The historical background of the establishment of the university at Ubon Ratchathani Province
In 1941 during the reign of King Rama VIII when Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram was Prime Minister, a plan for establishing a university in the northeast of Thailand was considered. A piece of land near the River Sae in Ubon Ratchathani province was allocated for such a purpose. M.L. Pin Malakula was assigned head of a survey team to make construction maps for Northeast university for proposal to the minister of Education, Luang Sindhusongkramchai. In December of the same year the Great East Asian war (World War II) broke out and the plans for the establishment of the university in the Northeast had to be postponed.
In 1942 the Ministry of Education founded a Northeast Pre University School at Ubon Ratchathani in the area which had been considered as a location for the university. Buildings were thus in preparation for the building of Northeast University. But in 1946 the Ministry of Education revised all pre university curriculum nationwide by offering to build pre university schools in each province. Therefore this Northeast Pre University school was converted into Ubon Ratchathani Teachers’ College. Plans for the foundation of the university at Ubon Ratchathani had to come to a sudden stop.
In January of 1962 the Northeast Development Committee, with Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat as chairman, agreed to establish an advanced northeast institute in engineering and agriculture at Khon Kaen Province. A sub-committee was appointed with Mr. Apai Jantavimol as its chairman and with Mr. Keyul Limthong as its secretary. After much planning and organizing legislation was passed on the building of Khon Kaen University, which was announced in the Government gazette on the 25th of January 1966.
At present Khon Kaen University is 25 years old and has developed a great deal. Now there are 14 faculties, namely, the faculties of Agriculture, Engineering, Science, Education, Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Humanities and Social Sciences, Technology, Architecture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associated Medical Sciences, Public Health and Graduate Studies. Moreover, there are other academic units, such as a Library and Information Service, a Research and Development Institute and a Computer Center.
However, an effort had been made by Khon Kaen University to establish the originally intended university at Ubon Ratchathani. In 1972 Professor Dr. Pimala Kalakicha, president of Khon Kaen University at that time sent a survey committee to study the feasibility of establishing a new campus to Khon Kaen University which would expand into an independent university in the future. The Committee was comprised of Professor Dr. Pimala Kalakicha, Associate Professor Saiyut Niyomvipat Associate Professor Dr. Kawi Juttikul and Associate Professor Dr. Noppadol Tongsopit, who went to make a survey of a potential location at Ubon Ratchathani on the 18th of September 1972.
The survey team considered Tung Duen in Warinchamrap District, Ubon Ratchathani province a suitable location. However, a political crisis at that time again delayed the establishment of the new university.
In 1976 Associate Professor Dr. Kawi Tangsubutr the president of Khon Kaen University at that time, together with Dr. Somchit Yodseranee, attended a meeting at Ubon Ratchathani province in order to find ways of establishing a university in Ubon Ratchathani province. Again, the effort did not succeed. It was not until 1983-1984 that members of parliament from various parties proposed to the National Assembly several acts of legislation to set up provincial universities, 18 new universities were proposed. As these acts of legislation involved money, they first had to be approved by the cabinet. The cabinet meeting with Field Marshal Prem Tinnasulanond as Prime Minister then passed this case on to the Ministry of University Affairs to study.
The Ministry of University Affairs issued order No. 12/2517 (1984 A.D.) dated 28 February 1984, appointing a sub-committee to study the feasibility of setting up universities under the Ministry of Universities Affairs. Colonel Arthorn Chonhenchob was appointed chairman of the sub-committee. This sub Committee appointed four working committees to study the feasibility of establishing new provincial universities in each region: the Northeast, the Lower North, the South and the East.
As for the Northeast Region the working committee, which was changed into a sub-committee for consideration of the appropriateness of establishing a new university in the northeast (at Ubon Ratchathani and Nakorn Ratchaseema) had Associate Professor Dr. Noppadol Tongsopit as chairman and university vice president Mr. Rangsri Nanthasarn as committee member and secretary. The committee presented a report on the establishment of a university at Ubon Ratchathani which read as follows;
The Appropriation of Establishing a University at Ubon Ratchathani. Physical preparedness : Ubon Ratchathani province is centrally located in the Northeast and is very well developed in academics and transportation. One can conveniently commute to surrounding provinces at all times.
