Being a developing country in the economic, social and educational aspects due to the industrial development within the country, Thailand needs more and more engineers to do foundation work, surveying and construction of all kinds along with that related to equipment, tools, electrical appliances and industry as well as mining. For these reasons, Chiang Mai University established a program to oversee the preparation for engineering studies as specified in classes 8 and 24 of the Chiang Mai University Act, B.E. 2507 (AD 1964) with the approval from the government to include it in the National Economic and Social Development Plan 2 (1967-1971), as well as in the meeting of the Chiang Mai University Council 1/2511 on February 7, 1968, the consent was granted to set up the program for the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering to be implemented in the academic year of 1972-1973 with the purpose to produce some engineers to meet the demand of the country in developing the economy. The key principles involved the following:
1. In developing and improving the expansion of the growing cities in the north, the opportunities for engineering study should be spread to the regional level to ease the density of Bangkok.
2. To provide the chance for engaging in the countrys development for those who live in the northern region to ensure the same level and standards available in the Central Region as well as other regions of the country.
3. To allow people in the north to study in this field with less expenses than going to Bangkok.
4. The educational standard at the secondary education level in the north has been high enough to study further at the university level.
5. The north has provided the education at the skilled and technical levels to the extent that it should further develop and increase the number of engineers to maintain a well-balanced quantity to the former to ensure healthy and harmonious educational development in the region.
6. Chiang Mai University has had available all the teaching and learning in the fields of physics, chemistry, mathematics and English which are the foundations for engineering studies, which would allow it the economic cost and high efficiency in the studies.
7. The experience gained from studying in the regional of a higher educational institute like Chiang Mai University in the north could stimulate more and higher creativity for a better development of the region.
Chiang Mai University has proceeded with the international cooperation for the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering since the time of Prof. Dr. Buaret Khamthong the President of the university by closely coordinating with Prof. Dr. Arun Sorathet (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University at that time, who later became the President of the same university) when he sent a working team to assist in this project from the earlier stage.
Prof. Dr. Arun Sorathet played an important role in the planning and construction of several buildings. In the academic area, he assisted in drafting the curriculum, seeking equipment and textbooks as well as the instructors and experts in the fields for teaching and learning.
The program began operations officially on June 3, 1970, concentrating on civil engineering although it had not yet been specifically defined until sometime later. Thus, the birth of the Civil Engineering Department was the same as that of the Faculty of Engineering. It occupied three rooms in the north side of the former Mens Dormitory, functioning as a secretarys office and a temporary class building. The first batch of instructors comprised Assoc. Prof. Suphot Tiyaphon (Civil Engineering), Asst. Prof. Sutham Yutabut (Civil Engineering) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thawanwong Krairothchananan, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suphot Tiyaphon as the first Dean of the Faculty.
Currently, the Faculty of Engineering consists of seven departments: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mining Engineering and Computer Engineering.
References
Chiang Mai University. (1990). Kroprop 25 pi mahawithayalai
Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai University.
Chiang Mai University Faculty of Engineering. (2012).
Khanawisawakammasat mahawithayalai Chiang Mai.
Retrieved on July 24, 2012, from http://eng.cmu.ac.th.
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