Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University was officially established by royal charter on 5 September 1978 as Thailand’s eleventh state university to provide the people with increased education opportunities. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX), bestowed the name “Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University” in the honor of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), one of whose titles before his accession to the throne was “Prince Sukhothai Thammaracha” or “Prince of Sukhothai”.
It was the first open university in Southeast Asia to use a distance teaching/learning system.
STOU received its first academic class on 1 December 1980, beginning with three schools of study: educational studies, liberal arts, and management science.
From 1979 to 1984, STOU had to share space with such agencies as the National Education Commission, Thai Airways, the Faculty of Economics of Chulalongkorn University, and the Ministry of University Affairs. In 1981 Mr. Mongkol Kanjanapas donated to the university a 30 rai section of land located in Pakkret district, Nonthaburi province. The university then bought more land, bringing the total area to approximately 135 rai.
Construction of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University began in 1982, and the university began operations at its new site on 9 December 1984.
According to Wikipedia and stou.ac.th
