UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY: Thailand Country Report Charas Suwanwela 2008 ASAIHL Conference on University Autonomy: Interpretation and Variations Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 12 December 2008

CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY Established 1917 with special Charter providing certain degree of autonomy from Government’s civil services. THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY Established 1934 after the Revolution with special Charter outside the civil service system. New universities established each with own charters. New universities established each with own charters.

1959 : Creation of National Economic Development Board. Emphasis given to National Development. Universities moved to be directly under the Prime Minister : Universities seen as a tool for development in Ministries. Universities became specialized (Medical Sc., Agriculture, Fine Arts) & moved to be within Ministries.

1972 : Creation of Ministry of University Affairs to oversee Universities : Merging of Ministry of University Affairs and Ministry of Education. UNIVERSITIES WERE IN CIVIL SERVICE OR BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM. UNIVERSITIES WERE IN CIVIL SERVICE OR BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM.

1969 and many times later : Academics and university administrators pushed for more autonomy of universities : Suranaree University of Technology Established as the first “Autonomous university”. Outside the Civil Service System. Financial support from Government’s budget for basic works, but granted freedom on financial, academic and personnel management.

Charters of 4 new and 6 old universities were set or changed to be “autonomous”. Charters of 4 new and 6 old universities were set or changed to be “autonomous”. Many universities remain in the civil service system, but given more autonomy in management. 2008: 78 Public Higher Educational Institutions Autonomous Universities

1989 : Private Higher Educational Institution Act Private universities and colleges allowed. Autonomous in financial and personnel management. Academic programs regulated by the Higher Education Commission : 68 Private universities and colleges.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM # Selection of research topics and making public of research results # Making opinion in public by academics # Academic discussion and debates on matters of public concern (democracy, political ethics, public policies etc.) # Making public opinion polls (Suan Dusit Rajabhat University Polls)

UNIVERSITY CHARTER Provision for all universities Selection and appointment of University Council Members and University President by process inside the university with no interference from politicians. (Appointment by Royal Proclamation submitted through the bureaucratic system)

Full responsibility rests on the university council for policy direction and oversight Full responsibility rests on the university council for policy direction and oversight Roles and functions of university council: GOOD GOVERNANCE # Set goals, policies and direction of university # Set rules and regulations for the operation of university # Set the structure and components of university including creating and abolition of faculties/ units # Select and appoint university president # Grant degrees and qualifications # Approve budget and oversee operations # Invest or jointly invest including setting legal entities

UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY 1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM 2. FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY 5 5. WORLD-CLASS (HEGEMONY) LOCAL RELEVANCE 4. MANAGERIALISM AND MARKET FORCES COLLEGIALISM

ACADEMIC FREEDOM GOVERNMENT & STATE vs H E INSTITUTIONS & ACADEMICS UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS vs ACADEMICS EXTERNAL FACTORS vs ACADEMICS vs PEERS C.S.: Academic Freedom in Countries of Asia, UNESCO APIED Paper # 5,

UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY 1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM 2. FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY

FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY AUTONOMY UNIVERSITY U Management of commonality Management of commonality Management of diversity Management of diversity

FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY AUTONOMY UNIVERSITY U SELF-DETERMINATION UNIQUENESS COMPETITIVENESS

UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY 1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM 2. FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY 4. MANAGERIALISM AND MARKET FORCES COLLEGIALISM

UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY 1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM 2. FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY 5. WORLD-CLASS (HEGEMONY) LOCAL RELEVANCE 4. MANAGERIALISM AND MARKET FORCES COLLEGIALISM OPPORTUNITIES SELF-DETERMINATION SELF-RELIANCE

INTERNAL ORGANS BY-LAW UNIVERSITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT & TEAM FUNCTIONS: POLICY REGULATION DECISIONS SUPPORT OVERSIGHT & AUDITING INFORMATION REPORT ISSUES

1. QUALITIES: VISION, COURAGE, MORALITY, INTEGRITY etc HUMAN RELATION, COMMAND RESPECT OF OTHERS BROADMINDEDNESS, SELFLESSNESS, INTEGRITY, SENSE OF PURPOSE, PROPORTION, JUSTICE, KINDNESS, COMMAND RESPECT OF COLLEAGUE etc

“A BLINDSPOT ON THE WAY TO GOOD GOVERNANCE.” 1. ACCOMPLISHMENT ACCORDING TO MISSION 2. EFFICIENCY IN MANAGEMENT 3. SOUND JUDGEMENT (ACCOUNTABILITY) 4. TRANSPARENCY 5. HONESTY 6. DISTRIBUTED AUTHORITIES 7. PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT 8. BALANCE OF POWER

“NEW GOVERNANCE” (John Carver) PROACTIVE APPROACHES RIGOROUS AND POWERFUL DELIBERATION OUTPUT ORIENTATION “UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY WITHOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE COULD BE DANGEROUS !”

1.LIMITED RESOURCES: FINANCIAL, HUMAN, TECHNICAL 2. INSUFFICIENT FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT & POLICY – DIRECTED ACTIVITIES 3. INEFFICIENCY 4. LIMITED SOURCES OF RESOURC E

CAPABILITIES for RESOURCE MOBILIZATION = POSSIBILITIES OF SUCCESS ENDOWMENT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES/SUPPORT INVESTMENTS TUITION FEES RESEARCH GRANTS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DONATIONS Etc.

THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATING SYSTEM MAY NEED TO BE CHANGED. TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT DECENTRALIZATION & SHARING OF RESPONSIBILITIES MANAGEMENT CAPACITY OF PERIPHERAL UNITS

1. FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM 2. FROM BUREAUCRACY FOR EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY 3. FROM CENTRAL CONTROL FOR EFFICIENCY AND IDENTITY UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY 4.MANAGERIALISM5. GLOBALIZATION SUCCESSFUL AUTONOMY