HIGHER EDUCATION IN THAILAND Mrs.Varaporn Seehanath, Ph.D. Deputy Secretary-General for Higher Education Commission, Thailand 1

Presentation Outline Thai Education System Higher Education System Quality Aspect 2

Thai Education System 3

Higher Education Providers  Major provider : Ministry of Education Office of the Higher Education Commission, Office of Vocational Education Commission  Other providers :   Ministry of Public Health - Praborommarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development, - Boromarajonani College of Nursing  Ministry of Defense - Phramongkutklao College of Medicine - Royal Thai Naval Academy, Royal Thai Air Force Academy, Chulachomklao Royal Minitary Academy - Royal Thai Navy Nursing College, Royal Thai Air force Nursing College, Royal Thai Army Nursing College 4

Higher Education Providers  Other providers :   Ministry of Culture - Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, College of Fine Arts  Ministry of Agriculture - Irrigation College   Ministry of Transport  - The Civil Aviation Training Centre   Ministry of Tourism and Sports  - Institute of Physical Education  Under Bangkok Metropolitan Administration - Navamindradhiraj University  Organizations under the Prime Minister’s Office - Royal Police Cadet Academy 5

General Administration of MOE Ministry of Education Office of the Permanent Secretary Office of the Education Council Office of the Basic Education Commission Schools Office of the Vocational Education Commission Vocational colleges Office of the Higher Education Commission Public & private HEIs & community colleges 6

Higher Education System Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) Public universities (80) Private HEIs (71) Autonomous universities (15) Autonomous universities (15) Universities (65) Universities (65) Community colleges (20) Community colleges (20) Universities (40) Colleges (22) Institutions (9) Ministry of Education Higher Education Commission 7

OHEC’s Functions and Responsibilities Policies and Plans Standards and Quality System ResourcesAllocation Resources Allocation Personnel Management and Development Monitoring and Evaluation of HEIs 8

Policy Body Governing Higher Education Higher Education Commission Functions & Responsibilities Propose higher education policies, development plans and standards in line with national economic and social development plan and national education plan Support allocation of resources and monitoring and evaluation of higher education provision 9

Higher Education Commission Functions & Responsibilities (cont.) Provide recommendations on the issuance of HE regulations, criteria and announcements Provide comments and recommendations to Minister of Education or Council of Ministers Provide comments and recommendations to Council of Ministers on allocation of block grant for public universities and autonomous universities 10

Higher Education Commission Members Private sector Local administration Professional associations Experts Number of experts must be no less than those from other sectors. OHEC Secretary-General serves as Secretary to the Commission. 11

University Governance University Council University Council University Audit Committee University Audit Committee President Vice Presidents Assistant President Dean of Faculty Dean of College Director Center Academic AcademicCommittee 12

University Structure Office of the President Campus Offices Faculties/Schools Institutes/Colleges Centers University Council’s Responsibilities Responsibilities Public Universities Public Autonomous Universities Private HEIs Policy formulation Quality & standards supervision Regulations set upAuthorized for personnel admin. to the extent approved by Higher Education Commission Fully authorized for personnel & financial admin. & investment. Monitoring & evaluation 13

University Missions Teaching Research Rendering academic services Preserving and promoting art & culture 14

University Governance Public universities Operate under their own university act as governmental unit Autonomy in academic admin. through university council’s approval Financial & personnel admin. to comply with gov’t rules & regulations Staff status as civil servants Funding from government in form of program budgeting Autonomous universities Operate under their own university act as governmental unit Full autonomy in academic, financial & personnel admin. through university council’s approval Staff status as university employee Staff hired on contractual basis Funding from government in form of block grant Private HEIs Operate under Private Higher Education Institutions Act Autonomy in academic, personnel & financial admin. Same treatment as public/autonomous public uni. in terms of quality & standards supervision Total funding from their own revenue Type of Universities 15

Relationship: University Autonomy VS Government Regulations & OHEC Role Type of Universities Autonomy/RegulationsOHEC Role Academic admin. Personnel admin. Financial admin. Policy HE standards Financial support Monitoring & evaluation Autonomous Universities Autonomy Public Universities Autonomy Partial autonomy Gov. regulated Private HEIs Autonomy  16

Grouping of Universities Research/ graduate university Specialized/ comprehensive university Community college Liberal Arts university University 17

4 Groups of Universities Research/graduate university Focus on producing graduates at graduate study level esp. doctoral level including post-doctoral research Specialized/comprehensive university Focus on producing specialized graduates in specific fields of study and vocational training 18

4 Groups of Universities Liberal Arts university Focus on producing graduates at bachelor’s degree level Provide graduate studies esp. at master’s degree level Community college Focus on producing graduates below bachelor’s degree level Produce manpower to serve the needs of communities 19

The Relationship between Policy Formulating Bodies and Higher Education Policy Statement of the Council of Ministers delivered to the National Assembly National Administrative Plan Ministerial Operational Plan (4- year plan) Ministerial Yearly Operational Plan Request for Fiscal Budget Expenditure for each institution Fiscal Budget Contract of Ministry / Department H E Development Plan 5-year Plan 15-year Long Range Plan Other specific plans H E Development Plan 5-year Plan 15-year Long Range Plan Other specific plans National Plans National Economic and Social Dev. Plan National Education Plan Plan of other relevant agencies National Plans National Economic and Social Dev. Plan National Education Plan Plan of other relevant agencies 20

Quality Aspect University Council’s functions are to set university policy and directions and approve the delivery of programs of study in line with relevant HE standards criteria set by OHEC, i.e. HE standards criteria, TQF, and supervision through QA mechanism at the levels of study programs, faculty and institution. 21

Quality Aspect National Qualifications Framework for Education (NQF) Launched in 2013 by Office the Education Council 9 levels of competencies; 1. Lower secondary education 2. Upper secondary education 3. Certificate in vocational education 4. Diploma in vocational education 5. Bachelor’s degree 6. Graduate diploma 7. Master’s degree 8. Higher graduate diploma 9. Doctorate 22

Quality Aspect Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (TQF) Launched in levels of Qualifications: Advanced Diploma, Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master, Higher Graduate Diploma, Doctorate 23

Thai Qualifications Framework for HE TQF Domains of learning outcomes Morality and Ethics Knowledge Intellectual Skills Interpersonal Skills & Responsibility Skills in Quantitative Analysis, Communication & Information Technology Usage 24

Quality Aspect Universities encouraged to apply TQF to their programs of study - IQA at the level of programs of study TQF and QA as main mechanisms to promote student mobility nationally and internationally and mutual recognition of qualifications 25

Quality Aspect Internal and External QA Systems National Education Act of 1999 stipulated Internal and External QA Assessment Internal QA conducted by universities and OHEC External QA conducted by Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA) every five years IQA and TQF promotes increased student mobility, credit transfer, and mutual recognition of qualifications 26

Relationship between IQA and EQA Institutional Operation Institution’s Assessment Self Assessment Report Site Visits Evaluation Report Monitoring Audit by Parent Organization once every 3 years Feedback External Quality Assurance Internal Quality Assurance 27

Quality Aspect Ministerial Regulation regarding Systems, Regulations, and Methods for IQA of 2010 encompasses both IQA and EQA at all levels of education. IQA System expanded to include quality assessment, inspection, and development Parent organizations to monitor and inspect educational quality at least once every 3 years, starting in

Quality Policy Development QA system and mechanisms Encourage HEIs to develop IQA Provide mechanisms for quality audit & assessment Credit transfer and degree recognition nationally and globally National Qualifications Framework 29

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