Mom Luang (M.L.) Tridhosyuth Devakul (Mom Tri), the founder of this campus and the Chairman of the Board of Governors which oversees the operation of the Prem Center, received his formal education in the USA. He attended St. Albans Cathedral School, Washington DC, did his undergraduate studies at Dartmouth (Magna Cum Laude) and received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University. Over many years he was associated with Summer camps at the Chewonki Institute, Maine, as a student, counselor and leader.

In the early 1970s, he returned to Thailand as a practicing architect and in the late 1970s was a Senator. He uncovered the tourist potential of Phuket, being instrumental in the development of an international airport. He also built and owned a number of major hotels. He presently owns boutique hotels, the Boathouse, Kata Beach, and the Villa Royale and is a partner in a villa/hotel complex, Trisara.

In 1992 Mom Tri lost a young son and he was determined to develop a world-class school for Thais here in Thailand, in his son’s memory.

In 1994 Mom Tri bought the rice paddy fields from which the present campus has been established. The plan was to build a 3 generation school village. The campus would comprise a world-class independent school teaching the Thai curriculum in English. It would be surrounded by apartments which parents could lease.

It was anticipated that most of the parents would be living in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand beyond Chiang Mai – and in many cases it would be the grandparents or other relatives (the extended family) who would be living on campus looking after the children – thus the 3 generation concept: child, parent/relative, grandparent. The older generation were to be seen as an educational source of wisdom, and the setting was to be used to promote healthy living and environmental awareness.

The Tridhos 3 Generation School Village opened in May 1997. In July, Thailand in particular, and Asia in general, was overwhelmed by an economic crisis. The Tridhos School was particularly hard hit. For the next 3 years it struggled to survive. In the meantime Mom Tri was looking for educational partners to develop a fresh momentum

At this time Geelong Grammar School (GGS), Australia, who were involved in a joint-venture with the King’s mother’s foundation, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, to develop an international boarding school at Doi Tung north of Chiang Rai in the far north of Thailand, had, because of the economic crisis, to suspend its project.

In late 1997 M.L. Tri opened a dialogue with the Headmaster, Lister Hannah, and in September 1998 both the Headmaster and the Chairman of the Geelong Grammar School Council, John McInnes, visited and were most impressed with the campus. However, there were difficulties given its concurrent project responsibilities.

In late 1998 the Chairman of the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), John Kirkham visited and was similarly impressed, as was the UWCSEA Board.

In early 1999 the UWCSEA agreed to enter an understanding to advise on the development of the Tridhos School along UnitedWorld College lines. In May 1999, the Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School, Lister Hannah accepted the position of President of the Traidhos Foundation (governing the Center), with the agreement not only of developing a school along UWC lines but developing a broader concept, a Center for International Education.

At this time, H.E. General Prem Tinsulanonda, Commander-in-Chief of the Army in the late 70s, Prime Minister 1980-88, and since then Privy Counsellor to the King (and now President of the Privy Council) and the only Thai accorded the title of Statesman, was approached to give his name to the Center. He agreed.

It was concluded that the Tridhos School would close as of March 2000. In its place the Prem Tinsulanonda Center for International Education would come into existence with the arrival of the President of the Prem Center and his wife in January 2000.

At the Board of Governors’ meeting January 28, 2000 H.E. Prem Tinsulanonda, who had generously allowed the campus and school to be named in his honour, agreed that the campus would be known as the Prem Center.

The initial leadership team included Lister Hannah, President, Mark Hensman, Director of Development and Operations, and Maen Sirijawong, Business Manager.

The Visiting Schools Program (VSP) was launched in early January 2000. The VSP now hosts over 60 schools involving over 3000 students a year. It has grown from a foundation of four focuses: cross cultural, environmental sustainability, community service and adventure, to add a fifth focus on leadership and team building.

While most schools visit for 5-7 days, Kardinia International College (Australia) have been sending 20-25 Grade 9 students for 8 weeks, 4 times a year, since October 2003.

