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TheRajabhat Universities (มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏ,RTGS: Mahawitthayalai Ratchaphat) are a group of public universities inThailand that were originally founded asteacher training colleges.
In 1995, the Thai government elevated existing teacher training colleges to so-called Rajabhat Institutes. The transformation expanded the legal mandate of these institutions, granting them the authority to conferpostgraduate degrees, includingdoctorates.[1] Rajabhat Institutes were further transformed to Rajabhat Universities in 2005, allowing the institutions to function as independent universities.[2]
There are currently 38 Rajabhat Universities. They are generally considered easier to gain admission to than the traditional public universities.[3] Most Rajabhat Universities offer graduate degrees, some even to the doctoral level. Enrollments have been shrinking. As of 2018[update], students numbered 540,000, down from 600,000.[3]
TheRoyal Institute Dictionary definesราชภัฏ as "civil servant" (ข้าราชการ).[4] The word is derived from Sanskritrājabhaṭa (राजभट), a combination ofrāja (meaningking) andbhaṭa (meaningsoldier orservant).
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