The Rajabhat Universities (, ) are a group of public universities in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

that were originally founded as teacher training colleges. In 1995, the Thai government elevated existing teacher training colleges to so-called Rajabhat Institutes. The transformation expanded the legal mandate of these institutions, granting them the authority to confer postgraduate degrees, including

doctorates A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...

. Rajabhat Institutes were further transformed to Rajabhat Universities in 2005, allowing the institutions to function as independent universities. There are currently 38 Rajabhat Universities. They are generally considered easier to gain admission to than the traditional public universities. Most Rajabhat Universities offer graduate degrees, some even to the doctoral level. Enrollments have been shrinking. , students numbered 540,000, down from 600,000.

Name

The word "Rajabhat" is derived from the same origin as the Hindi, "

Rajput Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...

" (from Sanskrit raja-putra, "son of a king"). In this sense, a "Rajabhat University" might be regarded as being analogous to the English "King's College", or "Royal Institute", or more literally as a "Prince's University" ("Rajabhat" could be considered to mean "prince"). For simplicity they may be considered a "Royal University".

List of Rajabhat Universities

Bangkok group

* Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University * Chandrakasem Rajabhat University * Dhonburi Rajabhat University * Phranakhon Rajabhat University * Suan Dusit Rajabhat University (since 2015 change to Suan Dusit University) *

Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University Suan can refer to: * Suan, Atlántico, Colombia * Sivan, East Azerbaijan, a village in Iran * Suan County, a county of North Hwanghae Province, North Korea * Suan Station, a station of the Busan Metro, South Korea * a minor Kazakh Zhuz ("h ...

Northern group

* Chiang Mai Rajabhat University * Chiang Rai Rajabhat University * Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University * Lampang Rajabhat University * Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University * Phetchabun Rajabhat University *

Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (PSRU.) is a university in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. The institute was upgraded to a university on 14 June 2004. History The university was first established in 1926 as a teacher training school under the ...

(Phitsanulok) * Uttaradit Rajabhat University

Northeastern group

Buriram Rajabhat University Buriram (, , ; Northern Khmer: ) is a city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') in Thailand, capital of Buriram Province, about northeast of Bangkok. incorporating Nai Mueang and Isan_(town), Isan Subdistricts and parts Samet Subdistricts of Mue ...

Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University Chaiyaphum (, ; , ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in northeastern Thailand, capital of Chaiyaphum Province. it had a population of 58,350, and covers the full ''tambon'' Nai Mueang of Mueang Chaiyaphum District. Chaiyaphum is 337 road kilome ...

Kalasin Rajabhat University Kalasin () is a city (''thesaban mueang'') in northeast Thailand, the capital of Kalasin Province. As of 2015, it has a population of 34,429 It covers the whole ''tambon'' Kalasin of the Mueang Kalasin District Mueang Kalasin (, ; , ) is the ca ...

(since 2016 combined to

Kalasin University Kalasin University (, ; KSU) is a government university located in Kalasin Province. It was established in 2015 from the merger of the Kalasin Rajabhat University and the Kalasin Campus of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan. History Kal ...

) *

Loei Rajabhat University Loei (; ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in northeast Thailand. Loei covers the whole ''tambon'' of Mueang Loei district and is the capital of Loei province. In 2017, Loei had a population of 21,013. Loei lies 545 km north-northeast of B ...

* Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University * Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University *

Roi Et Rajabhat University Roi or ROI may refer to: Music * "Roi" (song), by Bilal Hassani, 2019 * "Roi", a song by The Breeders from the 1993 album ''Last Splash'' * "ROI", a single by VIDEOCLUB, 2018 People * Alice Roi (born 1975 or 1976), American fashion designe ...

Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University Sakon may refer to: * ''Karakurizōshi Ayatsuri Sakon'' (Puppet Master Sakon), a 1999 manga and anime series * Sakon (Naruto), a ninja from the Land of Sound in the manga and anime series ''Naruto'' * Sakon, a character in the early 2000's video ga ...

* Sisaket Rajabhat University * Surindra Rajabhat University * Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University * Udon Thani Rajabhat University * Nakhon Phanom Rajabhat University (since 2005 combined to Nakhon Phanom University)

Central group

* Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University (Ayutthaya) * Muban Chom Bung Rajabhat University (Chom Bung, Ratchaburi) * Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University * Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University * Phetchaburi Rajabhat University * Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University (Chachoengsao) * Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University (Chanthaburi) * Thepsatri Rajabhat University (Lopburi) * Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University (Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani)

Southern group

* Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University * Phuket Rajabhat University * Songkhla Rajabhat University * Suratthani Rajabhat University * Yala Rajabhat University

References

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