The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Nālandā University Bill, which intends to revive the 5th century residential institution that attracted students from all over the world.

The Rajya Sabha took a major decision by passing the Nalanda University Bill 2010, which will allow the set up of a transnational university at Nalanda in Bihar which was a seat of learning in ancient India. India along with 16 countries of East Asia would like to see Nalanda as an icon of Asian renaissance. Perceived to be an amalgam of ancient and modern thinking, 

A Brief History of Chulalongkorn University Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s first institution of higher learning, officially came into being in March, 1917. The groundwork and preparation for it in terms of planning and development, however, took place more than a century ago. The worldwide economic, social and political changes in the late nineteenth century contributed to Siam’s decision to adapt herself in order to avoid being colonized by the Western powers (“Siam” became “Thailand” in the year 1939). Thus King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) has royal policy to strengthen and improve government so that the country could successfully resist the tide of colonialism. One of the major parts of the policy, which would later prove to be deep-rooted and highly effective, was to improve the Siamese educational system so as to produce capable personnel to work in both the public and private sectors. As a result, a school was founded in 1871 at the Royal Pages Barrack within the Grand Palace compound.

Later on, in 1882, King Chulalongkorn developed this school and gave it the name of “Suankularb”. In the same year, the King also established other schools, namely the Army Cadet School, the Cartographic School, the School for Princes, and the School for Dhamma Studies.

“…All of our subjects, from our royal children down to the lowest commoners, will have the same opportunity to study-be they royals, nobles or commoners…”

This speech showed that the King did not forget common citizens. He had a policy to set up schools throughout the kingdom, together with institutions of higher learning. He insisted : “…Education in this country is the first priority, which I am determined to develop…”

In 1899 Prince Damrong Rajanupab, a younger brother of King Chulalongkorn who was the Minister of Interior at the time, submitted a proposal to found the Civil Service Training School with Phraya Wisutsuriyasak (M.R.Pia Malakul — who later assumed the title of Chao Phraya Phrasadej Surendradhibodi) as the principal. However, since the students of the school had to work as royal page trainees in their third year of study before graduation, the name of the school was changed to the Royal Pages School in 1902. The Royal Pages School progressed steadily and produced an increasing number of graduates for the government each year. However, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) saw that the original intention of his father, King Chulalongkorn, was to establish an institution of higher learning. In the beginning, the course of study was focused on government, but as time passed the curriculum should be expanded to include more disciplines so as to meet the expanding needs of the kingdom. Such disciplines included law, international relations, commerce, agriculture, engineering, medicine and teacher education. Thus King Vajiravudh ordered that the Royal Pages School become an institution of higher education and gave it the name the “Civil Service College of King Chulalongkorn” on January 1, 1911.

The Civil Service College received its original funding from the remaining sum of the money which had been contributed by members of the royal family, government officials and ordinary citizens to erect a statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great. After the statue was completed, about eight hundred thousand baht remained in the Royal Treasury Ministry;with interest the sum totalled 982,672 baht . King Vajiravudh gave this sum as the original capital of the college. Furthermore, he graciously donated the palace of his brother, the late Crown Prince Vajirunhis, as the site of the college. He also gave a large plot of land adjacent to the palace in the Patumwan district measuring about 523 acres in area, for its present use and future expansion. Later the Administration Building was constructed as the first building which belonged to the college from the beginning.

After the Civil Service College had been in operation for some time, King Vajiravudh considered that it had achieved a level of readiness. Therefore,he declared that it should become Chulalongkorn University, in honour of King Chulalongkorn,on March 26, 1917. The newly founded university was under the supervision of University Affairs Department, Ministry of Education. Phraya Anukijwithoon was the first principal (the title was changed to Rector in 1935). There was a University Council, which was responsible for policy making, planning, and advising on the affairs of the university. Prince Damrong Rajanupab was the Chairman of the Council and the Principal of the university was the Secretary.

When it was first founded, the university had 380 students taking classes in four faculties which were located in 2 campuses. The Faculty of Medicine was located at Siriraj Hospital, while the Faculties of Public Administration and of Engineering were at the Administration Building and the Faculty of Arts and Science was located at Prince Vajirunhis’ palace. The latter three faculties were in Patumwan district. The Law School was under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice until the university was ready to take over, and the Teachers’ Training School was handed over to the Ministry of Education. The categories of students were the same as in the old Civil Service College.

