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The Academic dress of Chulalongkorn University (Thai: ครุยวิทยฐานะของจุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย) is a long-sleeved gown made from light mesh and bordered with a specially designed felt strip. The same strip is also attached to elbows and wrists. The gown itself is adapted from ceremonial attire called suea khrui and was designed in Prajadhipok's reign, together with the existing academic badge.
Contents
The gown is open-front and calf-length, resembling the dress used in the United Kingdom, but without hood and cap. Sleeves are not loose. To comply with regulations and due its transparency, the gown must be worn over traditional or polite dress.
History
In 1914, during Vajiravudh's reign, the academic gown and pin were proposed as a symbols of graduation. At the time, a silver badge depicting Phra Kiao was designed as a graduation pin. The gown, however, was not yet designed since Chulalongkorn's Civil Service College was unable to confer the bachelor's degree or beyond. Only a diploma was issued to graduates.
As the college became a university, its academics were rapidly enhanced to the extent that it began granting degrees in 1928. The idea of well-designed and respectable academic dress was raised. As usage of seua khrui is strictly limited in that it can only be worn by royal family members and government ministers, the university asked Prajadhipok for usage permission. The university also consulted the king and the education and justice ministries for the most suitable pattern of dress. Finally, the present design came into use in 1930.
Bachelor's and master's gowns are decorated with black felt, representing Vajiravudh's birthday. Doctoral gowns are lined with scarlet felt, which symbolizes the birthday of Chulalongkorn. Another distinctive design with light yellow is reserved for the King of Thailand. In 1980, another kind of academic dress for lecturers was designed in similar pattern, but with pink felt.
Specification
Academic dress consists of a long-sleeved gown lined with 10 cm-wide felt strip decorated with golden brocade. For the king's gown, yellow lining is used and 5 cm-wide brocade is attached centrally. Another two 1 cm brocade strips are added to both sides of the felt strip. Silver Phra Kiao badges are pinned to the breast portion of the felt strip.
For those admitted to the doctoral degree, a gown with scarlet lining is used. Two 1 cm brocade strips are added to the outer edges of the felt strip. 0.75 cm blank, 0.5 cm tape, 0.75 cm blank and 1 cm tape are stitched in respective order from outer tapes to the centre. A felt coloured band is attached to the centre of the felt strip, corresponding to the faculty (not to the degree granted). As with the king's gown, silver badges are pinned as well.
The master's gown is similar to the doctoral gown, but with a black felt strip. The coloured band is altered to yarn for the Bachelor's. For lecturers, the felt strip is pink and centred with golden yarn.
Faculty colours
A coloured band or yarn is stitched longitudinally to the centre of the felt strip, corresponding to the degree granting faculty. As an example, an MSc graduate from engineering uses firebrick, while yellow is used to denote science. The faculty colours of Chulalongkorn University are listed below.
Academic badge
The academic badge of the university was designed in 1914 as a silver (or chromium-plated brass) badge depicting Phra Kiao on a round pillow, which is the personal emblem for Chulalongkorn and the university's emblem. The Thai acronym for the faculty is inscribed beneath the pillow. Regardless of degree level, there is only one style for a particular faculty.
All degree holders (including honorary degrees) are eligible to pin this badge on the left breast of national dress, uniform, or polite attire, preferably over the ribbon bar. For a graduate, the badge is switched to the right. This badge can also be worn by university workers in the performance of his/her duties.