The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations and the Industrial Works Department have advised their staff to work from home on Tuesday, to prevent a potential confrontation with students and alumni of the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok, Uthenthawai campus.

Those who have business at the Industrial Works Department are advised to contact the department on 02 430 6300 during office hours.

Students and alumni of the university plan to rally in front of the ministry tomorrow, to protest against the planned relocation of the Uthenthawai campus, from the grounds of Chulalongkorn University to a new location in Samut Prakan province.

A letter of petition, explaining why the campus should not be relocated, will be submitted the minister.

In the letter, the students and alumni claim that the institute has been providing education in technology for almost 100 years and that the institute occupies only 3.36 hectares of land, representing just 1.82% of the whole area of 189.28 hectares claimed by Chulalongkorn University.

One of the main reasons for the move, besides Chulalongkorn University’s need for additional space, is to resolve the decades-old rivalry between Uthenthawai students and those from the Pathumwan Institute of Technology, which often results in violence. The two institutes are not far from each other.

The rally will start at about 9am.