Annual Member
26 มีนาคม 2568
Celebrating 108 Years of Chulalongkorn University in 2025
Chulalongkorn University is recognized as the first institution of higher learning in Thailand. Its origins can be traced back to the state's efforts to modernize public administration during the late 19th century under the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who emphasized education as a vital instrument for national development and sovereignty.
In 1899, King Chulalongkorn ordered the establishment of a training school for civil servants at the Phiman Chai Si Gate area within the Grand Palace compound. This initiative aligned with the administrative reform introduced in 1882 (B.E. 2425), aiming to supply qualified personnel for the expanding bureaucratic system.
On April 1, 1902, the school was renamed the "Royal Pages School" and its main mission was to prepare young men for civil service positions. The institution rapidly expanded in response to the state’s administrative needs.
During the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), the demand for professionals across various fields—both public and private—began to rise. To fulfill his father's vision of establishing a modern higher education institution for the Siamese people, King Vajiravudh elevated the Royal Pages School to the "Civil Service College of King Chulalongkorn" on January 1, 1911.
On March 26, 1917, the college was officially transformed into Chulalongkorn University, by royal decree of King Vajiravudh. The university was founded in honor of King Chulalongkorn and aimed to serve as a national intellectual monument. It became the first university in the country, marking the formal beginning of higher education in Thailand.
At its inception, Chulalongkorn University comprised four faculties:
Faculty of Public Administration
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Chulalongkorn University, established on 26 March 1917, is recognized as Thailand’s first university and has continuously played a vital role in the advancement of education and scholarship in the country.
On 26 March 1972, marking the 55th anniversary of the university’s founding, Chulalongkorn University officially opened the Thailand Information Center (TIC) at the Faculty of Political Science. The center was established as a knowledge hub for social and behavioral sciences focusing on Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Originally operated under the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense, the center was transferred to Chulalongkorn University after ARPA ceased operations in Thailand in 1971. The university formally requested and received over 20,000 valuable documents as part of this transition.
The official handover took place on 30 December 1971, during a signing ceremony involving:
Dr. Robert N. Schwartz, Director of ARPA
Professor Aroon Sorathesn, President of Chulalongkorn University
Mr. Apilas Osatananda, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation (Thailand International Cooperation Agency – TICA), who co-signed as witness
26 March 1972: Officially opened at Building 3, 1st Floor, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
1 April 1982: Relocated to the Mahathirarachanusorn Building (currently known as the Office of Academic Resources), as part of an institutional merger under the Royal Decree establishing the Center of Academic Resources (CAR), Chulalongkorn University
14 June 1982: Officially opened to the public at its current location
Today, the center operates as the Thailand and ASEAN Information Center (TAIC) under the Office of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University. It provides access to over 140,000 items in both Thai and English, including rare books, research reports, and publications relevant to Thailand and Southeast Asia, with a strong focus on the social and behavioral sciences.
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