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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand

Volume XVI-2024 (Special Issue)

1933–an accomplishment in higher education for gender equality leading to more female

physicians later on. (Sanya Sukpanichnant, 2021)
In 1946, King Rama VIII expressed his wish, to see more physicians to provide medical

care for his people, to Professor Dr. Chalerm Prommas, the fellow of Royal Institute of Siam
(Royal Society of Thailand at present) and Director of Department of Medical Universities,

at the time when the king presided over the commencement ceremony for the medical
graduates, class of 51, at Siriraj Hospital. This led to the founding of the second medical school

at Chulalongkorn Hospital under University of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Medicine,
Chulalongkorn University at present) in the following year. This phenomenon once again reflects

the influence of the king leading to a better life for the Thai people. (Sanya Sukpanichnant, 2016)
In 1942, Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram established Department of Medical Universities,

Ministry of Public Health by merging many of government sectors, including department of
public health, department of public welfare, division of sanitation, school of physical education

department, municipal office of public health and medicine, section for hygiene and
sanitation under department of corrections, division of pharmacy and Thai pharmaceutical

factory under department of science, Ministry of Economics, and all medical education affairs
of Chulalongkorn University. (Plengvanich, 1957)

Soon after in the reign of King Rama IX, several changes occurred in the government
system for higher education. All universities were under supervision by the council of national

education, office of the prime minister in 1959 according to the council of national education act.
The name changed to state university bureau but still under office of the prime minister according

to the announcement of the revolutionary council number 216 dated 29 September 1972.
This state university bureau managed all state education activities that were not under the

ministry of education. In 1977, university affairs act B.E. 2520 raised the state university bureau
to be ministry of university affairs, free from ministry of the prime ministry. In 2003, the ministry

of university affairs changed to office of the higher education commission under ministry of
education. Subsequently, in 2019, Ministry of higher education, science, research and

innovation (MHESI) was established by merging of the three government sectors, including
ministry of science and technology, office of the higher education commission, and national

research council of Thailand under the royal act on improving ministries, bureaus, and
departments (no. 19) B.E. 2019, effective on 2 May 2019. As Siriraj medical school was the first

and only national higher education institute, the commencement ceremony was presided over
by King Rama VII on 25 October 1930. The number of medical schools later increased to 24 in

the reign of King Rama IX under the supervision of the office of the higher education commission

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