RESULTS
4) Technical Program
(1) Engineering
(2) Architecture
(3) Veterinary
(4) Veterinary Technology
(5) Education
(6) Nursing
(7) Public Health
(8) Sports Science
(9) Business
Administration
(10) Merchant Marine
Total 19 12 6 11
Source: Researcher, 2019.
In terms of university area, Kasetsart University occupies 24,833 Rai in total:
7,951 Rai in Kamphaengsaen Campus; 4,129 Rai in Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus; 848 Rai in Bangkhen; and 199 Rai in Si Racha Campus. In addition, there are subdivisions in other provinces such as Suphan Buri Campus Establisment Project, Research Station, Office of Extension and Training, Kasetsart University Laboratory School, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Radio Station KU, and so on, which together occupy 11,706 Rai (Kasetsart University, Planning Division, 2018a). Details are shown in Table 4.5.
Table 4.5 Areas of Kasetsart University
Work Segment Area (Rai)
Kasetsart University at Bangkhen 848
Kasetsart University Kamphaengsaen Campus 7,951
Kasetsart University Si Racha Campus 199
Kasetsart University Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus
4,129 Suphan Buri Establishment Campus Project, Suphan Buri
Province
761
Research Station 9,530
Office of Extension and Training 1,239
Kasetsart University Laboratory School 34
Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Only at the branch of at Nongpho, Ratchaburi Province) and Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan
117
Radio Station KU. 25
Total 24,833
Source: Kasetsart University, Planning Division, 2018a.
In aspect of Kasetsart University and other 3 campuses, the detail in work segment and in another context, could be described as below.
1) Kasetsart University at Bangkhen. This main office covers the area of 848 Rai. It was established on 2 February 1943. Kasetsart University at Bangkhen is the center of management and so is not considered to be a campus. The key informant who has an important position at Kasetsart University explained that Kasetsart University was previously located in fields called “Tung Bangkhen”. The university was quite far from the city making transportation difficult, so the students had to stay at the dormitory. Later, the university grew and had more students and faculties, so that area grew and had more communities. Kasetsart University at Bangkhen is located in the
northeast of Lad Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok. It is situated next to Lak Si and north of Klong Bangkhen. It is next to three main streets: west of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road; east of Highway No.1 Phahon Yothin, Chatuchak; and south of Ngamwongwan Road.
Kasetsart University at Bangkhen consists of the Offcie of KU Council and Office of the President. The main educational curriculum contains 15 faculties and 1 college:
Faculty of Agriculture; Faculty of Business Administration; Faculty of Fisheries;
Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Forestry; Faculty of Science; Faculty of Engineering;
Faculty of Education; Faculty of Economics; Faculty of Architecture; Faculty of Social Science; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Faculty of Agro-Industry; Faculty of Veterinary Technology; Faculty of Environment; and the Graduate School. For research and academic outreach, four offices to support the study programs: Office of the Registrar; Office of Computer Service; Office of Extension and Training; and Kasetsart University Library. There are four institutes: Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute; Institute of Food Research and Product Development;
Kasetsart Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Product Improvement Institute; Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies. There is one center: Princess Sirindhorn International Center for Research, Development and Technology Transfer. Moreover, there are many important departments located at Kasetsart University at Bangkhen:
Veterinary Teaching Hospital; Kasetsart University Laboratory School; and Radio Station KU, among others. There are also many departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives: Rice Department; Department of Fisheries; The Royal Irrigation Department; Department of Agriculture; Department of Agricultural Extension; The Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture; National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards; Office of Agricultural Economics; and Kasetratikarn Institute under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
There are crowded, urban and village communities around Kasetsart University. The communities were separated by regulations of Bangkok into different communities: Samakkhi Thewa Sunthon Community; Bangkhen Market Community;
Wat Bang Bua Community; Phahon Yothin 46 Community; Pradid Torakarn Community; RTA Chemical Department Community; Pracha Ruam Jai Community;
Yu Charoen Village Community; Phahon Yothin 40 Community and so on. These
include houses or police flats such as Community of Law Enforcement Agency Flats, Community of Central Lad Yao Police Flats, and Community of Central Vibhavadi.
There are many houses and private business offices or government organizations around Kasetsart University, such as RTA Chemical Department, Sripatum University, Sarawittaya School, Vibhavadi Hospital, and Maruay Garden Hotel.
