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The Rajabhat Universities (มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏ, RTGS: Mahawitthayalai Ratchaphat) are a group of public universities in Thailand 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.[1] Rajabhat Institutes were further transformed to Rajabhat Universities in 2005, allowing the institutions to function as independent universities.[2]
There are currently 38 Rajabhat Universities. They are generally considered easier to gain admission to than the traditional public universities.[3] Most Rajabhat Universities offer graduate degrees, some even to the doctoral level. Enrollments have been shrinking. As of 2018[update], students numbered 540,000, down from 600,000.[3]
- ^ พระราชบัญญัติสถาบันราชภัฏ พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๘ [Rajabhat Institute Act of 1995] (PDF) (in Thai). 2004.
- ^ พระราชบัญญัติมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏ พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๗ [Rajabhat University Act of 2004] (PDF) (in Thai). 2004.
- ^ a b "Rajabhat enrolments 'shrinking'". Bangkok Post. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.