History - XAVIER LEARNING COMMUNITY

The History

2008

The Idea Emerges

In 2008, Jesuits in Thailand began discussing the establishment of their own educational institution, moving beyond their existing roles in chaplaincy and leadership training. They recognized the urgent need to provide quality higher education for disadvantaged youth, particularly ethnic minorities in northern Thailand, who faced significant linguistic, cultural, and financial barriers in accessing university education. Many of these young people, despite possessing talent and ambition, found themselves excluded from mainstream academic pathways simply due to circumstances of birth and geography. The Chiang Rai region, historically underdeveloped and underserved by universities, was identified as the ideal location — a place where a Jesuit institution could make a profound and lasting difference in the lives of those most often left behind.

Vision for Education Jesuits in Thailand moved beyond chaplaincy to establish their own institution providing quality higher education.

Serving the Marginalized Focused on ethnic minorities in northern Thailand facing linguistic, cultural, and financial barriers to university access.

2010

The Idea Becomes a Plan

By 2010, the Jesuits agreed on a common mission: to establish an educational project for poor and marginalized youth in northern Thailand, in harmony with the Catholic Church’s pastoral presence in the region. Support from Jesuit leadership in Rome, especially General Superior Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, encouraged further exploration. In 2013, with the guidance of Fr. Ben Nebres from the Philippines, strategic planning confirmed that the Thailand Region had sufficient resources to sustain current works and launch a new higher education institution in Chiang Rai.

Vision for Education Jesuits in Thailand moved beyond chaplaincy to establish their own institution providing quality higher education.

Serving the Marginalized Focused on ethnic minorities in northern Thailand facing linguistic, cultural, and financial barriers to university access.

Solidarity with the Poor Thai Jesuits, including those from minority backgrounds, grounded the mission in genuine solidarity rather than institutional ambition.

Jesuit Tradition Drawing on centuries of Jesuit education, the aim was to form compassionate leaders committed to human development and social transformation.

2014

The Plan Becomes a Reality

A Vision Born from Need In 2008, Thai Jesuits began envisioning their own institution — moving beyond chaplaincy to address the urgent lack of quality higher education for disadvantaged youth, especially ethnic minorities facing linguistic, cultural, and financial barriers.

Chiang Rai: The Right Place Historically underserved and far from major universities, the Chiang Rai region was chosen as the ideal home for a Jesuit institution — a place where education could make a profound difference for those most often left behind.

The Reality Becomes Sustainable

The early years of XLC were made possible through generous support. Fr. Pichit Saengthien’s family provided land and the first multipurpose building, while donors from Luxembourg, Germany, and Spain secured long-term funding. Partnerships with Sanata Dharma University in Indonesia and European youth groups strengthened academic and financial support. The first students, mostly from ethnic minority backgrounds, joined English programs in 2016 and continued with degree studies through Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. In 2017, XLC celebrated the opening of its first classroom and dormitory buildings, with strong backing from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities–Asia Pacific, the Catholic Church, and Thai authorities, ensuring the sustainability of the project.

Built on Generosity Land, buildings, and long-term funding came from Fr. Pichit’s family and donors from Luxembourg, Germany, and Spain — with academic partnerships from Indonesia and European youth groups adding vital support.

Students, Classrooms & Growth Ethnic minority students joined English programs in 2016, with degree studies following. By 2017, XLC opened its first classrooms and dormitories, backed by the Church, Thai authorities, and the Jesuit university network.