In 1923, the university accepted high school graduates to study in the Faculty of Medicine, which was being supported by the Rockefeller Foundation to organize a Bachelor’s Degree program. Five years later the first group of 18 graduates finished their studies, the first to be awarded degrees in the kingdom.

In 1929, the Faculty of Public Administration became the Faculty of Law and Political Science. In 1933, after the establishment of constitutional monarchy in 1932, the government transferred this faculty to Thammasat University, which was established in 1934. The result was that Chulalongkorn University had only three faculties during that time.

The development of Chulalongkorn University continued. From 1934 to 1958, the university emphasized improvement of undergraduate education; thus more faculties were established. In 1961 the university set up the Graduate School to be responsible for graduate level education. From 1962 on, the university started to focus on graduate education and began to set up research centers and institutes.

Message from the President

Professor Pirom Kamolratanakul, MD

President

March, 2009

The Pride of Chula is in Serving the Public

Chulalongkorn University is Thailand’s first institution of higher education founded nearly a century ago. As a national intellectual center, the university produces the finest quality graduates with a high level of knowledge and skills in the arts and sciences that they can use to contribute to society.

For more than 90 years now, Chulalongkorn has been committed to ongoing development in programs, human resources, facilities and services. With the cooperation of alumni, we have been building an intellectual community devoted to serving Thai society and the nation. During national disasters and turmoil, Chulalongkorn continues to serve as a central pillar for finding the solutions and assistance to solve these problems.

Chulalongkorn University should not be thought of as just an honored institution of learning but as a caring home. We are determined to graduate not just the best qualified but persons of integrity under the credo, “The Pride of Chula is in Serving the Public”

The President and Administrative Board

Chulalongkorn University is Thailand ’s first institution of higher education founded nearly a century ago. As a national intellectual center, the university produces the highest quality graduates with a high level of knowledge and skills in the arts and sciences that they can use to contribute to society.

For more than 90 years now, Chulalongkorn has been committed to ongoing development in programs, human resources, facilities and services. With the cooperation of alumni, we have been building an intellectual community devoted to serving Thai society and the nation. During national disasters and turmoil, Chulalongkorn continues to serve as a central pillar for finding the solutions and assistance to solve these problems.

Chulalongkorn University should not be thought of as just an honored institution of learning but as a caring home. We are determined to graduate not just the best qualified but persons of integrity under the credo, “The Pride of Chula is in Serving the Public”.

Administrative Board

The Pillar of the Kingdom Chulalongkorn University… The Pillar of the Kingdom “When Thai society is faced with difficulties and the country is in need of help, Chulalongkorn University will step up to take the initiative to solve these problems. At such times, everyone shall first be thinking of Chulalongkorn University… By taking on a leading role, Chulalongkorn University is to be the “flagship” of this land. It has to inculcate a sense of justice and righteousness into this country.”

This is the promise King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the founding father of Chulalongkorn University, had made to the Thai society upon establishing this institution. It has also inspired the vision that will drive all university operations carried out during the year 2008 to 2012. In celebration of Chulalongkorn University 100th Anniversary, the university aims to realize this vision by becoming “The Pillar of the Kingdom”. From the year 2008 to 2012, the university aims to produce to following achievements:

• To become a world-class university

• To serve as the kingdom’s source of knowledge

• To establish a quick, close-knit and efficient management system

• To be a welcoming home for the righteous and competent

To establish itself as the dependable “pillar” of the kingdom and for its people, the university has to start from within; it has to begin by being a “welcoming home for the righteous and competent”. To secure these achievements, 6 basic strategies will be utilized, namely; revolutionary, responsible, strength, stability, compassionate and happiness.

Awards

Chulalongkorn for the people…When the society needs help…Chulalongkorn has the solution

Chulalongkorn’s strategy is to accept its responsibilities in order to mold the future leaders of the nation. With responsibilities and intelligence to improve and solve problems internationally and locally, the community is willing to take part in corporate social responsibility on the grounds of high values and morality.