2) Kamphaengsaen Campus, Nakhon Pathom Province. This is Kasetsart University’s first campus and is also the first research station in the western region. It was established on December 4, 1979. The campus occupies area of 7,951 Rai covering three Sub-districts in Kamphaengsaen District. Most of the area is situated in Kamphaengsaen Sub-district, but some areas are in Tung Bua Sub-district and Rang Pikul Sub-district. The north of the university is next to Jantarubeksa, the west is next to Thung Bua Sub-district, the northeast is next to Highway No. 321 Nakhon Pathom – Suphan Buri (Malaiman Road) and Moo9 Baan Wat Kru, the south is next to Highway No. 346 Panom Tuan- Kamphaengsaen. There is now the office of campus as the center of work management for the campus and there are five faculties: Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaengsaen; Faculty of Engineering at Kamphaengsaen; Faculty of Sports Science; Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science; and Faculty of Education and Development Sciences. There are also two offices: Office of Extension and Training Kamphaengsaen; Office of the University Library Kamphaengsaen Campus. There is one center: the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology. Moreover, there is also the Faculty of Veterinary, Faculty of Fisheries, and Graduates School. Kasetsart University At Bangkhen expanded the departments and other segments to Kamphaengsaen Campus, such as the Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, and the Kasetsart Veterinary Teaching Hospital Kamphaengsaen under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The communities around Kamphaengsaen Campus consist of three Sub-districts: Kamphaengsaen Sub-district (twelve villages); Thung Bau Sub-district (four villages); and Rang Phikul Sub-district (three villages). Most of the area around the campus is alluvial plain. People work in agricultural farming rice, sugar cane, vegetables such as asparagus or young corn, cattle farming such as beef and dairy cattle, and raising aquatic animals such as Nile tilapia, Puntius Gonionotus, and Oreochromis Niloticus. There are also many agricultural companies in Kamphaengsaen District, such
as vegetable and fruit export companies, animal food manufacturers, agricultural cooperatives, and other business encouraged by large student numbers. In particular, the east of university is next to Highway No. 321 Nakhon Pathom-Suphan Buri (Malaiman Road), where there are many dormitories, restaurants, shops, and other services.
3) Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus. This campus is located in Chiang Khrua Sub-district, Muang District, Sakon Nakhon. It occupies 4,129 Rai. Most of the area is a plateau and there is a natural water source in the southeast of the campus, Nong Han Noi, which is under the management of the Department of Fisheries. The natural water resource is 5 kilometers from the campus in Tharae Sub- district, Mueang District, Sakon Nakhon and occupies 700 Rai. The campus was established as the Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus on August 15 1996. Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus arranged it as the project of Nong Han Chalermphrakiat Park to commemorate H.M.
the King’s 72nd Birthday on December 5, 1999 and renaming. The park was established to study aquatic animals, plants and water quality and to provide knowledge for career improvement and increase the efficiency of agricultural production. Today, Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, consists of five work segments: the Faculty of Natural Resource and Agro-Industry; Faculty of Science and Engineering; Faculty of Liberal Arts and Management Science; Faculty of Public Health; and the Office of Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus.
The community around the campus is under the responsibility of the Municipal Office of Chiang Khrua Sub-district. There are 17 villages and Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus is located in Moo1 Baan Chiang Khrua. Most area in Chiang Khrua Sub-district where occupies slopping and waving area along the way of southwest of Phu Phan Mountains to the north. Situated in the Sakon Nakhon basin. Most people work in agricultural farms growing things such as rice, chili, and raising animals and fish. In addition, other people work as labourers, traders, and the civil service.
4) Si Racha Campus, Chonburi Province: This campus is located in the northeast of Thung Sukhla Sub-district, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province. It occupies an area of 199 Rai. The campus is approximately 7 kilometers from Laem
Chabang Industrial Estate and the port of Laem Chabang. The area is situated on the foothills of the mountains with capillary water. It faces the west of Ao-Udom beach. In the past, this area was used as a funeral site and the villagers later brought animals such as cows and buffalo to feed there. This also used to be a training farm for Kasetsart University students, a Training Station for students of Si Racha Campus, Si Racha Research Station, and a Community College before the establishment of the Si Racha Campus on March 15, 1999. Kasetsart University, Si Racha Campus, is now composed of the Office of Si Racha Campus as the central management of the campus and five faculties: the Faculty of Management Sciences; Faculty of Engineering at Si Racha;
Faculty of Science at Si Racha; Faculty of Economics at Si Racha; and the Faculty of International Maritime College.
