Silpakorn University

Silpakorn University (Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร; rtgs: Mahawitthayalai Sinlapakon) is a well-known public university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Italian-born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It is the leading Thai university in the fine arts and now includes many other faculties as well. It has about 28,000 students.

History

Prof. Silpa Bhirasri statue at Silpakorn University

Silpakorn University is presently under the supervision of the Office of the Higher Education Commission, the Ministry of Education and was originally established as the School of Fine Arts under the Fine Arts Department in 1933. Primarily, the school has offered the only studying programs in Painting and Sculpture by waiving tuition fees for the government officers and the students. Its inception and development owed much to an almost lifetime devotion of Professor Silpa Bhirasri, an Italian sculptor (previously called Professor Corrado Feroci) who was commissioned during the reign of King Rama VI to work in the Fine Arts Department. He subsequently enlarged the classes to include greater members of the interested public before taking his initiative in setting up the School of Fine Arts. The School gradually developed and was officially accorded a new status and named, Silpakorn University, on 12 October 1943. In the early phase of its development, its inaugural faculty was the Faculty of Painting and Sculpture (presently is named the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts). Since 1955, the Faculty of Thai Architecture was established (later changed the name into the Faculty of Architecture) and two more faculties were consecutively established to accommodate the university’s growing academic interests, namely, the Faculty of Archaeology and the Faculty of Decorative Arts in the following years.

In 1966, Silpakorn University had an educational policy to diversify the main areas of the four faculties into sub-specializations to respond to the development of its more academic interests and activities. However, the university underwent a limited physical expansion in Wang Tha Phra. Hence, a new campus, Sanam Chandra Palace Campus, was later established in Nakhon Pathom Province in the former residential compound of King Rama VI. The first two faculties founded on this campus were the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education in 1968 and 1969, respectively. Later, three more faculties were set up, namely, the Faculty of Science in 1972, the Faculty of Pharmacy in 1985, and the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology in 1991 (originally was named the Faculty of Industrial Technology). In 1999, the Faculty of Music was established for Silpakorn University to be more completed and becomes more academic excellence and specialization in artistic fields.

Silpakorn University also extends the educational capacity through establishing a new campus in Phetchaburi Province for promoting the higher education in the western Provinces of Thailand since 1997 and the new campus was named “Phetchaburi Information Technology Campus”. In 2001 and 2002, the Faculty of Animal Sciences and Agricultural Technology and the Faculty of Management Science were established consecutively in Phetchaburi Campus. In 2003, the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was established as well as Silpakorn University International College (SUIC) was established at the same period for providing the international curriculum in different academic fields of studies. In addition, Silpakorn University also maintains a Graduate School established since 1972 to facilitate and responsible for all offering graduate programs at Silpakorn University.^[1]

Emblem

Ganesha (or Ganesa) is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu. Ganesha is revered as the Remover of obstacles, the Lord of prosperity, the Patron of arts and sciences, letters, dramatic arts, trade and the Deva of intellect and wisdom. Silpakorn University has brought Ganesha as the University’s emblem to correspond with the missions of the University which is represented as the forefront academic institution to disseminate knowledge of arts and culture, as well as contributing to other disciplines to promote the strength of society and global community.^[2]

Campuses

The university currently consists of four main campuses:

Thaphra Palace

Thaphra palace

The university’s Wang Tha Phra was the first founding campus which occupies a small part of the inner city of Bangkok known as Rattanakosin Island. Located opposite to the Grand Palace and covering the area of 8 Rai, the campus was once the royal pavilion of H.R.H. Prince Narisaranuvattivongse and named “Wang Tha Phra”. On its western side also flows the famous Chao Phraya River whose deltaic expanse covers the most of central Thailand.

Office of the President, Talingchan

Located at 22 Borommaratchachonnani in Taling-Chan. Silpakorn University because space is limited. University, and currently has a student population increasing every year. Cause problems The narrowness of the place Accordingly, the University has moved the office of President . And some departments are located at the Office of the President Chan to get students . Wang Tha Phra area used fully. For the convenience of the agency. External contact with the University.

Sanam Chandra Palace

Sanam Chandra Palace

Sanam Chandra Palace Campus is located in the areas of Sanam Chandra Palace at the city center of Nakhon Pathom province. The palace was once the royal pavilion of King Rama VI of Chakri Dynasty and covering the area of 440 Rai.

Phetchaburi IT Campus

Phetchaburi Information Technology Campus is located at Moo 3, Cha-am-Pranburi Road, Sampraya District in Phetchaburi Province and it covers the total area of 820 Rai. The campus is also close to the seaside provinces of the western region of Thailand which are famous for tourism.

Faculties and schools

Silpakorn University consists of 13 faculties, a graduate school and a college:

Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Thapra Palace Campus

The International Business (MBA) program was created to fulfill the ever-growing need of human resources who are versed and capable of succeeding in a globalized environment. The duration of this program is four semesters (a total of two years) with convenient weekend class sessions. This allows students to work and study. As part of this MBA students are required to participate in a study tour to Sydney and attend lessons at the University of Technology Sydney as well as industrial visits. This study trip is organized by UTS and managed jointly between UTS and SUIC. The program subscribes to a “problem-based learning approach” where students are actively engaged and play a major role in the learning process. Each semester students can enroll in up to four subjects. All faculty are carefully selected by the program manager,Daniel G. Fuchs.

Notable alumni

The University has been associated with a range of highly distinguished alumni and staff including:

• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn - Princess of Thailand
• Princess Siribhachudhabhorn - Princess of Thailand
• Angkarn Kalayanapong - National Artist of Thailand (Literature), Poet
• Thawan Duchanee - National Artist of Thailand (Fine art and Visual art)
• Chalermchai Kositpipat - National Artist of Thailand (Fine art and Visual art), Founder of the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silpakorn University.

• Official website
• Social News Silpakorn