Phra Kieo

You can download the handbook on using Chulalongkorn University logo at the links provided below

	Handbook on using Chulalongkorn University logo [PDF File]
	Chulalongkorn University Logo [ZIP File]

Download the Power Point template for Chulalongkorn University from the link provided below

PowerPoint template for Chulalongkorn University [ZIP File]   Chula Song

For over 90 years, Chulalongkorn University has been graduating alumni who have been serving the nation because of the knowledge and skills they learned. Chula graduates are found in all regions of the country and all types of work, social, cultural, political, economic, industrial and technological.

People are always impressed by the knowledge, abilities and potential exhibited by every Chulalongkorn University graduate as they work to contribute to social and national development. This is why the public has come to realize the truth in the adage, “The Pride of Chula is in Serving the Public”.

Chula graduates and current students together form a powerful force together with faculty members and staff for advancement, which has long been the goal of this institution.

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies is a regional research centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.

The  aim of the Institute is to nurture a community of scholars interested in the region and to engage in research on the multi-faceted dimensions and issues of stability and security, economic development, and political, social and cultural change.

The intention  is not only to stimulate research and debate within scholarly circles , but also to enhance public awareness of the region and facilitate the search for viable solutions to the varied problems confronting the region.

In a world increasingly dominated by the forces of globalization and regionalization, networking has become an imperative. The Institute is strategically placed to assist international, regional and local scholars and other researchers in this networking process by serving as a centre that provides a congenial and stimulating intellectual environment, encouraging the fullest interaction and exchange of ideas in an unfettered ambience. ISEAS is dedicated to long-term reflective analysis and investigations in the best traditions of scholarship. The Institute also seeks to stimulate thinking on and exploring solutions to some of the major salient issues in the region.

To achieve these aims, the Institute conducts a range of research programmes; holds conferences, workshops, lectures and seminars; publishes research journals and books; and generally provides a range of research support facilities, including a large library collection.

The Institute is governed by a Board of Trustees. Members are appointed for a three-year term and are drawn from the National University of Singapore, the government, and a broad range of professional and civic organizations and groups in Singapore.

Ambassador K Kesavapany, ISEAS Director with effect from 1 November 2002 will be ISEAS chief administrative and academic officer. His primary responsibilities would be to plan, organize and supervise all the professional and research activities of the Institute.

Prior to his appointment to the Directorship of ISEAS, Ambassador Kesavapany was Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia since March 1997. In his 30-year career in the Foreign Service, he served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (December 1991 - March 1997) and held key staff appointments in MFA, including Director of ASEAN, Director of Directorate II (North America and Europe) and Director of Directorate IV (International Organizations and Third World).

Ambassador Kesavapany was an active participant in the final phase of the Uruguay Round negotiations. He was unanimously chosen as the first Chairman of the WTO’s General Council in 1995. Subsequently, he played a key role in securing Singapore as the venue for the first WTO Ministerial Meeting in 1996.

Ambassador Kesavapany, a Singaporean, is married to Padmini and has two sons.

Dr CHIN KIN WAH 

Administration

The Institute’s Administration Unit, comprising general administration and finance sections, provides a wide range of administrative, accounting, budgetary, logistic, and personnel services to support the Institute’s research programmes and dissemination activities, Library, Publications Unit, and Computer Unit.

For enquiries, please contact Mrs Y L Lee, Head, Administration at Admin email address:admin@iseas.edu.sg

 For other specific enquiries:        

• Publications Unit:              

1. ISEAS Annual Report 2008-2009 (PDF Format) 

2. ISEAS Annual Report 2007-2008 (PDF Format) 

3. ISEAS Annual Report 2006-2007 (PDF Format)

4. Financial Statements for the FY 2006-2007 (PDF Format) 

5. ISEAS Annual Report 2005-2006 (PDF Format) 

6. Financial Statements for the FY 2005-2006 (PDF Format) 

7. ISEAS Annual Report 2004-2005 (PDF Format)

8. ISEAS Annual Report 2003-2004 (PDF Format)

9. ISEAS Annual Report 2002-2003  (PDF Format)

10. ISEAS Annual Report 2001-2002 (PDF Format)

11. ISEAS Annual Report 2000-2001 (PDF Format)

12. ISEAS Annual Report 1999-2000 (PDF Format)

. Non-Financial Information

2. Financial Information

*   Renamed ISEAS Consolidated Endowment Fund in 2006 in view of consolidation of funds.

INSTITUTE OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN STUDIES ACT

Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Act.

