30th Anniversary Celebration
Regent’s International School, one of Thailand’s most distinguished educational institutions, marked its 30th anniversary with a spectacular celebration at the Main Auditorium of the Thailand Cultural Centre. Discover Pattaya were delighted to attend this auspicious occasion which was presided over by Dr Virachai Techavijit, Founder, Owner, and Chairman of the Regent’s group. Joined by the Techavijit family, senior leadership, faculty, alumni, and esteemed guests they commemorated the school’s enduring legacy and international achievements with a stirring programme of performances by 500 students from both the Bangkok and Pattaya campuses. To see more about this please go to pages 4&5 From humble beginnings in Pattaya in 1994, Regent’s has grown steadily, establishing a campus in Bangkok in 2000 and a third in Langsuan in 2022. Today, the school serves over 2,000 students representing more than 50 nationalities. The school follows the British national curriculum through to A Levels and also offers the International Baccalaureate (IB). These foundations are further enriched by partnerships with world-renowned institutions such as MIT, the Juilliard School, Nord Anglia, and Round Square. Thirty years of Regent’s represents a journey defined by excellence, ambition, and vision — here’s to the next 30! n his address Dr Virachai reflected on the school’s proud history and we are now delighted to publish an edited version of his speech.
A Global Legacy of Excellence
It is with immense pride and joy that I stand before you this evening in such a splendid setting, to mark a truly momentous occasion the 30th anniversary of Regent’s International School, with campuses in both Pattaya and Bangkok. Thirty years ago, Regent’s was born of a bold vision shared by Khun Thiphavan my better half of 50 years and myself: not merely to establish a school, but to create a global community. A community where young minds are nurtured, challenged, and inspired to lead with empathy, wisdom, and courage. This evening, we celebrate not just the passage of time, but the extraordinary legacy built over those years.
Over the past three decades, Regent’s International Schools have proudly sent graduates into the world who have walked the halls of the most prestigious universities Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, LSE, King’s, Stanford, Yale, UCLA, the University of Chicago, Seoul National University, the National University of Singapore, and many more. Yet their journeys did not conclude at the gates of those esteemed institutions. One such alumnus, Hayk Harutyunyan, went on to serve in the Armenian Cabinet as the deputy minister of Energy, pushing forward the green energy policy a testament to how the values instilled at Regent’s flourish far beyond our walls. Jee Woon Huang of Pattaya Campus, in 2002 received an unconditional offer from Oxford University after scoring 3A∗ and 2A in A Level. But her family believed Seoul National University was best for her career. She is now a legal counsel for Korea K-water.
Another, Dr Jaanika Vider the first alumna from Pattaya campus earning all three degrees from Oxford is currently contributing to the ‘Capturing the Arctic’ research project in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum and the University of Vienna. Jekatarina Ivanova, the first from Bangkok Campus to Oxford University where she completed her two degrees and is now a lead engineer managing oil and gas concession in North Sea and West Africa. In the world of arts and letters, Eia Uus was honoured with the Eduard Vilde Prize for her poetry exploring the inner world of a sensitive young woman a theme she first began to explore during her English lessons at Regent’s.
In the sphere of social impact, two alumnae Michaela Pobudová from Slovakia and Katrin Puutsa from Estonia co-founded the non- profit organisation Mareena, working to build inclusive societies by helping foreigners become locals. Their journey began with the Round Square spirit cultivated right here at Regent’s. Even in the world of entertainment here in Thailand, one name stands out-beloved by virtually every Thai household and that is none other than Yaya, or Urassaya, who began her journey with us at the Pattaya Campus from pre-nursery. Another exceptionally remarkable Thai alumna is Toey Soralamba, who achieved an almost impossible and unprecedented perfect score of 45 in her IB Diploma, granting her access to the very best universities in the world. Last but perhaps, the proudest Thai alumnus, a humble boy known by his friend and staff as ‘Pack’, currently known as Dr. Vincent by his fan club around the Globe. Dr Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadej, a 2002 Pattaya Campus graduate, currently an associate professor at Reading University – UK after earning his scholarship degree from Brunel, his MSc from Oxford University and Ph.D. from Cambridge University, his remarkably popular website, Maths ThroughStories.org draws in a global audience, with over 600 mathematics teachers from some 220 countries regularly visiting. Regent’s is so proud that Dr. Natthapoj continues to make an unimaginable contribution to the training of mathematics educators worldwide. Over the past two to three decades, many of our alumni, whose names not mentioned here due to time limit, have helped place Regent’s firmly on the map. These are not exceptions. They are the essence of who we are. They affirm that our mission to educate global citizens and nurture well- rounded leaders who shape a better world is not merely a motto, but a lived and enduring reality.
GRATITUDE TO OUR LEADERS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS
Of course, such outcomes do not occur in isolation. This evening, I must pay tribute to those who believed in this school and helped nurture it alongside my wife and our three children. They are our remarkable teachers, our headteachers, and our parents. I would like first to express my deepest gratitude to the former headmasters and principals who have each left an incredible mark on the legacy of our school: Richard Poulton, our founding Headmaster in 1996, former Headmaster of Christ’s Hospital School, England Simon Leslie, former head of Geelong Grammar School -Timbertop Ken Ball and Patricia Metham, former Headmistress of the famous Roedean School in England To our two longest-serving Principals Martin Kneath in Bangkok and Mike Walton in Pattaya thank you for your years of transformative leadership. To more recent Principals Peter Hogan, Sarah Osborne-James, and Martyn Smith Each of you helped lay a firm foundation with dedication and vision. And to our current Principals Amos Turner Wardell (Pattaya) and Andy Edmonds (Bangkok) your total commitment to excellence continues to inspire both staff and students. We are deeply grateful. We stand on the shoulders of your contributions. To our parents many of whom are leaders in your own right, across business, culture, law, engineering and medicine your belief in holistic, international education has been the bedrock of our success. Your trust, your advocacy, your partnership they have created a ripple effect far beyond your own families. You are not merely supporters you are co-architects of this remarkable 30-year journey. Thank you for your loyalty and trust given to the school. Thank you for your involvement. And thank you for choosing Regent’s not once, but continuously, across generations.
LOOKING AHEAD WITH PURPOSE As
we reflect on what has been achieved, we also look ahead with determination and ambition. The world today faces significant challenges climate change, conflict, inequality but it also offers immense opportunities. Regent’s International School, with over 2,000 students and 300 staff across our Bangkok and Pattaya campuses, will continue to prepare our young people not merely to enter that world but to improve it. With renewed investment in innovation, partnerships with global institutions such as the Juilliard School, MIT and UNICEF, Nord Anglia Education and Round Square, and a strong focus on ethics, resilience, and cross-cultural understanding, our next thirty years promise to be even more transformative.
TO OUR STUDENTS
To the students here this evening: you are not just the future you are the now. Dream beyond your limit. Work hard with integrity. Act with compassion. And know that your school stands behind you, always. In closing, may I offer a heartfelt thanks to all who have shaped this extraordinary journey our staff, our alumni, our students, and our families. This evening is more than a celebration it is a reaffirmation: that education, when rooted in values and delivered with excellence, transforms lives, communities, and nations. Here’s to thirty years of meaningful impact and to many more to come. Thank you, and please enjoy this beautiful evening of memories and musical performances by our talented students from both campuses. Your presence here tonight means the world to us. Thank you
