Khon Kaen University

History

In 1941 during the reign of King Ananda Mahidol with the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram as Prime Minister, there have been policies and projects to expand higher education to the provinces. For the northeastern region, a university have been established in Ubon Ratchathani Province but the war in East Asia which the government had to decide to join Japan to fight the Allies. As a result, the establishment of a university in the northeastern region ended in 1960. Under the administration of Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat, there has been a review of the establishment of the university once again.

Later in the year 1962, it was resolved to establish a higher education institution. Engineering and agriculture in Khon Kaen nominate this institute as "Khon Kaen Institute of Technology" with the abbreviation K.I.T. After that its name was changed to be "Northeastern University" or N.E.U". At that time there was no government agency directly responsible for conducting university education. Therefore, the government has decided that the National Education Council should be responsible for finding a place, drafting a course as well as contacting foreign aids.

In 1963, the subcommittee agreed to choose Baan Si Than as the location of the university in an area of approximately 5,500 rai (2,173 acres), 4 kilometers from the city of Khon Kaen. On 9 June 1964, building construction of "Faculty of Science and Arts" was settled. The first batch of the students was accepted at the University Office in Bangkok on 24 June 1964 with a total number of 107 students, separating into 49 agricultural science students and 58 engineering students enrolled at the University of Medical Sciences (current Mahidol University).

In 1965, the cabinet resolved to change the name as "Khon Kaen University" which is the city's name and location, and Khon Kaen University became legal entity since then.

In 1966, the parliament enacted the Khon Kaen University Act, and announced the establishment in the Government Gazette on January 25, 1966, which is considered the university's founding day. The King Bhumibol Adulyadej appointed qualified members of the university board. Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn and Khon Kaen University Council members held a meeting and appointed Pote Sarasin as the first president of the university.

Faculty

There are 19 faculties and 4 colleges in three disciplines.

Healthcare Science

Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences

Faculty of Dentistry

Faculty of Medicine

Faculty of Nursing

Faculty of Pharmacy

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Faculty of Public Health

Science and Technology

Faculty of Agriculture

Faculty of Technology

Faculty of Architecture

Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Science

College of Computing

Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy

Faculty of Fine Arts

Faculty of Law

Faculty of Economics

College of Local Administration

Award and rankings

2010 Khon Kaen University was rated as one of the 9 National Research Universities of Thailand.

Notable alumni

Jatupat Boonpattararaksa: social activist

Sukollawat Kanaros: actor

Watcharin Kasalak: President of Burapha University

Somsak Kiatsuranont: former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand

Chanchai Panthongwiriyakul: President of Khon Kaen University

Niane Sivongxay: herpetologist

Tanwarin Sukkhapisit: film director and politician

Witoon Suriyawanakul : billionaire and Founder of Siam Global House Pcl

Harin Suthamjarus: singer of Tattoo Colour

Apisamai Srirangsan: psychiatrist and news anchor

Surapong Tovichakchaikul: former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand

Taweesin Visanuyothin: psychiatrist

Apichatpong Weerasethakul: film director, screenwriter, and film producer

Wanarat Ratsameerat: actor

Sirilak Kwong: actor

Thanaboon Kiatniran: actor and singer-songwriter