The Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) held the ceremony of “The Mission Transfer from TSRI to NRCT on the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Programme (RGJ Ph.D. programme)”, particularly in the granting for the 22ndand the on-going Scholarships of the 20thand 21stat TSRI, SM Tower.
Professor Dr. Paisan Kittisupakorn, Director, Strategic Performance Unit and Organization’s Innovation, taking care of RGJ-Ph.D. programme, said that the RGJ-Ph.D. Programme was initiated in 1996 to commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the programme has awarded approximately 250 Ph.D. scholarships each year and it has become the country principal and best known researcher training scheme. Since 1999, the RGJ-Ph.D. Programme has awarded 5,168 students and about 3,600 students have graduated and produced 8,584 international publications. The success of the programme has shown highly impact on Thailand in terms of producing a large number of Ph.D. graduates and research outputs to international standards, strengthen graduate education in the Thai university system, promote collaborations between Thai and oversea researchers and save the budget for oversea study of Ph.D. students.
Moreover, the RGJ graduates have worked as university lecturers or researchers in government institutes as well as in private sectors which they have involved in strengthening research system in Thailand, maintain their collaboration with oversea partners and also create new collaboration among universities, government and private sectors to carry out research to solve country’s problems and respond to the country’s niche.
Professor Suthipun Jitpimonpard, TSRI Director, expressed that in regards to the Royal Thai Government Gazette 2019, the “Thailand Research Fund (TRF), under the Office of the Prime Minister, the Royal Thai Government has been transformed into the national budget allocator called “Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI)” under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation since 2ndMay 2019. Hence, the RGJ Ph.D. programme under TSRI shall be transferred to NRCT, particularly in the granting for the 22ndand the on-going Scholarships of the 20thand 21stwith the budget of the RGJ 20th(231 grants) and RGJ 21st(221 grants) scholarship as well as RGJ research management for producing the high qualified workforce to serve our country in the future.
Professor Sirirurg Songsivilai, NRCT Director remarked that NRCT would like to thank TRSI Director, Executives and RGJ staffs who have well worked and managed the RGJ Scholarship for 20 years. NRCT has assured to continue this mission and co-operated with TSRI to create and set the direction of Thailand’s workforce.
