Phase 1: Donations of the land from the Thong Thavorn Industry Co., Ltd.

With his intention, Dr. Thaworn Phornprapha donated land in the Pong Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, with a total area of 565 rai 3 ngan 35 square wah for use in Thammasat University's government services. There are 3 ways to sum up the land grant agreement: 

1.To be utilized as a place for education, to promote high-level academic and professional development, to conduct teaching and research, to provide academic services to society, to preserve arts and culture, and to carry out public beneficial activities

2. If the land that has been provided to Thammasat University has not yet been utilized for building or basic infrastructure development, the University agrees to allow companies to facilitate the land for agricultural purposes, for the benefit of academic research in science and technology. The university must be informed in advance, at least one year prior, of which part of the land will be amended and must be reported on the academic results on the land use.

3. When Thammasat University has implemented the use of land according to the University Development Project (Pattaya Project), the land shall be referred to as "Thammasat University, Thaworn-Usa Phornprapha Center.”

Phase 2: Establishment of Thammasat University, Pattaya Center

In 1994, Thammasat University considered it appropriate to bring the area around Pattaya Center to be developed into a project. The University Council passed a resolution on January 30, 1995 to establish the "Higher Education Innovation Center" to be an independent unit of Thammasat University which has an independent and flexible management style outside the bureaucratic system. Its objectives are to serve as a center for academic services, research and development, graduate studies, advanced research, and training seminars to enhance the quality and potential of human resources in the country. It also aims to benefit from telecommunications technology to disseminate knowledge and academic services in various areas to respond to development at different levels that will benefit the economy, society, and environment.  At that time, Thammasat University faced the problem of insufficient space for teaching and learning, research and development, and various academic services because Tha Prachan cannot be extended. It is located in the Rattanakosin Island Conservation Area where land is limited for expansion. As for the Rangsit, it is an area near the community and tends to urban communities where the residential area will expand even more. Meanwhile, the industrial factories have a tendency to move to the region more, making it inappropriate to develop teaching, research, and development in technology that is linked to industrial development. Therefore, Thammasat University has developed a master plan for the development of the Higher Education Innovation Center  since 1994, with 4 components as follows:

1.Research and Development Center

2.Center for Advanced Higher Education (Advanced Research & Degree Program)

3.Training & Conference Facilities

4.Academic Service Center (Resources Center)

In 1995, Thammasat University requested the budget allocation for the fiscal year 1995 to construct a group of buildings for training and seminar purposes at Thammasat University, Pattaya Center. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn laid the foundation of the building on Tuesday, February 25, 1997 (construction period was from fiscal year 1996-1999). 

1.Seminar & Training Building

2.Catering Building

3.Hotel

4.Club & Swimming Pool

5.Tennis Court

The administrative structure of the center includes a board of directors responsible for setting policies in line with the university's, and one director responsible for implementing these policies and acts as the secretary of the Board of Directors. The internal structure uses a private employment system where employees will be hired by the university as contractors, or in special cases, university personnel may be assigned to assist the center by order of the Rector. 

The status of Pattaya Center is an organization at the faculty, institute, and office level, but not a government agency. It has an independent and flexible personnel and budget management system, without reference to government salaries and not being a civil servant. It receives government support in the form of lump sum funding and support for operations in a comprehensive plan. 

Therefore, the Higher Education Innovation Center began in the form of a non-bureaucratic agency. It is located at Thammasat University, Pattaya Center, responsible for managing and maintaining of various buildings and facilities, including a 75-room hotel building, seminar building, various other venues known at the time as “Learning Resort: Higher Education Innovation College Thammasat University” (Learning resort).

Later, the name was changed to "Innovative College of Higher Education" according to the resolution of the University Council on February 10, 1997 and the name was revised again according to the resolution of the University Council on March 7, 2008 to "Innovative College.”

