History
Khon Kaen University (KKU) was established as the major university in the Northeastern part of Thailand in 1964 and has developed itself to become one of the top universities in Thailand. Khon Kaen University has recently become one of the nine national research universities in Thailand and an educational center in the Mekong sub-region. The university’s major mission is to prepare future global citizens to work in a continually changing world. KKU’s strategic goal is to be recognized both internationally and regionally as a leading university in research. KKU currently has more than 40,000 students studying in 17 faculties, 1 satellite campus, 1 school, and 3 colleges and in 43 International/English programs which cover a wide variety of disciplines.
Our campus serves as the leading educational and learning centre of the Northeastern region. It is conveniently located a few kilometers from the center of the city and is situated on a large, safe, and attractive site of green fields measuring 900 hectares. KKU has excellent facilities and thus provides its students with an environment conducive to learning and with the proper support to achieve academic success. Additionally, KKU takes an investment-minded approach to education by providing funds for students to pursue their goals of higher education through study and research.
Facts and Figures
- 22 Faculties and Colleges with more than 2,200 academic staff and 8,500 supporting staff
- 40,000 students including 10,000 postgraduates and 500 overseas students
- 340 study programs (101 Undergraduate programs, 138 in Masters Degree programs,
- 77 in Doctoral Degree programs and 24 Graduate Diploma programs)
- 43 International programs
Research
Khon Kaen University – Research Center of Excellence
Khon Kaen University (KKU)’s vision to become a leading world –class university is in line with the mission that KKU has been assigned to be the “Center of knowledge” based on the wisdom of local communities and society, together with the commitment as a university of academic excellence.
Several working agencies have been established in all fields to establish mission goals for research and technology transfer in line with the goal to develop the university as a research center of academic excellence.
These agencies include the Office of Research Management, the Office of Royally-initiated Projects and a total of 25 research centers of excellence and research specialist groups, 20 research centers and groups supporting and promoting research to university staff and personnel which are also provided with research funds from KKU’s 40th year anniversary establishment of its Research Fund, and other funding sources. These research centers aim to help support and promote the research work of university personnel and staff.
Additionally, KKU has established more research working bodies to collaborate with organizations outside the university, both public and private organizations. At present, the University has partnerships with more than 160 national and international research organizations from 25 countries. There are also exchange programs for KKU students, personnel, provided with full equipment, knowledge, labs and other kinds of bodies of knowledge.
Outstanding research work of KKU
- Medicine, Public Health and Tropical Medicine/Tropical Disease Research Laboratory (TDR)
- Agriculture and tropical farming systems (animal science, plant science)
- Bio-diversity in the Mekong River basin
- Arts, Culture and society in the Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS)
- Business, economic and tourism in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS)