CHIANG MAI, Thailand – His Majesty the King has graciously appointed Professor Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, M.D., Ph.D., to a second term as President of Chiang Mai University.
His new term will begin on July 25, 2026, immediately after his first term ends on July 24. The appointment was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office on July 14, 2026, and published in the Royal Gazette. The Chiang Mai University Council approved the nomination for royal consideration at its April 25, 2026, meeting, prior to the end of Professor Pongrak’s first term on July 24. Under his leadership, the university has advanced its educational development plan through 2027, emphasizing social responsibility and sustainable innovation. Key goals include ranking among the top 50 global universities for impact, generating over 60 billion baht in socio-economic value, and earning national excellence awards for innovation.
Chiang Mai University has achieved significant progress toward these objectives, receiving the Thailand Quality Class Plus (Innovation) award for 2023. The university ranked 49th globally out of 1,603 institutions in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rating 2026 and placed in the top 20 worldwide for gender equality. CMU has generated more than 56 billion baht in socio-economic impact, which is approaching its 60 billion baht target for 2027. These accomplishments highlight the university’s contribution to national development through knowledge and collaboration across sectors. This royal appointment affirms confidence in Professor Dr. Pongrak’s vision and expertise to further advance Chiang Mai University as a world-class institution of innovation, committed to producing high-quality graduates and supporting sustainable national progress. (NNT)