Thammasat University's philosophy announced by the presiding officer that "...the university is a metaphor, like a well, curing the thirst of the people, those seeking knowledge, who deserve the right and an opportunity that ones should have according to the principle of freedom of education..." is still the philosophy that Thammasat University adheres to as an important philosophy in the administration of the university. Although there have been many changes in various areas, especially in terms of competition in today's educational institutions, this philosophy can be reflected from the vision of the Rector, Prof. Dr. Suraphon Nitikraipot, who set the vision for “Thammasat University Excellence, fairness, joining the society, mobilizing various powers towards the great goal, serving the people, developing the whole”, which is the vision that aims to its excellence. The aforementioned statement is a vision aimed at creating a fully integrated university with profound and outstanding knowledge in all disciplines to develop and solve problems for Thai society and the region. The University has an efficient management system that adheres to the principles of good governance and strives to become a reputable university with high-quality academic achievements that are widely accepted both nationally and in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also an educational institution that leads in promoting opportunities, equality, and justice in society, with a focus on research and social services, and an efficient management system that can serve as a model for Thai universities.

Since Thammasat University has a policy to expand educational opportunities to the regions, starting from the fiscal year 2005, and one of the missions of the Pattaya campus is to establish it as a center for education in the Eastern region, the above philosophy and vision is considered as a fundamental idea for its management and development principles.

The Pattaya Center Management, under the coordination of the Regional Education Center Office, is a central organization responsible for supporting academic teaching and services to the region. It was created through the restructuring of the administrative divisions of the Office of the Rector in accordance with the decision of the University Council on December 20th, 2004 and has been in effect since February 1st, 2005. Its objective is to promote educational opportunities for Thammasat University and to develop Pattaya Center as a continuous high-level education center, research and development center, training center, and academic resource center in the region. This is to meet the genuine needs of the local community and to bring excellence in academic knowledge, thinking, and the way of Thammasat University to the efficient development of the Eastern region. The success of this endeavor requires cooperation and financial support from the government, local authorities, alumni, community leaders, and stakeholders.

Physical Development

1) The University initially received budget support for the development of physical infrastructure in the construction of various buildings. However, it later realized the importance of local and community development in the Eastern region. The collaboration to develop Thammasat University for the purpose of education, teaching, and organizational development for local governance and communities has occurred. Thammasat University and the Provincial Administration Organization of Chonburi have agreed to cooperate in establishing a training center for local governance and botanical gardens on December 21, 2004. The Provincial Administration Organization of Chonburi agreed to provide financial support of 30,000,000 baht for the construction of dormitories and other construction projects for the operation of the training center for local governance and the creation of botanical gardens.

2) A budget allocation of 57,225,800 baht was received for three consecutive years during the fiscal years 2007-2009 for the construction of a public utilities system and a local training building (classrooms). However, the allocated budget was insufficient, so additional funding of 14,306,400 baht was sought and received from the provincial administration organization of Chonburi. This was used to construct an educational activity building (dome-shaped relaxation hall) and a football field with a running track. It was expected that the local training building (classrooms) would be completed in time to support the training of local administration courses and the teaching of master's degree courses before the start of the academic year 1/2009.

3) The budget allocation of 2,000,000 baht has been received from the Provincial Administration Organization of Chonburi to construct an educational activity building (a dome-shaped relaxation pavilion on the top of Khao Matoom) in order to provide a place for relaxation and to serve as a scenic viewpoint for the university and surrounding areas. The construction of the scenic viewpoint building, the domed pavilion on Khao Matoom, will provide a panoramic view of the university and also enable the viewing of the landscape of Pattaya, including the scenery of Khao Chee Chan. The scenic viewpoint building can also serve as a venue for various activities, as well as improve the landscape of Khao Matoom to enhance its beauty.

4) The budget was allocated from the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization in the amount of 3,000,000 baht for the construction of a football field with running track, to serve as a venue for various sports activities in order to foster good relationships with local government organizations and communities. By incorporating sports as a means of relationship-building, it will promote the organization of sports activities for personnel and local government organizations that are beneficial to society.

