If you’ve ever driven down the coast of Chonburi, past the busy Bangsaen beaches, you eventually hit a sprawling campus that feels like its own little city. That’s Burapha University (BUU). It’s famous for its aquarium, sure, and the fact that you can grab fresh seafood just minutes after class. But if you strip away the scenic location and the nice buildings, a university is really just defined by its people.
Specifically, it’s defined by the people standing at the front of the lecture halls.
I’ve spent time chatting with alumni and current students, and the conversation almost always shifts from “the food was great” to “let me tell you about this one professor I had.” The academic staff and professor at Burapha University are an interesting mix. You have the old-guard researchers who have been studying marine biology since before the internet was a thing, and you have the fresh-faced lecturers who just got back from PhDs in the UK or Japan, bringing all this new energy with them.
It’s a unique ecosystem. Let’s dive into who these people actually are and what makes the academic culture at BUU tick.
More Than Just Lecturers
When you think of a “professor,” you might picture someone in a tweed jacket dusting off a chalkboard. Burapha isn’t really like that. It’s vibrant. It’s coastal.
The faculty here is heavily influenced by the university’s location. Because it’s right on the Gulf of Thailand, a huge chunk of the academic reputation rests on Marine Science. I remember reading about a project where the staff wasn’t just teaching from a textbook; they were out in the water, knee-deep in mud, checking mangrove health. That’s the vibe.
The academic staff isn’t hiding in ivory towers. They are often out in the community. Whether it’s the Faculty of Nursing running health checks in local Chonburi villages or the Fine and Applied Arts professors setting up galleries in Bangsaen, there is a very thin line between the classroom and the real world here.
The “Ajarn” Culture
In Thailand, the word for teacher or professor is “Ajarn.” It’s a term of respect, but at Burapha, it often carries a feeling of mentorship rather than just authority.
A friend of mine who studied Logistics at BUU told me a story that stuck with me. He was struggling with a massive final project—totally overwhelmed. His professor didn’t just give him an extension. She sat down with him at a coffee shop near the “Sd” (the famous walking street area behind the campus) and mapped out the problem on a napkin.
That’s fairly common. The academic staff and professor at Burapha University tend to be accessible. Maybe it’s the relaxed Chonburi atmosphere, but the rigid hierarchy you see at some of the older, stiffer institutions in Bangkok feels a bit softer here.
Research That Actually Matters
It’s easy to overlook regional universities when talking about high-level research, but that would be a mistake with BUU.
The staff here are quietly doing some heavy lifting, particularly in:
- Marine Science: As mentioned, they are leaders here. If you care about ocean conservation in Southeast Asia, you’ll find the top experts walking these halls.
- Logistics and Management: Being close to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the Laem Chabang Port means the professors in the logistics faculty are dealing with real-time industry problems. They aren’t just teaching theory; they are consulting for massive shipping companies.
- Public Health: The health sciences faculty is massive. The professors here are often dual-hatted, working at the university hospital and teaching.
If you are looking for specific publications or faculty profiles, you can often find deep dives on the Burapha University main site, which lists the current dean and faculty rosters.
The International Mix
Twenty years ago, the faculty was almost entirely Thai. Today? Not so much.
Walk through the International College (BUUIC), and it’s a melting pot. You’ll hear English, Chinese, and Thai blending together in the hallways. The university has made a massive push to hire foreign academic staff to boost their global ranking.
This creates a cool dynamic in the classroom. You might have a Thai professor for Statistics who explains things with local cultural context, followed by an American professor for Marketing who uses examples from Silicon Valley. It forces students to switch gears mentally, which is honestly the best preparation for the real world.
Challenges and Reality
Let’s be real for a second—it’s not all sunshine and beach breezes. Being an academic staff member in Thailand comes with challenges, and BUU is no exception.
The workload can be intense. Many professors are juggling heavy teaching schedules, administrative red tape (which is legendary in Thai bureaucracy), and the pressure to publish research. Sometimes, you might find a professor who is visibly exhausted or hard to reach via email because they are sitting in their fourth committee meeting of the day.
Also, the language barrier can still be a hurdle. While the International College is fully English-speaking, some departments in the main Thai programs might have excellent researchers who aren’t as comfortable publishing or communicating in English. It’s just the reality of a regional institution growing onto the global stage.
How to Connect with Faculty
If you are a prospective student or a researcher looking to collaborate, don’t be intimidated.
- Check the Faculty Websites: Each faculty (Science, Humanities, Education, etc.) usually has a “Personnel” or “Staff” page.
- Look for “Office Hours”: Most professors post these on their office doors. In Thai culture, dropping by just to ask a polite question is usually well-received if you are respectful.
- Use Email, but Follow Up: As I mentioned, they get busy. If you don’t hear back in 3 days, a polite nudge is fine.
The academic staff and professor at Burapha University are the engine of the place. They are the ones who turned a regional college of education into a major university that ranks well in Asia. Whether they are strictly by-the-book strict or the “let’s have class outside” type, they are the reason people keep coming to Bangsaen to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do the professors at Burapha University speak English?
A: Yes, many do, especially within the International College (BUUIC) where all instruction is in English. In the regular Thai programs, most professors have a good reading knowledge of English, though fluency in conversation varies by individual and department.
Q: Is it hard to get a meeting with a professor at BUU?
A: Generally, no. The culture is quite friendly (“jai dee”). However, they have heavy teaching loads, so making an appointment via email beforehand is always the smart move.
Q: What is the academic reputation of Burapha University staff?
A: It is very high, particularly in Marine Science, Logistics, and Nursing. Many staff members hold PhDs from top international universities and are active in government research projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Q: Are there foreign professors at Burapha?
A: Absolutely. The International College employs a significant number of foreign lecturers from the US, Europe, and other parts of Asia. You will also find foreign language instructors in the Faculty of Humanities.
Q: Can I collaborate with a Burapha professor on research?
A: Yes, they are usually open to collaboration. Your best bet is to find a specific paper or project that interests you and contact the lead author directly. You can search for their work on platforms like Google Scholar to see their recent interests.