Interpretation.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies constituted under section 4;

“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board appointed under section 4;

“Director” means the Director of the Institute appointed under section 12;

“regulations” means regulations made by the Executive Committee under section 14.

Establishment of Institute.
3. For the promotion of research on Southeast Asia and on all matters appertaining to Southeast Asia, there shall be established an Institute to be styled “the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies” (referred to in this Act as the Institute).

Constitution of Board of Trustees.
4. —(1) There is hereby constituted a body corporate to be known as “the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies”, which —

(a) shall have perpetual succession;

(b) shall have a common seal; and

(c) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

(a) four persons to be appointed by the President;

(b) four persons, one each to be appointed by the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce;

(c) two persons, one each to be appointed by the Lee Foundation and the Shaw Foundation;

(d) six persons to be appointed by the President of the National University of Singapore; and

(e) three persons to be appointed by the President from among persons nominated by such professional bodies and organisations as the President may consult.

(4) The Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, and other members appointed by the President under subsection (2) shall hold office for a period of up to 3 years, unless the President otherwise directs, and shall be eligible for reappointment:

Provided that the President may at any time revoke such an appointment.

(5) The members appointed, otherwise than by the President, under subsection (2) shall hold office for a period of 3 years, unless the President otherwise directs, and shall be eligible for reappointment:

Provided that the person or body appointing such a member may at any time revoke his appointment.

(6) Any member of the Board may resign from the Board by giving notice in writing to that effect addressed to the Chairman and as from the date the Chairman receives the notice the member shall cease to be a member.

(7) If the Chairman is absent from any meeting of the Board, the Deputy Chairman shall act as chairman of the meeting.

(8) The Board may grant leave of absence to any member of the Board.

(9) Any member absenting himself from 4 consecutive meetings of the Board without having obtained leave of absence from the Board shall be considered as having resigned from the Board.

(10) If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board by the death, resignation, revocation of appointment of a member or otherwise, the vacancy shall be filled by the authority appointing that member, and any person so appointed shall hold office for so long as the member in whose place he is appointed would have held office.

(11) The Board shall meet at least once a year.

Powers of Board.
5. The Board shall have power —

(a) to receive and approve the annual report and accounts of the Institute;

(b) to approve the budget and research programme of the Institute;

(c) to set up endowment funds and other funds for a specific purpose or purposes; and

(d) generally to do all such matters and things as may be incidental to or consequential upon the exercise of its powers or the discharge of its functions under this Act.

Quorum.
6. —(1) Every question before the Board at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present.

(2) Eight members of the Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

(3) The chairman at any meeting shall have an original vote and, in the case of an equality of votes, a casting vote.

Secretary of Board.
7. —(1) The Executive Secretary of the Institute shall be the Secretary of the Board, and shall attend all meetings thereof unless excused for good cause by the Chairman.

(2) In the absence of the Secretary, the Chairman may appoint a suitable person to act as clerk for a particular meeting.

Power of Board to enter into contracts and to hold property.
8. —(1) The Board may enter into such contracts as may be necessary or expedient for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

(2) The Board may acquire and hold such movable or immovable property as may be necessary or expedient for carrying into effect the provisions of this Act and for the same purposes may sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise alienate or dispose of any property so acquired.

Power of Board to borrow and invest.
9. —(1) The Board may borrow at interest on the security of any movable or immovable property of the Board such moneys as it may from time to time think necessary or expedient.

(2)   The Board may invest its funds in accordance with the standard investment power of statutory bodies as defined in section 33A of the Interpretation Act (Cap. 1).

(3) The Board may do all or any things incidental or appertaining to a body corporate.

Issue of shares, etc.
9A.   As a consequence of the vesting of any property, rights or liabilities of the Government in the Board under this Act, or of any capital injection or other investment by the Government in the Board in accordance with any written law, the Board shall issue such shares or other securities to the Minister for Finance as that Minister may from time to time direct.

Use of common seal.
10. The common seal of the Board shall be in the custody of the Director. It shall not be affixed to any instrument except in the presence of the Chairman or a member of the Board designated by the Chairman and the Director or a member of the Executive Committee designated by the Director, and not until the Chairman or the member of the Board and the Director or the member of the Executive Committee have signed their names to the instrument in token of their presence.

