Prince of Songkla University

Prince of Songkla University (PSU) has been selected to be one of the nine Thailand National Research Universities in 2009. The ultimate goal of PSU is to nurture students to be good and well-educated citizens ready to serve society, to build wisdom and knowledge through research, and to transfer knowledge to students and society for the sake of mankind.

Prince of Songkla University was named after the father of current King, Bhumibol Adulyadej. The name was graciously granted on September 22, 1967, by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. PSU consists of five campuses all located in the south of Thailand. The main campus is based in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, a large trading city in the south. Others are located in the Pattani, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Trang provinces.

PSU is a comprehensive public university with areas of research focusing on all disciplines, including natural science and technology, medical science, and social sciences and humanities. The south of Thailand forms a long peninsular sandwiched by lengthy shores on both sides, all of which have abundant natural assets. These include natural rubber, oil palm, coastal and marine resources, and biological diversity. Inefficient exploitation of these resources will only accelerate their depletion. Man’s invasion of nature creates multi-dimensional problems for society and the environment. The great challenge is for the university to apply the knowledge gained through research to maximize the value of these resources, as well as decelerate the deterioration of the environment.

To enhance research capacity, PSU has set up more than 25 Centers of Excellence and Research Centers in the university. These includes Centers of Excellence in Natural Rubber Technology, Genomics and Bioinformatics, Nutraceuticals and Functional Food, Nanotechnology, Drug Delivery, Biodiversity and Biotechnology in Agriculture, and Research Centers in Oil Palm and Palm Oil, Biodiesel, Energy Technology, Material Engineering, Membrane Technology, Biosensors, Rehabilitation Engineering, Phytomedicine and Oral Disease and Multicultural Management, to name but a few. Through the years, PSU researchers have received continuous funding from leading grant agencies, international and domestic. These include the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Agricultural Research Development Agency (ARDA).

PSU research has consistently contributed to the wealth of the nation and local communities. The research successes that have been commercialized include: the Songkla Uterine Manipulator, and a later version named Tintara Uterine manipulator, which has been marketed and used in hospitals worldwide; the poor laryngeal elevation disorder treating apparatus; the PSU carpal tunnel retractor, which is designed to save time in surgery and to reduce the size of the surgical wound; scar TMTD and ZnO test kits for natural rubber concentrate analyses; HB brightening cream from natural rubber latex; a Braille computer keyboard and display units suitable for the visually impaired; and biodiesel production plants that use palm oil. In addition, many products of research are used in local communities to enhance peoples’ living standards. Some of these are the portable biodiesel production unit, utilization of oil palm residue for cow and goat feeding, the development of medicinal plant conservation and rehabilitation centers in the local community and eco-tourism in local villages in southern Thailand.

Constant research funding and output make Prince of Songkla University one of the most prominent universities in Thailand. PSU is geared towards excellence in research for the sake of the wellbeing of people to go along with the determination in our motto – Our Soul is for the Benefit of Mankind – which has been instilled into all PSU hearts by the Prince of Songkla, the father of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

15 Karnjanavanich Rd | Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand
T: +66 (0) 7428 2000 | F: +66 (0) 7421 2828
www.psu.ac.th | rdo.psu.ac.th