มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น | |
| Motto | "Vidyā Cariyā Paññā" (bothThai andPali) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "Knowledge, Virtues, Wisdom" |
| Type | National |
| Established | 25 January 1966; 59 years ago (1966-01-25) |
| Endowment | ฿ 5 Billion (2022) |
| President | Assoc. Prof. Chanchai Phanthongviriyakul,M.D. |
Administrative staff | 2,075 (2007)[1] |
| Students | 39,684 (2021)[2] |
| Location | , |
| Symbolic tree | Cassia bakeriana |
| Colors | ██ Brownish-red |
| Affiliations | ASAIHL |
| Website | www |
 | |
 | |
Khon Kaen University (Thai:มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น;KKU) is a publicresearch university. The university was the first institution of higher education in thenortheastern Thailand and remains the oldest and the most competitive university in the region. The university is a hub of education in northeast Thailand. It is a widely recognized university in Asia with strong emphasis onmedicine,engineering,science,agriculture andsocial science. Khon Kaen University was ranked 21st in Southeast Asia byTime Higher Education in 2009, and 4th in Thailand by The Office of Higher Education Commission[citation needed].
In 1941 during the reign ofKingAnanda Mahidol with the government of Field MarshalPlaek Phibunsongkhram asPrime Minister, there have been policies and projects to expandhigher education to the provinces. For the northeastern region, a university have been established inUbon Ratchathani Province but the war inEast Asia which the government had to decide to join Japan to fight the Allies. As a result, the establishment of a university in the northeastern region ended in 1960. Under the administration ofPrime MinisterSarit Thanarat, there has been a review of the establishment of the university once again.
Later in the year 1962, it was resolved to establish a higher education institution.Engineering andagriculture in Khon Kaen nominate this institute as "Khon Kaen Institute of Technology" with the abbreviation K.I.T. After that its name was changed to be "Northeastern University" or N.E.U". At that time there was no government agency directly responsible for conducting university education. Therefore, the government has decided that the National Education Council should be responsible for finding a place, drafting a course as well as contacting foreign aids.
In 1963, the subcommittee agreed to choose Baan Si Than as the location of the university in an area of approximately 5,500 rai (2,173 acres), 4 kilometers from the city ofKhon Kaen. On 9 June 1964, building construction of "Faculty of Science and Arts" was settled. The first batch of the students was accepted at the University Office in Bangkok on 24 June 1964 with a total number of 107 students, separating into 49 agricultural science students and 58 engineering students enrolled at the University of Medical Sciences (currentMahidol University).
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global – Overall | |
| QS World[3] | 901-950 (2026) |
| Regional – Overall | |
| QS Asia[4] | 186 (2025) |
In 1965, thecabinet resolved to change the name as "Khon Kaen University" which is the city's name and location, and Khon Kaen University becamelegal entity since then.
In 1966, the parliament enacted the Khon Kaen University Act, and announced the establishment in the Government Gazette on January 25, 1966, which is considered the university's founding day. TheKingBhumibol Adulyadej appointed qualified members of the university board.Prime MinisterThanom Kittikachorn and Khon Kaen University Council members held a meeting and appointedPote Sarasin as the first president of the university.
There are 19 faculties and 4 colleges in three disciplines.
2010 Khon Kaen University was rated as one of the 9 National Research Universities of Thailand.
| Ranking :Domestic (International) | |||||||||
| Institute | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
| Times Higher Education (Social Impact Ranking) | 1(101–200) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| QS World University Rankings | 6(148) | 7(178) | 7(165) | 6(171–180) | - | - | - | - | - |
| URAP | - | 4(903) | 5(896) | 4(854) | 4(832) | 4(838) | 4(802) | 5(805) | 6(888) |
| Webometrics | 5(873) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| SIR | 4(388) | 4(388) | 4(394) | 5(396) | 6(399) | 7(399) | 6(414) | 8(453) | 11(508) |
| CWTS | 4(1477) | 4(1396) | 4(1291) | 4(1149) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nature Index | - | 13 | 6 | 17 | - | - | - | - | - |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