Grants-in-aid and accounts of Institute.
11. —(1) The Minister may from time to time authorise the payment of grants-in-aid to the Institute.

(2) All moneys provided for under subsection (1) may be applied or expended by the Institute for all or any of the purposes of the Institute.

(3) A copy of the accounts of the Institute for each financial year when prepared and audited in accordance with the rules made under section 15 shall as soon as practicable after the completion of the audit be submitted to the Board for approval before being sent to the Minister.

Appointment, powers and duties of Director.
12. —(1) There shall be a Director of the Institute who shall be appointed by the Board on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine.

(2) The Director shall be the chief administrative and academic officer of the Institute and shall be responsible for —

(a) the proper administration of the Institute in accordance with the policy of the Board;

(b) the academic and research management of the Institute in accordance with the policy of the Board;

(c) the proper enforcement of the regulations; and

(d) the discipline of the fellows of the Institute,

Constitution of Executive Committee.
13. —(1) The Board shall appoint an Executive Committee for carrying out the objects of this Act or any part thereof as it may consider necessary.

(2) The Executive Committee shall consist of —

(a) the Director, who shall be its chairman;

(b) three members to be appointed by the Board from among the members of the Board;

(c) three members to be appointed by the Minister; and

(d) three members to be appointed by the Director from among the staff of the Institute.

(4) Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum at any meeting.

Powers of Executive Committee.
14. —(1) It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee, in the exercise of its powers and in the performance of its functions, to act in such a manner as appears to it best calculated to promote the aims and interests of the Institute.

(2) The functions of the Executive Committee shall include the carrying on of all such activities and the doing of all such things as are necessary or advantageous and proper for the government, control and general administration of the Institute and of the assets of the Institute and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall include —

(a) the authorisation of the appropriate and necessary expenditure within the funds available to the Institute;

(b) the preparation of an annual report on the working of the Institute and the preparation of the annual estimates and of such annual statements of account as are required by this Act or by any rules made thereunder;

(c) the appointment of the senior research staff and the senior administrative staff of the Institute and the appointment of such advisers as the Director may consider necessary or desirable;

(d) the making, subject to the approval of the Board, of regulations relating generally to the academic management of the Institute and in particular to —

(i) the qualifications necessary for entrance to the Institute, the duration and number of the Institute terms, the award of certificates and diplomas to the fellows of the Institute and the revocation of any certificates or diplomas so awarded;

(ii) the institution of other posts and offices and appointments thereto;

(iii) the establishment of an Institute printing press and the publishing of books and other publications;

(iv) the erection, equipment and maintenance of libraries, laboratories, museums, lecture halls and all other buildings required for the purposes of the Institute whether in Singapore or elsewhere;

(v) the institution and award of fellowships, scholarships, exhibitions, bursaries, medals, prizes and other titles, distinctions, awards and forms of assistance towards the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on Southeast Asia;

(vi) the relationship between the Institute on the one hand and schools, colleges, universities and other academic institutions, both in Singapore and abroad, on the other; and

(vii) the fees to be payable at the Institute;

(e) the making of regulations relating to —

(i) the procedure in regard to meetings of the Executive Committee and of any committee duly appointed by it under the provisions of this Act;

(ii) the setting up, membership and functions of advisory committees and the procedure in regard to the meetings of such advisory committees; and

(iii) the powers and functions of the officers of the Institute and of any committee duly appointed by it under the provisions of this Act;

(f) the provision of pensions, superannuation or provident fund schemes for the benefit of the Institute’s employees or any section of its employees and the making of arrangements for the establishment of such schemes;

(g) the provision and regulation of residence for officers, staff and fellows of the Institute and the welfare and discipline of staff and fellows; and

(h) the demand and receipt of such fees as may from time to time be prescribed by regulations.

(4) Any committee shall have full power to act on any resolution passed by it within the scope of the power delegated to it by the Executive Committee under subsection (3) and all decisions of the committee shall be reported to the Executive Committee.

Power to make rules.
15. —(1) The Minister may make such rules as may be necessary.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters:

(a) the powers and functions of the Board;

(b) the preparation, audit and submission to the Minister of estimates, budgets, accounts and other information pertaining to the Institute; and

(c) the terms and conditions of transfer to the Institute of holders of pensionable appointments in the public service.