Kasetsart University

Kasetsart University
มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์
Motto • Knowledge of the Land (official)
• People own the Nation and their taxes become Kasetsart (unofficial)
Established 1943
Type Public
President Assoc. Prof. Vudtechai Kapilakanchana
Undergraduates 46,964 (2010 academic year)
Postgraduates 11,863 (2010 academic year)
Location Bang Khen, Bangkok, Thailand
13°50′54.95″N 100°34′04.98″E / 13.8485972°N 100.5680500°ECoordinates: 13°50′54.95″N 100°34′04.98″E / 13.8485972°N 100.5680500°E
Campus Urban and Rural (varied by campus)
Anthem "Kasetsart"
Colours Green
Mascot Yellow Poinciana Tree, Gamecock
Affiliations ASAIHL
Website www.ku.ac.th

Kasetsart University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์; rtgs: Maha Witthayalai Kasetsat) is a top-ranked public university in Thailand. It is ranked at number 401-500 in the world by QS.[1] It was the first agricultural university and the third oldest university in Thailand. Kaset University was established on February 2, 1943, with the primary aim of promoting subjects related to agricultural science. To date, Kasetsart University has revised its curricula and expanded its subject areas to cover science, arts, social sciences, humanities, education, engineering, and architecture. Recently, the university made an attempt to include medicine and health science. Kasetsart University has seven campuses throughout Thailand, where its main and flagship campus is at Bang Khen, Bangkok. With 58,000 students enrolled, it is the largest university in Thailand.

History

The establishment of Kasetsart University was part of the evolution of agricultural education in the country which began with the founding of a system of technical schools. This era may be divided into three periods.

Initial period (1904–1913)

Western-styled agricultural education in Thailand began with the establishment in 1904 of the School of Sericulture or Rong-Rian Chang Mai (โรงเรียนช่างไหม) in Tambon Thung Saladaeng, Bangkok, offering a two-year program entirely in sericulture. In 1906, the program was extended to three years and included cultivation of other crops and veterinary science; the name was changed to the School of Agriculture or Rong-Rian Vicha Karn Porh Pluke (โรงเรียนวิชาการเพาะปลูก). In 1908, the school was merged with the School of Surveying and the School of Irrigation by the Ministry of Agriculture to train personnel to serve in the ministry. The school was renamed the School of the Ministry of Agriculture and Thailand’s first tertiary-level agriculture curriculum was drawn up and was inaugurated in 1909. The school was merged with the Civil Service School in 1913 by the Government of Siam and was placed under the Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion.

Middle period (1914-1923)

During this time, the Primary School Agriculture Teacher Training School was established and offered a two-year higher education program awarding a certificate in primary school agricultural education. The school was initially in Bangkok but was moved to Nakhon Pathom province in 1918.

Kasetsart University main auditorium

Later period (1924-1942)

In 1924, the Primary School Agriculture Teacher Training School was moved to Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and a second branch of the school was established in Saraburi Province in 1926. At this time, agricultural education at both primary and secondary school levels were provided through various technical schools. In 1931, Siam’s agricultural education was back in the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture as upcountry agricultural research stations and teacher training schools were planned to be set up in concert.

In 1933, the Mae Jo Primary School Agriculture Teacher Training School was established in Chiang Mai Province. The school is now known as Mae Jo University, Kasetsart’s sister university that bears the same insignia.

In 1935, as the number of agriculture teachers exceeded the demand, the government planned to close down three news primary agriculture teacher training schools, one of which was Mae Jo. The three founding fathers of Kasetsart — Luang Ingkhasikasikan, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij, and Phra Chuangkasetsinlapakan — proposed a project whereby the Mae Jo was retained as a secondary-level agriculture technical school. This was later elevated to become the College of Agriculture, with the status of a division in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In 1938, the Ministry of Agriculture established the Central Agriculture Station, or Kaset Klang (เกษตรกลาง) in Bang Khen District of Bangkok, and the College of Agriculture was moved down from Chiang Mai to Bangkok as well. The college offered three-year certificate programs in agriculture, cooperative science, and forestry.

On February 2, 1943, Kasetsart University (มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์), translated as the “University of Agriculture”, was founded by the Kasetsart University Act of 1943. As the name may suggest, the university offers many excellent programs considered among the top in the country including agriculture, agro-industry, forestry, fishery and engineering.

Campuses and faculties

Campuses

Faculties

The administration building

Bang Khen Campus

Kamphaeng Saen Campus

Sri Racha Campus

Chaloemphrakiat Sakhon Nakhon Campus

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.topuniversities.com/university/312/kasetsartuniversity

External links

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