Mae Fah Luang University

Mae Fah Luang University

Mae Fah Luang University , an autonomous public university, was established on the 25 th of September 1998 according to the 1998 Royal Charter of Mae Fah Luang University, and was granted royal permission to be named after the title by which the local people respectfully addressed and referred to Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother. This appellation of auspicious meaning signifies the objectives of this university as a memorial of Thai people’s loyalty to Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother for Her boundless benevolence to people throughout the Kingdom.

After its establishment on the 25 th September 1998 , the University accepted the first cohort of sixty students into two programmes and simultaneously started building the main campus in the proximity of Doi Ngaem, Muang District, Chiang Rai Province . The construction, which started on the 22 nd of July 1999 , was completed on the 6 th of May 2004 , at a total cost of 2,325 million Baht.

The University’s entire campus area at Doi Ngaem amounts to 4,997 rais, consisting mainly of hills, with a small amount of plain, and by consent of the Cabinet, the University was given another 2,556 rais of land in Jom Mok Kaew Subdistrict, Mae Lao District, Chiang Rai Province, to accommodate its future expansion. In addition, His Majesty the King also kindly granted the University about 700 rais of land in Mae Suay District, Chiang Rai Province . The University has been developing its curricula and instruction to meet international standards, adopting English as the primary medium of instruction, with regularly arranged activities to promote self-studying. Since its establishment almost seven years ago, Mae Fah Luang University in its continuing academic development has offered study programmes that meet both the domestic demand and that of Greater Mekhong Subregion countries. Currently, Mae Fah Luang University offers twenty six Bachelor’s Degree programmes, seventeen Master’s Degree programmes and seven docorate programmes through nine Schools, namely, School of Liberal Arts, School of Science, School of Management, School of Information Technology, School of Agro-Industry, School of Cosmetic Science, School of Nursing, School of Health Science and School of Law, with the entire population of 7,111 students, 257 teachers and 498 operating staff.

Strongly determined to fulfil Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother’s ‘Afforestation and Human-Resources Development’ intention, Mae Fah Luang University is resolute in its attempts to preserve and restore the environment as well as to improve people’s quality of life through quality education whereby sustainable livelihood can be attained.

Regarding Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center, it can be said that the idea of establishing a centre for Chinese language and culture in Thailand had been constantly considered but had not been materialized until March 1999, when the issue of Chinese-language teaching and establishing a centre for Chinese language and culture in Thailand was discussed by the People’s Republic of China’s Minister of Education and Thailand’s Minister of University Affairs. In early August 2000, as a result of the discussion, the government of the People’s Republic of China consented to the establishment of a Chinese language and culture centre at Mae Fah Luang University . The People’s Republic of China intended the Chinese language and culture centre to be part of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother’s 100 th birthday anniversary, to symbolize the ongoing friendship and goodwill cherished by the two countries and to operate as a centre for Chinese language and culture studies to serve Thailand and Greater Mekhong Subregion countries.

The foundation-stone laying ceremony for this Chinese centre was presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn on Saturday the 9 th of December 2000 . Construction commenced on Saturday the 29 th of December 2001 and reached its completion in early August 2002, followed by the conferment of this Chinese language and culture centre upon Mae Fah Luang University by the government of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday the 20 th August 2002 . Subsequently, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn granted Mae Fah Luang University royal permission to christen this centre ‘Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center ’, a name of propitious meaning esteemed by Mae Fah Luang University and people countrywide.

The government of the People’s Republic of China assumed a lead role in the design and construction of the centre, which were entrusted to Chinese architects and engineers. Principal construction materials of authentic Chinese design were also shipped in from China . The Chinese language and culture centre, which boasts a utility area of about 1,100 square metres and an interior pond decorated in Se Zhou style, was completed at an approximate cost of 60 million Baht.

Mae Fah Luang University is a higher-education institution striving for high quality at international standards. It excels in various academic areas, creating qualified graduates and human resources for the country and the region. It is also a source of research with the capability of applying that knowledge to benefit the society and industrial/business sectors through cooperation with related agencies. At the same time, the university retains its national identity through education and development of the national arts and culture.

Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center commenced its teaching mission in close collaboration with the government of the People’s Republic of China . Instructors and teaching aids of various types were sent to Mae Fah Luang University to initiate Chinese-language courses for interested people and training courses for Chinese-language teachers from all parts of the country. With those language and training courses being eminently successful, Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center shall concentrate principally on developing Chinese-language teachers and designing Chinese-language training programmes, in addition to maintaining good understanding between the citizens of the two countries. In due course, Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center shall extend its teaching mission to serve countries in the Greater Mekhong Subregion.

He governments of the People’s Republic of China and of Thailand both foresee Sirindhorn Chinese Language and Culture Center as an institution to develop the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture, with an active role in strengthening understanding and lasting friendship between the two countries.

Contact
Mae Fah Luang University
333 Moo 1, Thasud, Muang, Chiang Rai 57100
Tel: +66 53916027-8
Fax: +66 53916029, 53916034