History of the Faculty of Agro-Industry
The Faculty of Agro-Industry at Rajamangala University of Technology evolved from the Department of Agro-Industry, which was originally part of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, of the former Rajamangala University of Technology. The Department of Agro-Industry was established in 1990 with the aim of producing graduates in food science and technology to meet the demands of the labor market and to support the development of the agricultural industry in accordance with the 6th and 7th National Economic and Social Development Plans (1987-1996).
At that time, there were no higher education institutions in Central Southern Thailand that offered degrees in agro-industry, and there was a shortage of government agencies providing extension services to farmers in the region, which covered several provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Krabi, Trang, and Chumphon. As the majority of the population in these areas relied on agriculture for their livelihoods, the application of agro-industry knowledge and technology to assist farmers was a significant mission of the newly established department.
Additionally, the Faculty of Agriculture, Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, at that time offered only two programs: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Plant Science and Animal Science) and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. The establishment of the Department of Agro-Industry complemented the existing agricultural programs, allowing for a more comprehensive curriculum. Graduates, who were traditionally trained as practitioners, could now apply their knowledge to process agricultural products from farm to table.
The Department of Agro-Industry was officially established in 1990, with Dr. La-ongwan Srichan as the first head of department. The department initially offered a single program: Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology. In 1993, a second program, Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, was introduced. Subsequently, in 1994, the department began admitting students with an Associate Degree in Agro-Industry or Fisheries Processing into a two-year Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology program. In 1997, a four-year Bachelor of Science in Agro-Industrial Product Development program was launched.
In 2005, a royal decree was issued dividing Rajamangala University of Technology into nine separate universities based on their geographic locations. The units of the former Rajamangala University of Technology in the Southern region were merged to form, as stipulated in the Rajamangala University of Technology Act of 2005. The Department of Agro-Industry was then approved to become the Faculty of Agro-Industry, under the Nakhon Si Thammarat Campus, comprising three programs: Food Science and Technology, Biotechnology, and Agro-Industrial Product Development. Since then, deans have been appointed every four years to oversee the faculty’s operations.