Dulwich College International Debuts in Bangkok Amid Alumni and Leadership Tribute

• Dulwich College International School Bangkok was officially launched in a gala ceremony at Grand Hyatt Erawan, with the attendance of alumni, dignitaries, and former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun.
• The new campus, scheduled to open in August 2026 in Bangna, will offer a combination of British educational heritage and Thai culture, aspiring to be Thailand's first LEED and WELL Gold certified international school.
• Leaders emphasized Dulwich's heritage and international network, highlighting values such as integrity and social justice, and presenting the school's vision for transformative, sustainable education in Thailand.

It was a new beginnings as Dulwich alumni, leaders, and visionaries convened at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok hotel to mark the past and forge the future of the newly-unveiled Dulwich College International School Bangkok.

Notable alumni, school leaders, and special guests convened at the 'Past & Future: Celebrating the Dulwich Family' event on April 24 at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok to commemorate a significant milestone on the road to the opening of Dulwich College International School Bangkok, which will open in August 2026. Among the special guests was Anand Panyarachun, ex-Prime Minister of Thailand, as well as a number of alumni and friends of the Dulwich community.

The evening honored the rich tradition of Dulwich College's founding school, the international growth of Dulwich College International (DCI), and the bright future of its newest campus. London leadership was represented by Fiona Angel, Acting Master of Dulwich College, and DCI by Chairman Fraser White of Education in Motion (EiM), the UK's premier education group and parent organization. Family members of Chansamorn Wattanavekin, represented by Supol Wattanavekin and Panida Thepkanjana, also attended.

Rounding out the evening was Founding Head of College Adam Gibson, who revealed an intimate first glimpse at the campus interior design and honored the Dulwich tradition.

"It's a historic moment", Adam explained to Prestige. "We have a brand-new school, wonderful partners, and local families here tonight. Alumni from Dulwich schools around Asia have come back to join us to celebrate, including Khun Anand. It's great to see so much interest, support, and enthusiasm – before we even open".

Among the alumni looking back on the influence of a Dulwich education was Bryan Chiew, a Dulwich College Beijing graduate. "It wasn't only what we were taught inside the classroom, but how we took it out and lived it and worked it", Bryan said to Prestige. "At Dulwich, activities such as sports were not only extracurricular they were a part of everyday life. That kind of environment taught us resilience, entrepreneurial spirits, and creativity, making us more well-rounded and future-ready".

The school will be sited at Bangna and features a modern and open green campus with low-scale, human-related buildings fusing Dulwich traditions, Thai defining characteristics, and cutting-edge architectural style. Having the format of an authentic Thai village in planning, the campus is set to provide for wellbeing and community through the harmonization of education in an ecofriendly and social setup, redefining Bangkok standards in international schools. It also aspires to become Thailand’s first international school to achieve both LEED Gold and WELL Gold certifications for sustainability and health promotion.

“The differences come from the way everything is designed from the student’s point of view”, Adam explained. “We’ve drawn on lessons from our schools across Asia and adapted them to reflect Thai culture, especially in the way our buildings recreate the spirit and organisation of Thai villages”.

Looking back at the special sense of belonging that Dulwich creates, Bryan Chiew further said, "When you become part of a Dulwich school, you're not merely becoming part of one campus, but you're becoming part of a global family. In all the Dulwich schools, there's a common set of values and traditions. It's home away from home, and wherever you may be, Singapore, the UK, or Scandinavia, you will find relationships that extend well after graduation".

Dulwich Bangkok will provide a dynamic, well-rounded education for students from 3 to 18 years old. Phase one will house up to 1,000 Early Years and Junior School students from 3 to 11 years old, with subsequent phases adding a high school and a performing arts centre of international standard, equipping students for success at top universities around the globe.

Speaking from the heart of a good alumnus of Dulwich College, Anand Panyarachun who joined the College in 1948 spoke in his Guest of Honour address at the dinner of his life-long aspiration for Dulwich to create a presence in Thailand, and of the necessity of maintaining Thai identity in global education. "I always had a personal dream that Dulwich would one day come to Thailand," he spoke. Now there are Dulwich Colleges in China, Singapore, and Korea, and they are soon to have a new campus in Thailand. I greet them warmly. The increasing presence of international schools in Thailand is crucial for the education of Thai children."

Established in London in 1619, Dulwich College is one of the oldest independent schools in the UK, with a rich tradition of academic achievement, innovation and respect for tradition. Over the past four centuries, the college has nurtured generations of students, including notable alumni such as scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, changemakers, and world leaders each carrying forward the school’s values of integrity, curiosity, and service, and contributing to society in meaningful and distinctive ways. Part of its global expansion, Dulwich College now sits at the centre of an international community of schools, sharing its centuries-old educational philosophy with students across the globe.

Looking back on the values of the school once more, Anand Panyarachun spoke of how the Dulwich way of thinking influenced his life. "Those values that I learned some 75 years ago at Dulwich, like the value of integrity, responsibility, respect for diversity, and social justice, remain as important today as ever in this age", he says. "The opening of Dulwich College Bangkok is a symbol of the transition between Dulwich's rich past and the exciting future we are creating together". I feel immense pride in knowing that my fellow countrymen and women of Thailand will have the same quality of education which transformed my life all those years ago. My aspiration for all students who pass through the doors of Dulwich Bangkok is that they take with them not just a quality education, but also the skills, dedication, and drive to lead and help create a better world for everyone.