The Rajabhat Universities (, ) mean normal universities in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

. They were formerly called ''Rajabhat Institutes'' and originally formed the

teachers college A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...

system. In 2005, King

Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; ( Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Grea ...

collectively elevated them to be universities. Many provinces have one—there are 38 total—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. Enrollments have been shrinking. , students numbered 540,000, down from 600,000. 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 Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...

" (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 HTMS ''Thonburi'' ( th, เรือหลวงธนบุรี, ) was a coastal defence ship of the Royal Thai Navy. Design ''Thonburi'' and her sister ship, , were designed following the incorporation of the earlier s into the Siamese N ...

* Phranakhon Rajabhat University *

Suan Dusit 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 A ''zhuz ...

(since 2015 change to

Suan Dusit 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 A ''zh ...

) *

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 A ''zh ...

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 (Phitsanulok) * Uttaradit Rajabhat University

Northeastern group

* Buriram Rajabhat University * Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University * Kalasin Rajabhat University (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 Rajamangala Universi ...

) * Loei Rajabhat University * Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University * Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University * Roi Et Rajabhat University * Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University * Sisaket Rajabhat University * Surindra Rajabhat University *

Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University Ubon Ratchathani ( th, อุบลราชธานี, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan (with Khorat/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen), also known as the "big four of Isan." The city is on the Mun River in the ...

Udon Thani Rajabhat University Udon Thani Rajabhat University (UDRU) is a university in Udon Thani, northeast Thailand. It confers associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. Timeline * 1923: School founded as the "Teacher Training School in Agriculture Udon Thani ...

* 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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