Suan Dusit Rajabhat University was established as the first official home science school in Thailand, namely ‘Home Science Secondary School’, which was under the Vocational School Division, The Academic Department, Ministry of Public Instruction. This school was firstly set up on 17 May 1934 at the palace of Krom Luang Choomponketudomsak, presently known as Phra Nakorn campus of Rajamangala Institute of Technology; with the purpose to instruct women about home science for 4 years curriculum . Also, the training course for Home Science teachers were offered with the aim to train those who would like to further their careers in this realm. In 1937, the school was moved to Chankasem Palace ( Presently the Ministry of Education) and changed the name into ‘Chankasem Palace Home Science School’ but was still under the same division. The school offered more courses, specifically, 3 years courses in Secondary level and Higher level.

In 1941, the school moved from Chankasem Palace into Suan Sunandha on the area of 37 rai and changed the name to ‘Phra Nakorn Home Science School’. The school has continuously situated in this location till the present day. Apart from geographical moving, the school was also moved from being under the Vocational School Division, The Academic Department to be under Teacher Training Division, General Education Department, Ministry of Public Instruction. In the meantime, the Ministry of Education set up La-Orutis Kindergarten in this area and this school was subjected under the same division as Phra Nakorn Home Science School but the administration was separated from each other.

In 1954, the Ministry of Education declared the establishment of Teacher Training Department following the Act of Improving the Ministry and Department of 1955. This department was set to gather Teacher Training Section from all divisions together for the economical and professional purposes in developing teachers quantitatively and qualitatively.

Phra Nakorn Home Science School moved to be under Teacher Training Department in 1955 and transferred kindergarten teacher training division from La-Orutis Kindergarten to be under Phra Nakorn Home Science School.

In 1956, Phra Nakorn home Science School offered ‘ Educational Certificate in Home Economics’ and was considered the first institute to offer this curriculum. In the mean time, the school also offered various training courses such as Home Science Teacher Training course, Kindergarten Teacher Training course, Elementary School Teacher Training course and Home Sciences for Secondary School Teacher Training course.

In 1958, the Educational Certificate course and Higher Educational Certificate course were continuously offered till 1961. The Ministry of Education announced the promotion of ‘Phra Nakorn Home Science School’ into the college and changed its name to ‘Suan Dusit Teacher College’ , which was under Teaching Training division, Teacher Training Department.

The Teacher College Act ( Issue 1) was commenced in 1975 and as a result, Teacher Training Department improved the curriculum to be in accordance with The National Economic and Social Development Plan. The curriculum was the Teacher Training curriculum 1976, which was belonged to Teacher Training Council. This led to the commencing of the graduate level. Apart from that, the La-Orutis Kindergarten was united with kindergarten teacher training course together under Early Childhood Education Department, Faculty of Education, Suan Dusit Teacher College. The name of La-Orutis Kindergarten was changed to La-Orutis Demonstration Kindergarten School. Besides, Bachelor of Education majoring in Early Childhood Education was firstly launched.

Due to the issuing of The Teacher College Act (Issue 1)1975, Teacher College had the structural modification, both in term of administration and academic issue. For the administration issue, the position of headmaster was changed into ‘The president’. Moreover, other administrative positions were changed. The college turned into the government section composing of the president, vice president for administrative, vice president for academic, vice president for student affairs and office of the president which had 12 divisions. As for academic issue, there were three faculties, which are Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (11 departments), Faculty of Education (7 departments) and Faculty of Sciences (9 departments).

With these changes, the college had more constructions and refurbishment of the buildings so that they could be offices and classrooms. Although the administrative and academic structure had changed, Suan Dusit Teacher College still offered only one realm, specifically, education. According to the curriculum of Teacher Training Council, Three levels of education were presented; Educational Certificate, Higher Educational Certificate, four years bachelor degree and two year associate bachelor degree (Bachelor of Education). There were11 majors; Thai language, English language, Social Science, General Science, Home Economics, Art Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Industrial Art and Mathematic.

In 1985, after the adjustment of The Teacher College Act (issue1) 1975 into The Teacher College Act (issue2) 1984, the Teacher College could be able to offer other courses apart from education ones. Suan Dusit Teacher College commenced the Diploma level in other academic areas. Diploma of Liberal Arts was launched. Three realms were offered, to be exact; Journalism and Public Relations, English and Visual Communication. There were three majors for Diploma of Sciences. Three realms were offered, namely, Food, Clothes and Costume and Art of Crafting. Besides, this year was the first year that the college allowed male students to apply for the courses.

During 1986- 1991, Suan Dusit Teacher College offered more of the Bachelor of Sciences and Liberal Arts curriculum , and in both four years Bachelor degree and the two years associate degree. ‘The Education for People of all Occupations Project’ was firstly initiated in 1986 offering the Diploma and Bachelor degree in Education and other academic programs.

In 1992,His Majesty the King graciously conferred the title “Rajabhat Institute” to all Teacher Colleges.

The Rajabhat Institute Act 1995 was declared in the same year. Thus, the name ‘Suan Dusit Teacher College’ was changed into ‘Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute’ and was under Office of Rajabhat Council, Ministry of Education. According to this Act, Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute could offer wider ranges of courses. Many realms were offered such as Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences. The public paid high attention and applied for these courses, both general students and people of all occupations. Moreover, Suan Dusit Institute incorporated with external organization to distribute academic opportunities by setting 3 campuses outside the institute, namely, Supersave Campus, The Government Pharmaceutical Organization campus and Atthawit campus. These campuses offered the diploma and bachelor degree both in office hours and out of office hours.