In August 2005 the Prem Center took over the Barge Program on the Chao Phraya River and based in Bangkok. A hundred-year-old converted teak rice barge with covered deck, air-conditioned cabin for sleeping, kitchen and other amenities, provides a floating classroom which travels the river studying its ecosystems, culture and history.

The program has now expanded to land-based programs and the study of the river's watershed. Established by Mom Tri in 1995, the Barge was donated several years later to the Magic Eye Foundation which has in turn given it to PTIS.

The first IB Asia Pacific workshops were run at the Center in March 2001, before the school had opened. A number of PYP and MYP workshops drew nearly 300 teachers over 10 days. In January 2002 PYP, MYP and Diploma workshops were held on successive weekends.

This has become an annual occasion and draws roughly 250 teachers from 70 schools in 20 countries each year. Since January 2003 the IB has franchised Prem to organise and administer these workshops.

The Tridhos School closed in March 2000. Eight primary-age students stayed on in a mini-International School operated by PTIS and led by Davidene Hannah and Marianne Schrieer, while planning continued for a full international school to be opened in August 2001.

In July 2000, Carolyn Solomon began as Head of School and was joined in January 2001 by Ron Auckland, Junior School Principal. The official launch in Bangkok occurred in late January and in March 2001, Roger Herbert, Director of Operations and Boarding, and the first Intern, Jessica York, arrived. There was a division of labour, Carolyn and Ron recruited students, Lister teachers. Peter Dunoon, Librarian, Nigel Forbes-Harper, Director of Studies, and Stephen Keegan, Head of IT, were all involved in the lead-up to the opening.

In August 2001 the school opened with 70 students (6 of whom were boarders), 13 teaching staff/administration and 4 interns. It covered Grades Kindergarten to 10, comprising composite classes, with Grades 9 and 10 the IGCSE classes, as "stand-alones ". Enrolment grew to just over 100 students by the end of the year. IB Diploma authorisation was granted in February 2002 for the program to start in the next year, August 2002. Ron Auckland, who had been half time IBAP PYP manager as well as Junior School Principal, left to become full-time PYP manager based in Singapore.

August 2002 saw the school opening with just over 200 students and our first IB Diploma class. It opened on a very sad note, Daniel Wilms, a senior school teacher having died from a brain tumour during the holidays. In January 2003, Carolyn Solomon left to become Head of Auckland International College, in her home city in New Zealand.

M.L. Tri, Chairman of the Board of Governors, asked Lister Hannah to head the school through to the first graduation as well as continuing as President of the Center. Nigel Forbes-Harper, who had been Director of Studies from the outset, was appointed Senior School Principal, joining Sean Murphy, another foundation staff member, who had become Junior School Principal since the beginning of the year. Davidene Hannah became Director of Admissions. The Parent-School Association was formed in May and the school finished the year with an enrolment of 240 students.

By August 2003 the enrolment had grown to 280 students. Roger Herbert left in December, with Sam Ridley arriving in January to take over as Director of Boarding (etc!). PYP authorisation was formalized in February and the first 2004 Graduation was held on the last Friday of May with 16 students (from 14 nationalities) in the class. H.E. Prem Tinsulanonda was the guest of honour and graduation speaker.

The 2004-5 school year saw another growth spurt in enrolment, starting with 290 students and closing with 345. Boarding had grown from high 40s to high 60s. A second Grade 12 class of 24 students graduated in May 2005. In November 2004, Nigel Forbes-Harper and Sean Murphy had been appointed Heads of their respective schools, only to be drawn to career-advancing new appointments from August 2005, Nigel as Associate Manager of the IB Diploma Programme in Asia Pacific, Sean as Junior School Principal, Intercommunity International School, Istanbul.

Entering our fifth year as a school (third year K-12) in August 2005, we had an enrolment of 405 students, including 90 boarders. The school also welcomed a new administrative team: David Baird, Head of School, Maxine Driscoll, Deputy Head and Junior School Principal, and Craig Rodgers, Senior School Principal. Boarding expanded into Cluster 11 and Junior School into the new classroom block. In May 2006 our third Grade 12 class, 32 students (20 nationalities), graduated.

