The Royal University of Bhutan, founded on June 3, 2003, by a Royal Degree is the national university system of Bhutan. It was established to consolidate the management of tertiary education in Bhutan. It is a system university with 10 constituent colleges spread across the Kingdom. The underlying principle which influenced the development of a university system was the Government's priority for equitable development. The 10 member colleges are:
The College of Natural Resources (CNR) in the West Centeral
The National Institute of Traditional Medicine (NITM) in the West
The Royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) in the West
The College of Business Studies (GBS) in the South West
Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic (JNP) in the South East
HMJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, serves as Chancellor. Dasho Pema Thinley, the Vice Chancellor, handles day-to-day administration of the university system.
The Institute for Language and Cultural Studies, presently in Semtokha near Thimphu, is slated to expand to 500+ students and move to Taktsi in Trongsadzongkhag. A primary task of ILCS is to preserve and promote Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan.
A new college for Forestery Studies will be established in Bumthang
The Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) in Thimphu, originally slated to become a member institution of the university, has retained its autonomous status.
