Research Centers

Mahidol Migration Center (MMC)

The MMC, initially funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, is part of the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR). As such, IPSR leads MMC to focus on the impact of migration in the region and helps disseminate information on migration more efficiently. The MMC serves as the primary channel for migration-related information provided by IPSR and its partners. The purpose of MMC is to collect and synthesize the vast amount of available migration data, to collaborate with partners and organizations to create internal and external networks to formulate theories and policies, to act as a support platform, and to help prioritize resources to improve the physical and mental well-being of both domestic and international migrants. The MMC, IPSR, and Mahidol University hold core humanitarian values with the goal of deep participation in interdisciplinary and international cooperation.

MMC-JRU

Migration studies have been at the forefront of IPSR research since its inception in 1971. Mahidol Migration Center – Joint Research Unit (MMC-JRU), established in 2022, is a sub-unit of the Mahidol Migration Center which is the primary outlet for migration-related information and research produced by IPSR and its partners. MMC-JRU organized various stakeholder engagements in the forms of policy dialogues, workshop, and technical training. It also releases research briefs, reports, interviews, podcasts and infosheets on migrant labour rights, human trafficking, migrant public health, climate change, and other essential topics on migration within and beyond Southeast Asia. For those interested in MMC-JRU’s activities, visit the database and events page on its website (https://www.mahidolmigrationcenter-jointresearchunit.org/).

Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Center (TPAK)

Under the administration of the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, the Thailand Physical Activity Knowledge Development Center (TPAK) has consultants and direction committees to advise and design activities following guidelines for driving and promoting physical activities according to national goals. Fittingly, TPAK is a referral agency for information and knowledge from physical activity research in the demographic and social science dimensions by defining the roles and duties in supporting the body of knowledge and creating an academic space for researching physical activity-related issues, making a database including analyzing synthesized information for use in public communication and the policy communication necessary to support the policy movement of promoting physical activity among Thai population for holistic well-being.

Thai Centenarian Center (TCC)

The Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, established the Thai Centenarian Center (TCC) as a source of knowledge about older individuals and centenarians, the population aged one hundred years or more, in Thailand. Information collected by TCC includes stories, articles, statistics, data, vocabulary, news, and knowledge relating to older persons and hundred-year-old persons in Thailand. In addition, TCC sponsors a ‘bulletin board’ open to those interested in issues concerning older persons, especially centenarians, to exchange information, news, knowledge, and opinions, as well as gather information on life and living and healthy practices of the Thai people.

Thailand Center for Happy Worker Studies (TCHS)

Thailand Center for Happy Worker Studies (TCHS), Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, supported by Thai Health Promotion Foundation, aims to survey and study the quality of life, engagement and happiness among working people. TCHS has conducted research and development operational research follow-up research to develop and enhance the quality of life and happiness of working people (in the organization) in Thailand continuously since 2007 until the present. HAPPINOMETER has been developed to assess the happiness of working people, which can be used as a primary tool for assessing and monitoring the situation of quality of life and happiness of working people in the country, both in public and private organizations according to the concept of 8 happiness or HAPPY8+, which consists of 1) good physical health 2) good relaxation 3) good heart 4) good spirit 5) good family 6) good society 7) good knowledge 8) good money 9) Good job (satisfaction, commitment and work-life balance). The benefits of obtaining a database are to study, analyze and develop knowledge, quality of life, happiness and organizational commitment of working people in Thailand.

The Kanchanaburi Project

The Kanchanaburi Project, being a member of the INDEPTH network and implemented by IPSR, was established with a 1999 Wellcome Trust Award to IPSR as a Center for Research Excellence.

The field research centre is located at the new Mahidol University campus in Saiyok district, Kanchanaburi province, about 200 kilometers west of Bangkok.

The field centre is dedicated to the monitoring of population change and the evaluation of the effects of intervention based research. The core research activity is the creation of a database on the demographic, health, social and economic composition of the target population. Associated research projects are in the areas of improving adolescent reproductive health outcomes; illegal migrants and health care; population and environment; arrangements for the care of the elderly; family formation, vital events and their registration; social roles and mortality. The results of the research will be used in formulating and modifying related policies. This field centre will also be used for training Ph.D. and MA.students as well as participants in short courses, both from Thailand and other countries, in monitoring and evaluation methods. Students and trainees will be encouraged to utilize the data from the core and associated research projects.