Park, the area known as "Technology Cluster of Northern Bangkok". Initially, the center established for science and technology-related faculties, but recently rapidly expanding to every subject. All bachelor's degree classes currently running at Tha-Prachan Center will be moved here entirely by 2007. The campus is also a home of Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, an international academic institute of the university, which emphasizes in engineering, technology and related education.
- Tavorn-Usa Pornprapa Center Located in Pattaya, Chonburi province.
- Thammasat Lanna College Located in Lampang province, north of Thailand.
- A campus in Narathiwat province
- A campus in Udon Thani province
Colleges and Faculties
The university has 18 faculties/education units, namely: Faculty of Law, Commerce and Accountancy, Political Science, Economics, Social Administration, Liberal Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, Sociology and Anthropology, Science and Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Allied Health Science, Nursing, Architecture and Planning, Fine and Applied Arts, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, and College of Innovative Education
Faculty of Architecture and Planning
The university had proposed the establishment of the Faculty of Architecture under the Eighth National Higher Education Plan (1997 - 2001) of the Ministry of University Affairs (now Office of the Commission on Higher Education under the Ministry of Education). However, the Cabinet meeting on February 3, 1998 had come up with the decision to restrain all new department establishment, the university then had established the Architecture Program to be autonomous under the Thammasat University Council as a resolution on May 6, 1999.
With the effectiveness of the educational management, the program was approved to be the Faculty of Architecture regarding to the resolution of the Thammasat University Council on October 29, 2001. Prof. Dr. Vimolsiddhi Horayangkura who had been the program's director since 1999 is appointed to be the first dean of the Faculty of Architecture. The faculty boasts a strong academic endeavor that offers 2 more new undergraduate programs, Interior Architecture and Urban Environmental Planning and Management Program, in 2002 academic year.
Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy
The Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, established in November 23, 1938, is the oldest business school in Thailand. It offers broad range of programs including business administration, logistics, human resource management, accounting, finance, marketing, and management information system, from diploma to doctoral degree. The faculty also offers international programs where English is a language of instruction.
Faculty of Economics
Image:TuEcon.gif The Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University was established in 1949. 'As a leader in the teaching of Economics in Thailand and South East Asian', The Faculty offers a broad range of academic programs and other training opportunities. The first big step toward internationalization was the introduction, in 1969, of a Master of Economics program degree, taught in the English language. Since then, Bachelor's (Bachelor of Economics, International program) and Ph.D. programs in English have been added to the curriculum. The Faculty boasts a strong teaching staff that today totals 82, including 44 faculty members with doctoral degree and 7 on study leave to pursue doctoral degrees.
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, located in Pathum Thani, is a semi-autonomous institute of technology established in 1992. It offers a range of science, technology and engineering education, as well as related management programs. All of them are international programs, with English language as a medium of instructions. Although it is an academic unit of the university, and graduates of the institute receive Thammasat University degrees, the institute is self-administered and financed. The institute enjoys a strong link with many international universities, notably its neighbor Asian Institute of Technology, and a group of Japanese and European universities.
Notes
- Template:NoteFor further information on this topic, please also see the "NEUTRAL" methods from some regional-international sources such as in The Straits Times, ranking of Thailand's university.
See also
- Education in Thailand
- List of universities in Thailand
- List of colleges and universities
- Pridi Banomyong
- Puey Ungpakorn
External links
- Thammasat University
- Faculty of Commerce and Accounting
- Faculty of Economics
- Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology
- Template:Dmozde:Thammasat-Universität
fr:Université Thammasat ja:タンマサート大学 th:มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์