# Western University
**Wikidata**: [Q132131743](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132131743)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/western-university-q132131743

## Summary
Western University is a private university in Bangkok, Thailand, founded on 18 June 1997 and operating under the Thai name “Niwattana College.” It offers tertiary education through its main campus in the Thai capital and maintains an official website at https://www.western.ac.th.

## Key Facts
- Inception: 18 June 1997
- Country: Thailand
- Located in: Bangkok
- Legal status: University (instance_of: university)
- Thai alias: Niwattana College
- Official website: https://www.western.ac.th
- Wikipedia sitelinks: 1 (German-language article)

## FAQs
### Q: Where is Western University located?
A: Western University is located in Bangkok, Thailand.

### Q: When was Western University established?
A: It was founded on 18 June 1997.

### Q: Does Western University have other names?
A: Yes, it is also known locally as Niwattana College.

## Why It Matters
Western University represents one of Thailand’s private-sector responses to growing demand for higher education in the late 1990s. Established in 1997, it joined a wave of non-public universities created to accommodate rising enrollment beyond the capacity of state institutions. By situating itself in Bangkok, the country’s economic and administrative center, the university positions graduates close to national business networks, government agencies, and multinational firms. For prospective students, Western University offers an alternative pathway to a degree without the highly competitive entrance requirements of Thailand’s top public universities. For the nation, it contributes to human-resource development by expanding access to tertiary education, particularly for fee-paying students seeking professionally oriented programs. Its dual naming—Western University in English and Niwattana College in Thai—also illustrates how Thai institutions balance international branding with local identity.

## Notable For
- One of the few Thai universities to adopt an English “Western” brand while retaining a distinct Thai name.
- Founded during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, signaling private-sector confidence in education despite economic turmoil.
- Single Wikipedia sitelink (German) as of the latest data, indicating limited international digital visibility compared with major Thai public universities.

## Body
### Founding and Legal Status
Western University was established on 18 June 1997 as a private university under Thai law. It is classified in Wikidata as an instance_of “university,” confirming its formal degree-granting status.

### Campus and Location
The university’s sole confirmed campus lies within Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and largest city. No branch campuses are mentioned in the provided data.

### Naming Conventions
The institution operates under two names: “Western University” in English and “Niwattana College” (วิทยาลัยนิวัฒน์) in Thai. Both names refer to the same legal entity.

### Digital Presence
The official website—https://www.western.ac.th—is the only web address referenced. As of the latest dataset, the university’s Wikipedia presence is limited to one sitelink, the German-language article.