Resource based preparedness. Concerning personnel-lecturers from Khon Kaen University may be requested to participate in the teaching and academic affairs at the University at Ubon Ratchathani. These lecturers are qualified academically. Besides, Ubon Ratchathani province has prepared a piece of land of 3,400 rai in area at Dong Pha Huan Ampur Muang for the establishment of a university. Moreover, 6,000 rai of land has been provided for agricultural purposes at Tung Duen, Warinchamrap District. The beginning phase of the process of establishing the university will not require an investment budget from the national budget as people will help by donation to the university.
There are two specific models for the establishment of new university at Ubon Ratchathani province:
3.1 At the beginning phase Ubon Ratchathani College will be an associate campus of Khon Kaen University, in accordance with code of law, section 8 of the act of legislation of Khon Kaen University of 2521 (1978 A.D) providing for cooperation in teaching and academic affairs. In academic fields there will be a collaboration with local institutes on the teaching of fundamental subjects. In return, Ubon Ratchathani College will help support the provision of materials and instruction of academic courses to local institutes. In the administration there will be an associate director of the college who will work as director simultaneously.
3.2 When the College is fully developed, it will be legislated as and independent university.
The sub-committee has agreed to divide the process of establishing Ubon Ratchathani College and Ubon Ratchathani University into three phases:
Phase I: (Fiscal year 1985-1986) Ubon Ratchathani College is to be founded. It will enroll students in one field: medicine, or in any number of fields, as long as they do not require and investment budget from the government sector, but instead uses the budget of about 20 million baht for specific processes. The procedures should be as follows:
1.Use of buildings will be borrowed from government institutes or educational institutes in Ubon Ratchathani province for use as a temporary site for the college.
2.The first, second and third year students of the Faculty of Medicine will study at Khon Kaen University, whereas the fourth, fifth and sixth year students will study at Sappasitprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province. The rest of the students will study at Khon Kaen University.
Phase II (Fiscal year 1987-91) : Ubon Ratchathani College will enroll students in the agricultural, nursing, medical, and engineering fields. An investment budget of 60 million baht will be spent on the construction of the administration building, permanent university buildings and an investment in public utilities at Dong Pha Huan.
Phase III (Fiscal year 1992..) When Ubon Ratchathani College is qualified and is prepared it will be elevated to university status.
During 1984-1986 there was a mutual objective, as shown by local leaders under the leadership of His Excellency Minister Chaisiri Ruangkarnchanasate and administrators from Khon Kaen University, to make the medical field the leading field followed by the nursing, agricultural and engineering fields. It was seen as such because there were Khon Kaen University externs working at Sappasitprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani province. Therefore it would be easy to expand and increase the fourth year section and the budget could then be kept economical. As for the first, second and third year medical students they could still study at Khon Kaen University until they were ready to be transferred to study in Ubon Ratchathani province. The local leaders at Ubon Ratchathani consented with this idea and were ready to give financial support. Moreover, a request had been made to the Japanese Government for aid in the teaching of medical courses in Ubon Ratchathani province. This would be very conducive to changing the curriculum into a problem-based learning one. As for the curriculum in agriculture, the purpose is to orientate the students to experience farm management. This will train the students to be capable of earning their living from agriculture to a greater extent than those students who studied in the old curriculum at Khon Kaen University.
It was seen that the location of the Laotian Refugee Camp, where the American Army had built roads and provided electricity and pipe water, would be an appropriate location for Ubon Ratchathani College. It should be used for this purpose in the beginning phase as it is near the downtown area, with all public utilities available. This would enable the college to develop as quickly as possible. As for the land at Warinchamrap District, that should be reserved for the building of the university and its experimental farm in the future.
