1st Decade: Beginning of MWIT
1990
On August 28, 1990, the President of Mahidol University (Professor Natth
Bhamarapravati M.D.) and Director of General Education, Ministry of Education (Kowit Vorapiphat, Ph.D.) signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations to establish a high school area on the campus of Mahidol University in Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom.
Mahidol Wittayanusorn School was established as the first science high
school in Thailand under the cooperation of the Department of General Education, and Mahidol University to develop talented students with a specialization in science and technology in hopes that the school would become an essential step for higher education and accelerate the development of Thailand’s knowledge in science and technology.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn named the school “Mahidol Wittayanusorn” as a memorial to HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla for his numerous contributions to academic advancement.
1991
The school was opened in 1991 with the first batch of students selected from grade 9 students from provinces all over Thailand. During that time,
Phra Upali Kunupamacarya (Panya Indapanyo), the abbot of Wat Rai Khing, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom, granted permission to use Wat Rai Khing’s meditation area as temporary buildings and dormitories for students, as the construction of facilities in Salaya were still underway. In the beginning, MWIT faced many difficulties, including a lack of teachers, teaching instruments, and school budget, but with great support provided by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the school successfully overcame these initial obstacles.
Mahidol University provided academic support by sending undergraduate students to help tutor MWIT students in chemistry, biology, and physics during the first semester. Moreover, scientists and specialists involved in related fields were invited to give lectures on scientific methods of inquiry and ethics. There was also a supplementary English course by native speakers which focussed on building up MWIT students’ speaking and listening skills.
1994
On January 31, 1994, Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid a
royal visit to Mahidol Wittayanusorn School at Wat Rai Khing meditation area, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom, and while touring the school attended exhibitions of students’ academic research projects.
On August 30, 1994, Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn paid a royal visit to lay the foundation stone of Mahidol Wittayanusorn School buildings at Salaya, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom, and to provide Thai musical instruments for teaching and academic activities.
1995
When construction of the school’s Salaya facilities were completed in 1995,
Mahidol Wittayanusorn School moved to its current location at Mahidol University, Salaya Campus.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn provided essential support, including teacher development programs, teaching materials, media, computers, and textbooks in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.
2nd Decade: Transforms to Public Organization
2000
When construction of the school’s Salaya facilities were completed in 1995,
Mahidol Wittayanusorn School moved to its current location at Mahidol University, Salaya Campus.
On August 25, 2000, Under the announcement of the Royal Decree Establishing Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, B.E. 2543, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School became an autonomous public organization under the supervision of the Minister of Education. Under the new structure, the school transformed into a public organization with full autonomy in administration, governed by a school board composed of well-known Thai scientists and Scholars. MWIT can develop its curriculum and teaching systems to maximize student potentials in science and mathematics.
2002
Mahidol Wittayanusorn School Curriculum 2002 was the first curriculum with the emphasis on the all-around development of talented students. The curriculum covered all of the content of the Ministry of Education’s Basic Education Curriculum, with additions of advanced courses in science, mathematics, technology, and English. Students may select the preferred elective subjects of their interests, developing and enhancing each individual’s potential. Before graduation, students are required to do at least one science project. There were also various learner development activities inside and outside of school to possess desired characteristics proposed by the curriculum.
2003
Upon the royal permission of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School became an academic training center in five subjects, including mathematics, physics, computer, chemistry, and biology, for the Promotion of Academic Olympiad and Development of Science Education Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra (POSN).
Upon the royal permission of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, Mahidol Wittayanusorn School became an academic training center in five subjects, including mathematics, physics, computer, chemistry, and biology, for the Promotion of Academic Olympiad and Development of Science Education Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra (POSN).
Since then, every year MWIT students have successfully represented Thailand in International Mathematics and Science Olympiads.
Mahidol Wittayanusorn Talented Children Project was established in which psychological processes were conducted to discover 4-to-10-year children talented in various aspects, ranging from arts, music, logic, invention, science, etc. The project was academically supported by the Thai Red Cross Society, and financially supported by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
2005
On November 24, 2005, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of the 1st International
Student Science Fair at Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, with participants from 49 schools and 19 countries, and at the same occasion attended the lectures and exhibitions of academic science projects.
The school has founded the Project in Developing Talented Students in Science and Mathematics in Secondary Schools, with the collaboration of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Office of Educational Service Area, and universities, to discover grade 7 students who possess high potential in mathematics and science and develop their talent for three years.
2008
The successful student admission criteria and screening procedures used by MWIT are applied to 12 Princess Chulabhorn’s Colleges, and also to 11 new science high schools affiliated with universities in different parts of the country.
3rd Decade: The Model School in Thailand
2010
On June 6, 2010, a fire broke out at the academic resource center, damaging all books, media, and durable articles inside the building. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was deeply concerned about the incident and later provided the school with more books and international textbooks on various occasions.
2013
It was the first year of the project in developing academic knowledge of high school teachers for a specialized science classroom under the provision of the Office of Basic Education. The project aimed to upgrade existing knowledge and extending maximum potentials in teaching science, mathematics, and technology for high school teachers from schools under the affiliation of the Office of Basic Education, by giving lectures, exchanging knowledge and experience, and doing workshops in complicated subjects, or subjects that should be included in the specialized science classroom.
MWIT has extended its help to 60 high schools from 60 provinces all over the country with teacher training programs in both academic knowledge and laboratory techniques in Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science.
2017
Initiated and hosted the first Thailand International Science Fair (TISF 2017) with participants from 45 schools and 16 countries.
2018
MWIT successfully provided outreach programs for other 120 high schools throughout Thailand.
2019
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of Thailand International Science Fair 2019 (TISF 2019) at Mahidol Wittayanusorn School
2020
On August 28, 2020, MWIT celebrated its 30th Anniversary on the establishment of the school.
2021
On 6 January 2021, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the Opening Ceremony of the Thailand International Science Fair 2021 (TISF 2021) via the online platform due to the recent resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Thailand.