In December 2005 the school received full IB MYP authorization, making it the second school in Thailand, and the only boarding school in Asia, to offer all three IB programs. In May 2006 the school was granted Candidacy for Accreditation following a successful CIS Preliminary Visit in March.

The 2006-7 school year started with our local river flooding twice. The first time, just as staff orientation was to begin, saw water getting into the ground floor of classrooms, library and administration. With both floods, remarkable teamwork by all on campus ensured that damage was minimized, and that the school year got underway very smoothly.

Enrolment was 410 students, 100 of whom were boarders. The intense institutional self-study required as the basis for accreditation by both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), was a dominant focus for the year. The School Board, chaired by Executive Chairman/CEO, M.L. Tri, with Lister Hannah, Vice Chairman, along with 12 other members eminent in various professions both from within Thailand and beyond, met for the first time November 7, 2006. It meets once a term, four times a year, with three Board committees providing support.

The year saw the expansion onto the second floor of the Library, with a further IT lab; and seminar rooms; further occupation of the ground floor of the new Junior School, including the repositioned Head of School’s office; and increased music and drama facilities in the Senior School. In May 2007 32 students (20 nationalities) graduated, H.E. Prem Tinsulanonda the graduation speaker. In June the school farewelled Sam Ridley, Head of Boarding for the past 3½ years. The school-year finished on a very sad note with the death of language teacher, Nigel Burton, after a long illness.

Three Generation Cricket Academy
In July 2005 and 2006 the Center hosted an Asia Cricket Council (ACC) high performance coaching clinics led by Cricket Australia involving each time 20 top level coaches from across Asia.

Further ACC clinics, on sports medicine and fitness, took place in December 2005 and January 2007. Both drew over 50 participants from 21 countries in Asia (including Oman, Bahrain and the UAE in the Middle East) The building of an international standard cricket ground with turf wickets was completed and opened in November 7, 2006.

With the cricket ground completed, the Center co-hosted a ten-nations Under 15 tournament organized by the ACC in December. It is scheduled to host eight nation ACC Under 19 and Under 15 tournaments in December 2007 and January 2008 respectively. It is now also being used as a training site for the Thailand national youth teams.

Three Generation Tennis Academy
In January 2005, Khun Preecha Wasasong, was appointed as a full-time professional tennis coach offering individual coaching, several weekend tennis clinics and conducting two local tennis tournaments.

The 2006-7 school year marked the completion of six tennis courts (and an adjacent squash court) and the appointment, effective August 2007, of Randy Scott, a highly recognized coach in SEAsia, as full-time director of the new Tennis Academy.

Three Generation Golf Academy
In early 2007 the decision was made to proceed with the development of a Golf Academy to open in August 2007. An international standard iron-driving range and green and highly specialized skills teaching training facilities will be completed late in the year.

A 3 day environmental conference in 2001 for over 300 teachers in Thailand was planned and hosted by the Center.

In April 2002 and 2003 the Center hosted Music Camps for talented classical musicians organized by Payap University. There were 40 participants drawn from all over Thailand.

In December 2004, the Center hosted a Bon Buddhism retreat lead by the Rinpoche from Kathmandu with over 50 participants. This was part of a developing relationship with the Chair of Tibetan Studies, Oxford University, and a Nepalese/Tibetan community in North West Nepal.

Intensive English Language Programs were run for a number of institutions March 2001 – October 2001 but were discontinued. These have confirmed to be ran by the Visiting Schools Program for students during school holidays. An International Centre focusing on intensive English programs, potentially in association with partners from the UK, is being discussed.

As of July 2006, Lister Hannah retired as President. He retained the title of President Emeritus, volunteers his time at Three Generation Community for Learning, serves as a vice-chairman of the Board, and works particularly on governance, teacher training and the cricket project, while consulting on several independent projects in Thailand and Asia.

M.L. Tri, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Governors, has assumed the position of Executive Chairman/CEO of the Traidhos Three Generation Community for Learning.

David Baird, Head of School of PTIS has assumed the role of President of PTIS, Head of School for PTIS and Chief Operating Officer.