Teaching and Learning Development

Master's Degree 

Thammasat University, Pattaya Center, has launched master's degrees in 4 branches since the first semester of the academic year 2006, namely:

Technology Management by College of Innovation

Master of Community Development Program (Special Program) by Faculty of Social Administration

Politics and Governance for Executives by Faculty of Political Science

Service Innovation by College of Innovation

Thammasat University has been granted a budget to construct a new building for classrooms and laboratories, which is currently under construction, in order to accommodate the development plans of Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus. In 2015, the university conducted teaching at the undergraduate level for the English-language program of Mechanical Engineering and Software Engineering at Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus.

In 2015, Thammasat University recognized the necessity to produce quality automotive engineers to meet the demands of the industrial sector and the ASEAN Economic Community. Therefore, the main curriculum of the Bachelor of Engineering in Automotive Engineering program (English program) was established at Thammasat University, Pattaya Center, which is the center of Thailand's automotive industry. This project was supported by Siam Mortors Co., Ltd. in terms of budget to construct a 5,000 square meter engineering laboratory building for 60,000,000 baht. Thammasat University also received a budget of 30,000,000 baht from Bangkok Bank Public Co., Ltd. to construct 2 student dormitories with 48 rooms to support undergraduate education.

In 2016, a building for learning and practical operations was constructed at Thammasat University, Pattaya Campus, and was completed in 2019. After the construction was completed, the University’s Council passed a resolution to change the name of the building to Thammasat Innovation Hub.

In 2017, the Faculty of Engineering introduced a course in the field of automotive engineering technology. It is considered as a new generation of its graduate program.

In 2018, the Pattaya Administration Division was approved and elevated to a department according to the resolution of the 7th University Council Meeting, Agenda 5.3, on July 23, 2018. The meeting considered the restructuring of departments within and resolved to approve the management of the Pattaya Center as a division in order to support the government's economic development policies in the special development zone. There has been an announcement in the Royal Gazette regarding the Regulations of Thammasat University, (No. 4), concerning the establishment and division of departments at Thammasat University, Amendment (No. 4) B.E. 2561 "(4) Pattaya Campus Administration Division", Section 4, the following addition is made as Section 10/3 of the Regulations of Thammasat University, B.E. 2559, amended (No. 3) B.E. 2561, announced on February 6th, 2019. The Pattaya Campus Administration Division has the authority and responsibility to carry out general management tasks. Its duties include providing services and implementing the university management policies in areas related to facilities, public utilities, security maintenance, landscape development, facility management, building maintenance, and controlling various public utility systems within the Pattaya campus.

In 2019, Thammasat University applied for the establishment of a special economic zone and has been declared an EECmd area according to the government's policy on developing the 3 eastern provinces to become the EEC special economic area on January 12th, 2019, to focus on comprehensive medical and health development. The aim is responding to the government policy to increase the capacity of personnel in the Eastern Economic Corridor by integrating knowledge of science and technology Medicine and health management. It also aims to connect Big Data with other advanced industries. The development of comprehensive medical care is by integrating the automotive industry of the future (Next Generation Automotive) and the digital industry (Digital Hub) with integrated medical and health care to elevate the prosperity of the country (New Engine of Growth) concretely. It is a guideline for the management of promotion zones for special operations to be successful with the hope that the people of the eastern region will benefit from the development of the EEC area. Additional land has been donated by Dr. Phornthep Phornprapha, Chairman of Siam Motors Co., Ltd., totaling 18 rai 2 ngan 74 square wah, to support the development plans of Thammasat University Pattaya Campus. This increases the total area of Thammasat University Pattaya Campus from its original size of 566 rai 26.3 square wah to 584 rai 3 ngan 3 square wah.

In 2020, plans were made for the Digital Hospital and AI University to meet the demands of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in developing medical innovations. The vision of Thammasat University Pattaya Campus, "A Leading Innopolis Campus," consists of 3 main missions: Academic Hub, Research and Excellence Hub, and Service Hub & Learning Resources Center.

Thammasat University Pattaya Campus has received a budget of 980 million baht for the construction of Thammasat Digital Hospital in the year 2021. The budget is allocated for a period of 3 fiscal years (2021-2023). The University aims to operationalize the Digital Hospital by the year 2024.