Being located 7 kilometers from Laem Chabang Industrial Estate and the port of Laem Chabang, the community around the university is an urban community with many people. Many people move to work in this area, including university staff and students, and employees of industrial factories in Laem Chabang Industrial Estate. Most people in the community around the campus work as merchants, employees, or government officers, and few people work in agriculture or fisheries.
The study result of Kasetsart University and three campuses context implies that each place has a different context. Kasetsart University at Bangkhen consists of various faculties, offices, institutes, and major subjects such as agriculture, environment, economics, business administration, engineering, veterinary, and basic subjects like science and social science. Additionally, the central management office between Kasetsart University and the three campuses is located in Bangkhen. The communities around it is composed of stores, government organizations, educational institutes, and many dormitories. Most people work as government or private company employees, merchants, and laborers. The Kamphaengsaen Campus consists of the faculties of agriculture, engineering, education, sports science, and basic subjects.
There is the office of campus as the center of work management for the campus but there is no institute. Most of the area around the campus is alluvial plain. There are stores, factories, agricultural companies, and dormitories around the university. People work as merchants, laborers, and government and private company employees.
Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus consists of the Faculties of
agriculture, natural resources, engineering, education, and basic subjects. There is the office of campus as the center of work management for the campus but there is no institute. Most of the area where occupies slopping and waving area along the way of southwest of Phu Phan Mountains. Most people work in agricultural farms and work as laborers. Si Racha Campus consists of the Faculties of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Engineering, Management Sciences, International Maritime College, and basic subjects. There is the office of campus as the center of work management for the campus but there is no institute. The area around the campus is situated in the foothills of the mountains with capillary water. There are stores and dormitories nearby and the community members work as merchants, laborers, and government and private company employees.
4.2.3 Background and Kasetsart University Uniqueness
According to the university’s history and the key informants, it is clear that the university uniqueness did not appear in such specific words in the past. Kasetsart University was first established to promote subjects related to agricultural science. In the period before the establishment of the university (1934-1938) until its establishment period (1939-1962), the outstanding academic characteristics of Kasetsart University was as a study center and knowledge organization to provide knowledge of agricultural production such as farming, livestock, fisheries, and forestry, and for knowledge integration in agricultural management such as cooperative, irrigation, and economics.
The key informants from Kasetsart University Committees and community leaders explained that the university uniqueness in the primary period was based on agriculture and natural resources. The meaning of “agriculture” was defined as a subject of agriculture science. In the Sanskrit language, “Kaset” (agriculture) means land, field, and farm, while “Sart” (Science) means knowledge or learning system. This therefore supports the university uniqueness as well in terms of promoting the university as a professional teaching, research, and agricultural service institution.
The university symbol consists of three circles. At the center is Phra Phirun, the god of rain in Hinduism holding a weapon in the right hand and in the left is Pang Prathan Porn, which means fertility for all farming, standing on a giant Naga sprinkling three lines of water with three lines in Kanok style. It is encircled by 24 lotus petals,
with the words “Kasetsart University” on the first line and “B.E. 2486” on the second line with two lines in Thai between these two words, as shown in Figure 4.1, which could remark the uniqueness of Kasetsart University as well.
Figure 4.1 Symbol of Kasetsart University
Source: Kasetsart University, Planning Division, 2017: 5.
The key informants specified that the uniqueness of Kasetsart University appears in the royal composition song “Kasetsart” to imply that the university was established to provide agricultural study, based on the lyric “the agricultural institute we have respected”. Additionally, the lyric “Green forest, land of Thai, full of fertility, due to Thai’s trading, everywhere, delight for all…” implies that the fertility of natural resources and environment in Thailand leads to agricultural trade. The song’s full lyrics are shown in Thai version as below.
เขียวธงขจี ก่อเกิดไมตรีสามัคคีมั่น
kĭeow tong kà-jee gòr gèrt mai-dtree săa-mák-kee-mân