Introduction to Thammasart University
A university is just like a place where people spend their right and opportunity seeking knowledge according to the freedom of education. Owing to Professor Dr.Pridi Phanomyong, the founder of Thammasat University, which is the university of Moral and Political Sciences, he strongly instituted Thammasat University to provide the undergraduates with full education offering levels of academic degrees in many fields to develop internationally good leaders and citizens. Moreover, the university campuses would be expanded to rural education hub to sustain the growth of the University. Together, the undergraduates would not only learn about the history of political disputes in the old days but they also would be built up their soul awareness to apply and integrate their knowledge to solve the problems they faced in their everyday life on their own and for the common good, according to “from Womb to tomb” the concept of Professor Dr. Puey Ungphakorn.
Introduction to Faculty of Social Administration
“Social is an operation to help human who are able and unable to help themselves to be both physically and mentally happy. Social work also provides those basic needs, education and trustworthy career knowledge for the unity. ” royal speech of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the 2nd national social work opening ceremony, 26 March 1962
Up until now, Thailand has been a kind of reciprocal society but even not in the same way as other countries. From Lady La-iade Phibunsongkhram’s idea, she would like to help Thai society, using the range of social work to develop people’s social welfare. Also, Culture Welfare Institute trained people to be effective social workers. As a result, this led the decree to establish the fifth faculty of Thammasat University, Faculty of Social Administration, on 25 January 1954 which was aimed to serve state politics, welfare and social security as well as publicized the standard of social work and social security that were supposed to be equivalent to oversea universities. By the royal grace of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, she officially opened the building of the Faculty at Tha Phrachan on 12 October 1971.
The word “Social Administration” is significant word. It means social problem management, social integration and gradually change of society, according to Fabian method in English. The word “Social Administration” was changed for a while to “Social Work Profession”. However, to insist this concept, the faculty continues using the word “Social Administration”.
At first, the faculty offered the continuing courses from original major in bachelor’s degree. In 1957, the duration of teaching and learning in bachelor’s degree was improved to be 4 years and master degree program was offered respectively. The faculty is the first faculty in Thailand provided the students the chance to learn through the local people’s lifestyle for applying the knowledge in classroom to operating area. In 1994, the government services in Faculty of Social Administration are divided into 3 sections: Office of the Secretary, Department of Community Development and Department of Social Work.
Over the past years, Faculty of Social Administration has updated knowledge about social work, social security, and community development to both undergraduates and postgraduates in every campus: Tha Phrachan, Rangsit Center, and regional campus in Lampang. Besides, the Faculty has provided services to the society through training and collaborative research projects for academic collaboration with domestic and international organizations, including the establishment of the 1st Social Action Center in Thailand in Klong Chan.
In the Faculty, a group of professors is competent with a lot of knowledge and experiences in a variety of fields. They have played an important role to power not only nationally and internationally social policies, resulting in curriculum development and ongoing research with Thammasat University as a university but also graduated students at all levels with management ability, morality, and professional ethics. At present, the Faculty’s alumni successfully apply their knowledge to serve people and society in all areas of the country.