Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Founded in March 1917, Chulalongkorn University is Thailand’s first institution of higher learning. The groundwork and preparation for the university’s establishment, however, took place almost half a century earlier. The worldwide economic, social and political changes in the late nineteenth century compelled Siam, as Thailand was officially called until 1939, to adapt in order to avoid Western colonization. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) introduced a royal policy to strengthen and improve the government so that  the country could successfully resist the tides of colonialism.

The history of Chulalongkorn University is one of transformation and development. This has not changed. Over the century, the university has continuously worked for excellence in education and research, befitting itself to the name of a beloved monarch, King Chulalongkorn the Great.

The main mission of Chulalongkorn University is to be the center for academic learning and professional excellence. This is in line with the vision of the university’s founder, King Rama VI, who established the university as a tribute to his father, King Rama V.

Through the pursuit, development, dissemination and application of knowledge, Chulalongkorn University works to educate students with professional know-how and research skills, as well as preserve the arts, culture, and values. In addition to academic knowledge and learning, the university hopes to instill in students a sense of morality, social responsibility, and public service.