Rajabhat University system

The Rajabhat Universities (มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏ, rtgs: Mahawitthayalai Ratchaphat) compose one of the university systems in Thailand.

They were formerly called Rajabhat Institutes and originally formed the teachers college system. In 2004, King Bhumibol Adulyadej collectively elevated them to be universities. Most provinces have one and they are generally easier to gain admission to than the public universities (formerly the government universities). Most Rajabhat Universities offer graduate degrees, some even to the doctoral level.

These institutions are equivalent to British polytechnics that have become universities. They face a similar challenge of matching the prestige of older institutions. They were conferred the royal word Rajabhat to possibly shield them from criticism and help raise their status.

Name

The word "Rajabhat" is derived from the same origin as the Hindi, "Rajput" (from Sanskrit raja-putra, "son of a king"). In this sense, a "Rajabhat University" may be transliterated as similar to a "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

Northern group

Northeastern group

Central group

Southern group

References


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