When the Ministry of University Affairs had sent the Sub Committee’s proposals to the cabinet, the cabinet agreed to let the Reform Committee of the Civil Servant System and National Service System to consider the proposals. At first consideration the committee did not agree with the principles. However, His Excellency Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Chaisiri Ruangkarnchanasate, who is a member of parliament from Ubon Ratchathani province had brought the proposals to the Committee’s consideration and thus they were approved. On the 8th of July 1986 the cabinet agreed with the principles of letting Khon Kaen University set up a university at Ubon Ratchathani in the form of Ubon Ratchathani College under its administration. Then the cabinet sent the approved proposal to the Budget Bureau to consider the budget.
In October of 1986 Associate Professor Dr. Somporn Phothinam, president of Khon Kaen University, appointed a working committee for the Establishment of a University at Ubon Ratchathani Project according to University Order 1919/2529 (1986 A.D) dated 6 October 1986. The order appointed Associate Professor Dr. Somchit Yodseranee chairman of the working group, which made a follow-up study of the project which was being considered. It was known that the Budget Bureau foresaw that the establishment of a new university with a Faculty of Medicine would require a high budget, therefore it should be delayed. Apart from this the Ministry of Public Health had sent a letter saying that they did not approve of transferring a Nursing College from the Ministry of Public Health into the Ministry of University Affairs. Moreover, after discussions and consultations between Khon Kaen University and the Medical Staff at Sappasitprasong Hospital it was agreed that it would be difficult to use the hospital as a teaching area for the medical students owing to some difficulties in the transfer of personnel and the change of location.
Therefore the working group adjusted the project by putting aside the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine. At the beginning there would be the Faculties of Agriculture, Engineering and Nursing. This revised project was approved by the Budget Bureau. However the Budget Bureau had requested Ubon Ratchathani province to proceed with construction at the location before the next step in the procedure could be dealt with. The Forestry Department has said that there are many types of tress which should be preserved at Dong Pha Huan. If the construction were to begin it might destroy these varieties. They thought that the site of the Laotian Refugee Camp alone would be too small if Dong Pha Huan was not to be included in the area under construction. The Province, with Ensign Danai Katesiri as governor, saw that a site at the 10th kilometer sign post on Warinchamrap-Dej-Udom Road, with an area of 5,200 rai (2 1/2 rai = 1 acre) and including four sub districts of Khu Muang, Kam Kwang, That and Po Yai might be asuitable location.
In response to the above follow up Khon Kaen University sent a team of engineers to make a survey of that area. Then Khon Kaen University together with Ubon Ratchathani province held a meeting and agreed to use the land at Warinchamrap-Dej-Udom for the establishment of the new university at Ubon Ratchathani project. The project was then proposed to the cabinet meeting which agreed with the principles and sent the proposal to be considered by the Reform Committee. During that time Khon Kaen University sent a request for a 1988 Budget of 8.3 million baht for Ubon Ratchathani College. The budget request was approved by the assembly of the People’s Representatives and was later increased to 16.26 million baht by a modification brought up at a meeting.
Consequently, the cabinet agreed to pass the drafted version as a Royal Decree for the establishment of Ubon Ratchathani College. After the draft of the Royal Decree had been approved by the Royal Decree Committee the Prime Minister presented it to His Majesty King Rama IX for his signature. It was published in the government gazette on the 14th September 1987 and was effective on the day after the announcement. Since the 15th of September 1987 the Establishment of Ubon Ratchathani University project had become Ubon Ratchathani College at Khon Kaen University having a status equal to one faculty. Later on it will be elevated to the status of a university. Associate Professor Dr. Somchit Yodseranee was appointed by the council of Khon Kaen University to be director of the college according to order 36/2530 (1987 A.D) dated 24th of December 1987. Ubon Ratchathani College has been functioning since then.
อ้างอิง
Ubon Ratchathani College, Khon Kaen University. “The historical background of the establishment of the university at Ubon Ratchathani Province”, page 35-39
