Message from IPSR Director
We will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of IPSR in 2021. IPSR has been a valuable asset to Mahidol University. This did not happen by chance, but as a result of the forward-looking strategic plans and efforts of our former leadership and all of our staff. IPSR is well positioned today due to the hard-working and dedicated minds of each one of us: faculty, researchers, and supporting staff. We will maintain the excellence in research and graduate education in order to help the university compete, prosper, and achieve national goals in the global community of the 21st century.
Our key mission is to conduct high impact population and social research and to convey key findings to society. We strive for excellent publications while emphasizing collaboration, equal partnership, career development, and social engagement. We are committed to promoting flexible education in order to produce globally competent graduates.
We will work together to improve management, productivity, and cost efficiency in both administration and academics. IPSR aims to be a widely known academic institute, both in Thailand and internationally, that global society can rely on. The institute also hopes to be a credible and dependable friend who is committed to contribute and to give to others.
Let’s work together to preserve our place where the best minds want to work, think, educate, create new ideas, and commit to delivering better outcomes.
IPSR welcomes everyone!!!
Associate Professor Dr. Aree Jampaklay
Director of Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Background
Established in 1971, the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR) is one of Asia’s premier population research and training hubs. The Institute conducts research and provides training in population and development and explores their relationship to the social, economic, reproductive health, medical, and public health fields. This allows the Institute to help address emerging issues in Thailand and neighboring countries in south-east Asia and beyond, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for all.
The demographic transition throughout Asia has emerged at different stages in recent decades as political and economic change has swept the region, and the Institute is uniquely positioned to keep abreast with these changes through its timely research. This knowledge and technical support is widely disseminated at the country and local levels to scholars and policymakers internationally and regionally.
About us
The Institute for Population and Social Research was the first institution of its kind in Thailand and has a large number of academic staff and international collaboration partners. In 2006, the Institute was ranked first among social science research institutes in Thailand by the National Office of the Higher Education Commission.
The Institute’s highly distinguished faculty has demonstrated excellence in applied academic research aimed at improving the quality of life of people in Thailand and throughout Asia.
The work of the Institute has been recognized by many international bodies. Today, we are a Collaborating Centre of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Centre of Excellence in Population and Family Planning/Reproductive Health, and a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research in Human Reproduction. We also maintain other essential research collaborations with The Population Council, Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Wellcome Trust.
Collaboration
The Institute has developed an extensive network with national and international agencies. We enjoy strong support from Mahidol University, and other government and international organizations. Institute fellows benefit from these linkages through access to extensive program data and opportunities for field visits.
A trilateral cooperation program with the Government of Thailand in collaboration with various international institutions and academic organizations has led to many regional workshops and training sessions. These organizations include the International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Developing Countries (INDEPTH), the Population Council, the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA), UNFPA, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USAID and WHO.
The Institute has developed strong working relationships with universities and national agencies in countries throughout Asia and the Pacific, Europe, North America, and Africa. We are also grateful for the excellent relationships we have with the international organizations and funding bodies who generously support our research.
IPSR Directors

Emeritus Professor
Boonlert Leoprapai, Ph.D.
31 July 1975 – 24 June 1980

Emeritus Professor
Pramote Prasartkul, Ph.D.
25 June 1988 – 22 August 1988

Emeritus Professor
Aphichat Chamratrithirong, Ph.D.
23 August 1988 – 22 August 1996

Emeritus Professor
ดร.เบญจา ยอดดำเนิน-แอ็ตติกจ์
23 August 1996- 22 August 2004

Emeritus Professor
Churnrurtai Kanchanachitra, Ph.D.
23 August 2004 – 20 February 2008

Associate Professor
Sureeporn Punpuing, Ph.D.
21 February 2008 – 20 February 2016

Associate Professor
Rossarin Gray, Ph.D.
21 February 2016 – 20 February 2020

Associate Professor
Aree Jampaklay, Ph.D.
21 February 2020 – Present
AIM
To lead the Institute for Population and Social Research with Quality and Morality for the betterment of Thai society and the benefit of humanity.
VISION
The Institute for Population and Social Research is determined to be a world-class institute to promote scientific learning in population and society for sustainable development.
MISSION
To conduct relevant theoretical and applied research in demography and sociology to address national policy and local issues and meet international standards;
To arrange programs of instruction and training at the post-graduate level to increase the competitiveness of students and create allegiance with the organization;
To produce and disseminate information on a timely basis on demography and sociology to the public using modern channels of communication;
To strengthen existing networks and recruit new allies at national and international levels;
To improve the capacity of persons, the organization, and applicable technology to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
Strategic Plan
Strategic Implementation Plan for the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR): 2021-25