Background and History of the
Organization The Institute
for Research and Development, Suan
Sunandha Rajabhat University, is one of
the University’s units. It was
developed from the Research and
Educational Service Center, which was
established under the Ministry of
Education’s announcement on the
division of government offices in Suan
Sunandha Teacher Training College, dated
12 March B.E. 2530
(1987). The Research
and Educational Service Center was
responsible for research and educational
services in various academic fields. Its
duties included coordinating and
cooperating on research and educational
services both within and outside the
college, disseminating and promoting
research, and organizing training for
personnel in different academic areas
through coordination and service
provision. In its early stage, the
Center focused mainly on providing
educational services in the form of
training programs, and there was very
little research conducted by
lecturers. Later, when the
teacher training college expanded its
instruction to the bachelor’s
degree level, research was clearly
defined as a mission in the Teacher
Training College Act, B.E. 2527 (1984),
along with related research policies and
plans. Research operations gradually
developed until the institution was
established as a Rajabhat Institute
under the Rajabhat Institute Act, B.E.
2538 (1995). The Act provided for the
establishment of a Research Office under
Section 10(4), with a status equivalent
to a faculty, and which could be
organized into an office, secretariat
division, or other equivalent
administrative units. In B.E. 2547
(2004), Suan Sunandha Rajabhat Institute
was elevated to Suan Sunandha Rajabhat
University under the Rajabhat University
Act, B.E. 2547 (2004). As a result, the
Office of Research and Academic Services
was changed in status to the Institute
for Research and Development to carry
out research, development, and academic
service missions for the
University. The Institute
for Research and Development, Suan
Sunandha Rajabhat University, is a unit
with a status equivalent to a faculty.
It is responsible for research and
educational services in various academic
disciplines, coordinating research both
within and outside the University, and
disseminating and promoting research in
accordance with the Rajabhat University
Act, B.E. 2547 (2004), which emphasizes
the University’s research mission.
This is reflected in Section 7, which
states in substance
that: “The
University shall be a higher education
institution for local development that
strengthens the intellectual power of
the nation, revitalizes learning, honors
local wisdom, and creates arts and
sciences for stable and sustainable
progress and prosperity of the people.
It shall participate in the management,
conservation, and balanced and
sustainable use of natural resources and
the environment. Its objectives are to
provide education, promote advanced
academic and professional studies,
conduct teaching and research, provide
academic services to society, improve,
transfer, and develop technology,
preserve arts and culture, produce
teachers and promote teachers’
professional
standing.” In addition,
Section 8(8) states in substance that
the University shall: “Study,
research, promote, and continue projects
initiated under royal initiatives in
carrying out the University’s
mission for local
development.”
