Shinawatra University (SIU), formerly Metharath University (MRU), is a private international university in Thailand, established by Thaksin Shinawatra and his colleagues. The campus was designed and developed by Soontorn Boonyatikarn in 1997. The Ministry of University Affairs granted the license for operation in 1999. The first Shinawatra University Council Meeting was held on 19 May 2000, and the first batch of students was admitted in September 2002. As of 2018, the university had students and faculty members of over 30 nationalities.

Presidents

University council

Courses

The undergraduate program is conducted at the Pathum Thani Campus. Options:

Main campus

The main campus is in Pathum Thani Province, 50 kilometers from Bangkok. Its buildings received both the Asia Energy Award and the Energy Efficient Building 2003 Award.

Computer facilities

Classrooms contain computers and LCD visualizers connected to projectors. The university a fast Internet connection and Wi-Fi available in all buildings. Students are provided with accounts, e-mail facilities, and Web space. Laboratories include:

Dormitories

First-year students are required to stay in the air-conditioned dormitories on Pathumthani campus during the semesters and summer sessions. There are separate facilities for men and women. Computer network and telephone connections are available in each room. On each floor there is a students' common room.

Activities

Activities are usually organized through student clubs with elected executives. The clubs organize and manage activities related to academic affairs, culture, social events, and sports. The university partially subsidizes student activities. The clubs are separated into four groups:

Sports

Music

Academic affairs

Arts, cultures and religion

Library

The Shinawatra University Library uses the Library of Congress classification system. Search via the Internet is supported. The library implemented RFID (radio frequency identification) book handling technology in December 2002, the first in Thailand to do so.