In 1997, The Graduate School was established offering the Master of Business Administration with the corporation of Victoria University, Canada. Besides, more of campuses were set up ( Jaransanitwong campus, Pongsawat campus and Sukothai campus). The institute used up a large sum of budget in developing the information technology system for learning, database for Video – conference learning and Virtual Library. It is considered that Suan Dusit Institute was the first higher education institute which had the flawless information technology system in Thailand.

During 1998-2003, Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute expanded extensively in term of offering more variety of academic courses and opening more campuses both in Bangkok and other provinces ( Dusit Panitchayakarn campus, Central Pinklao campus, Imperial Bangna campus, Nakornnayok campus, Prajeenburi campus, Thanalongkorn campus, Boosayamas campus, Siam Panitchayakarn campus, Nakonpatom campus, Chonburi campus, Pattaya campus, Saraburi campus, Payao campus, Lampang campus, Ranong 2 campus, Pitsanulok campus, Trang campus, Lumpini campus and Hua-Hin campus) due to the fact that there were a great number of people desired to take academic courses in the institute but the institute was in the renovation and construction period at that moment.

In regarding to the graduate level, the institute offered both in Master degree ( Master of Education, Master of Public Administration, Master of Business Administration, Master of Communication Arts) and doctorate degree (Doctor of Management).

‘Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute’ was changed the status from ‘Institute’ into ‘University’ following the Rajabhat University Act 2004 on 15 June 2004. The name was also changed into ‘Suan Dusit Rajabhat University’ and was under The Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

During 2005- 2008, According to Rajabhat University Act 2004, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University adjusted the administration structure and academic management. Besides, the educational and government system reformation led the university to determine the Strategic Plan for 2006- 2008.

Suan Dusit Rajabhat University is among the universities which emphasize on generating qualified human resources and developing society by offering varieties of courses in every level and other academic affairs both in the university itself and in campuses which situate in Bangkok and countrywide.

In the past 70 years, from being ‘Home Science Secondary School’ into Suan Dusit University, that the unique strengths of the school were improved and developed to be relevant to the changes has led to the foundation of university strengths in the present day. Consequently, the identities of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University are determined by these primary expertises, which have been accepted in both national and international level, as well as the competence to response the need of local and society. Four identities of the university are;

- Childhood Education
- Food Industry
- Service Industry
- Nursing Science

The utilization of innovation and new technology on top of Suan Dusit administration style creates the Suan Dusit culture which is very outstanding and being survivability under the competitive circumstances and rapid changes of environment, society, economic and politic. The strengths of Suan Dusit identities are as shown below;

1. Good personality
2. Desire to seek for new knowledge and develop new innovation
3. Self-discipline and open-minded character
4. Ability of utilize the technology
5. Being orderly and neatly in task
6. Being knowledgeable

These identities bring in the self of Suan Dusit in the present day and lead to the future development.

Conclusion of history of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University

Year	Name of the institute	Organization	Position / Chief Executive
1934- 1937	Home Science Secondary School (Krom Luang Choomponketudomsak Palace)	Vocational School Division, The Academic Department, Ministry of Public Instruction	1934 Headmaster/ Lady Pechlada N. Pompetch (M.L. Jitrkul Koonchorn) 1934 Substitution of headmaster/ Mrs. Nilrat Bannasitvorasarn 1937-1941 Headmaster/ Lady Sawaiwong Thongjeau
1937-1941	Chankasem Palace Home Science School (Chankasem Palace)	Vocational School Division, The Academic Department, Ministry of Public Instruction
1941- 1961	Phra Nakorn Home Science School (Suan Sunandha)	Teacher Training Division, General Education Department, Ministry of Public Instruction.	1941-1946 Headmaster/ Mrs. Boongluae Gorralak 1946- 1961 Headmaster/ Lady Krajangsri Ratanakanis
1961-1995	Suan Dusit Teacher College	Teaching Training division, Teacher Training Department, Ministry of Education	1961- 1975 Director/ Lady Krajangsri Ratanakanis 1975-1985 President/ Professor Revadee Vongphrommek (Teacher College Act Issue 1 1975) 1985-1994 President/ Associate Professor Lampong Boohchua (Teacher College Act Issue 2 1984) 1994-1995 President/ Associate Professor Tong Roonjarern
1995-2004	Suan Dusit Rajabhat Institute	Office of Rajabhat Council, Ministry of Education	1995- 2003 President/ Associate Professor Dr. Sirote Phonpuntin (Rajabhat Institute Act 1995) 2003-2004 President/ Associate Professor Dr. Sukum Chaleisap
2004-present day	Suan Dusit Rajabhat University	The Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education.	2004- present day President/ Associate Professor Dr. Sirote Phonpuntin                         ( Rajabhat University Act 2004)

Chief Executive of Institute (Past-Present)

Chief Executive	Period of administration
1. Lady Pechlada N. Pompetch 2. Mrs. Nilrat Bannasitvorasarn 3. Lady Sawaiwong Thongjeau 4. Mrs. Boongluae Gorralak 5. Lady Krajangsri Ratanakanis 6. Professor Revadee Vongphrommek 7. Associate Professor Lampong Boohchua 8. Associate Professor Tong Roonjarern 9. Associate Professor Dr. Sirote Phonpuntin 10. Associate Professor Dr. Sukum Chaleisap 11. Associate Professor Dr. Sirote Phonpuntin	1934 1934 1937-1941 1941-1946  1946- 1975 1975-1985 1985-1994 1994-1995 1995- 2003 2003-2004 2004- present day