Thammasat University is aiming to become one of the top 40 universities in Asia in 2016 while maintaining its integrity of excellence in academic fields, research and international programmes.

Somkid Lertpaithoon, the university's president, has vowed to carry on its policy to ensure excellence in different areas including the commercialisation of research work and being a core focal point for achieving academic cooperation among universities in the Asean bloc. The university also wants to resume its role of being an institution to fight for people's rights and freedom.

According to QS Asian University Ranking 2012, Thammasat University was 110th in Asia, while Chulalongkorn University was 43rd and Chiang Mai University 91st. In 2011, Thammasat University ranked 88th in the same survey.

Mr Somkid said the university had paid a lot of attention to research projects by allocating 100 million baht a year in addition to its annual budget of 35 billion baht from the government and 180 million baht for the three-year National Research University project.

The university has spent more than 500 million baht in recent years to develop its pharmaceutical research and development centre, the animal testing centre, the science equipment centre and the centre of excellence.

The university also wants to boost its reputation as an international university so it will increase international courses to 64, up from 55 courses offered in 2012.