13th December 2563/2020: at 13:00 MCU: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University convocation ceremony was held on the second day at the 48th Birthday of the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Conference Hall. Venerable Prof. Dr. Phra Rajapariyatkavi, Rector of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, reported to His Holiness Somdet Phrawannarat, who has been assigned by His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, Supreme Patriarch, in this year has a total of 4,254 recipients of 309 Ph.D., 641 M.A and 3,304 B.A. respectively while the graduates came to receive the certificates total 2,002 persons.
There were two His Holiness Somdet Phrawannarat, Abbot of Wat Bowonniwesvihan, Bangkok, committee of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand, and His Holiness Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan, Chief Abbot of Wat Yannawa, and a member of the Executive Committees for the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, Chairman of the Committee of the Center of Ecclesiastical External Mission to confer the Honorary Doctorate Degree, Honorary Insignias, graduates, Master of arts and Ph.D. degrees.
As Foreign Affairs of MCU formed the committee of Foreign Reception Affairs chaired by Phra Sophonvachirabhorn, (Sawai Chotiko), Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, along with Assistant to the Rector for Foreign Affairs, Director, International Relations Division, MCU and Director, Dhammaduta College, MCU to ask the foreign students for volunteers those who are from Dhammaduta Bhikkhus, foreign students of China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, India and Venerable of Plum Village, Buddhist Meditation Center, Nakhon Rachasima province, to assist the MCU graduation convocation during 7-13 December, 2563/2020 as serving the foreign reception.
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University was established by H.M.King Chulalongkorn, King Rama V, in the year 1887, to be the education institute of the monks and lay students to study the Tipitaka and other advanced subjects.
Ever since that the community of the monks have continued the intention of H.M. King Rama V
– In year 1947, the institute has been upgraded as a university.
– In year 1969, the Supreme Sangha Council advocated Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University as the Univeristy of the Sangha of Thailand.
– In year 1984, the Parliament issued a bill of certification of educational level to certify the status and rights of graduates of the university.
– In year 1997, the Parliament issued a bill to advocate Mahachulalongkorn University to become a university of the state (public university) causing the university to grow and improve rapidly. The space of the university buildings at Wat Maha That Temple premises became inadequate to accommodate the growing number of students. Therefore the university had to move to a new location in Tambol Lamsai, Ampheu Wangnoi, Ayutthaya, to a land donated by Dr. Rasmi and Madam Sompong Wannissorn.
– On 13th December, 1999, H. M. the King Vajiralongkorn, King Rama X, while holding the position of the Crown Prince of Thailand, laid the foundation stone for building the new university building.
In the present the main university consists of 5 faculties and 2 colleges. In regional level there are 11 campuses, 23 colleges, 1 extended classroom, and 7 educational centers. Moreover there are 6 affiliated institutes in international level.
There are 105 programs conducted in Thai and Enlgish languages. This consists of 54 under graduate level programs, 36 masters programs, 15 doctoral programs.
In the present there are altogether 18,420 students consisting 14, 846 under graduate students, 2, 182 masters level students, 1392 doctoral level students. Each year there are more than 1200 international students enrolling to study in the university. Since 1947 up until now 64,355 students graduated from the university.
There are 3680 staff members working in the university of which 1218 people are academic staff and 2462 people are working staff.
The philosophy, resolution, vision and mission of MCU are as follow:
Philosophy “offering Buddhist Education, integrating Buddhism with modern sciences and applying to social and mental development”
Resolution “to provide Tipitaka studies and higher education for monks, novices, and laity
Vision “to become an international Buddhist University”
Buddhist University: Academics, staff and students of the university have the capability to integrate Buddhism with modern sciences, resources, and knowledge.
After obtaining recognition of the University as a public university and as the University of the Thai Sangha the mission of the university consists of following 4 aspects.
-creating of graduates with the objective of having the capability to work in the international platform.
Becoming a leading Buddhist university where Buddhism integrated academic subjects are taught with the intention of making the students to apply discipline, good mental qualities, mindfulness and wisdom according to the Threefold training of virtues, concentration and wisdom.
Research and development
Since year 1987 until the present day, the university has conducted 1948 projects by spending the budget of 19,3502,800 Baht
These projects were in accordance with National Strategy of 20 Years to develop and improve the capability of the human resource, creating opportunities and equality of the society, improvement of quality of life that is friendly to the environment, creating learning, innovation, stability, that will lead to sustainable development.
Rendering academic service to the society
The University has applied the knowledge obtained from studies and research in rendering academic service to the society.
Since 1995 (2538), the Dhammaduta training course has been organized once in each year with three-month training duration: academic training (one month), meditation practice (one month) and construction and renovation work (one month) for development and Training of Overseas Dhammaduta Bhikkhus
The university has carried out international Tipitaka project, transliteration and translation of the Tipitaka and commentaries, organizing the international vesak day celebrations, monks teaching moral in the school project which provided 18,000 monks to teach at 15,000 schools all around the country, Dhamma Travel for eradicate poverty in highlands, ordination of novice monks in the summer program, solving drug problems, holding Sunday Dhamma School, Teaching Moral to the Youth, Training of Dhammadhuta (missionary) monks, holding meditation programs for the public, facilitating a TV channel for education and dissemination of Buddhist Teachings. Moreover the university has provided necessary donation programs for the people affected by various disasters.
-In monastic level the university has participated in conducting various projects such as Temple People and the State Project, Village Observing Five Precepts Project, Reforming the Buddhist Activity Program, and Serving the disadvantaged and elderly people.
– Supporting arts and culture
The university has advocated and supported to establish 1 temple 1 school and 1 medical center in each Tambon to create stability, prosperity, and sustainability. It is applying Buddhist approach to create reconciliation and unity in multicultural society and establishing a Buddhist Art Hall. Transliteration of Tham Lanna scripts, opening a course of Buddhist Art and supporting the application of local knowledge as the foundation of sustainable development.
These four missions of the university have been effectively achieved by implementing Dhammic Approach and Buddhist Teachings in the administration.
The direction for the future of the university
In becoming a leading Buddhist university in the world the university has created a development plan in accordance with National Strategy of 20 Years and the policy of the ministry of higher education, science, research and innovation.
– Application of information technology for the learning and teaching process and for the administration in order to become a digital university as Development of education program emphasizing capability. Creating diversity by having both degree and non-degree programs. It is creating credit bank. Development of the university to be an education center based on Buddhism that advocates communal and social innovations through Buddhism. designing the university to be a Green University.
– Constructing International Buddhist Studies College on a land of 84 rai to create graduates in international level by emphasizing on ASEAN countries.
All these factors are the important directions of the Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University with focus of continuing, protecting, and developing to be a leading education institute of the world in the future.
News: International Relations Division
Reporter: Phra Siriwanna Siriwanno
English News: Phra Siriwanna Siriwanno
Picture: International Relations Division