Deputy PM Urges Return to On-site Classes Before 90-Day Deadline
Deputy Prime Minister Yoschanan Wongsuwat said the government aims to return students of the Rajamangala University of Technology East’s Utenthawai Campus to on‑site classes before the 90‑day online period ends, with a follow‑up meeting set for October 22. He promised to maintain educational quality, compensate affected students for dormitory and tuition fees, and establish a joint committee to manage the original campus site for education and innovation.
On October 20, 2026, at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Yoschanan Wongsuwat addressed the protests by students of the Rajamangala University of Technology East’s Utenthawai Campus, who had demanded to keep the campus at its original location and opposed the move to a new site, asking for a response within three days after a demonstration on October 19. He explained that, having been in Nan Province the previous day, he had assigned a team to discuss online teaching with the campus, which had begun in September after a clash with the Pathumwan Institute of Technology, and that the online instruction was ordered to last 90 days with monthly follow‑up meetings. The Utenthawai Campus has already prepared some laboratory facilities for the online period. Regarding compensation for the relocation, Yoschanan said he had tasked the university president with examining reimbursement for dormitory fees already paid and considering tuition reductions, while offering full assistance to those who wish to transfer elsewhere. Faculty and staff will be supported with housing and transition matters, and the new Utenthawai site will be developed clearly and occupied once ready, without compromising educational quality. Yoschanan added that the relocation process must continue, crediting those who originally drafted the plan, and that on October 22 he would meet with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to review progress and settle everything within two to three weeks so that on‑site classes can resume before the 90‑day limit expires. He also confirmed that the three‑day deadline demanded by students would be answered by October 22, saying he understands both students and parents, that the plan is finished and now being fine‑tuned, and that he is closely coordinating with university administrators. Furthermore, Yoschanan noted that discussions with Chulalongkorn University have assured that the original Utenthawai site will not be used for commercial purposes; instead, a joint committee comprising the ministry, Chulalongkorn, and the Utenthawai Campus will manage the area for education and innovation. The new campus will involve the Engineers Council to ensure quality, will open pathways for students to transfer to universities in their home provinces, and will welcome feedback from alumni, current students, faculty, and management to reach a position respected by all parties.
