UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY:Thailand Country Report
Charas Suwanwela2008 ASAIHL Conference on
University Autonomy: Interpretation and Variations Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 12 December 2008
CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITYEstablished 1917 with special Charter providing certain degree of autonomy
from Government’s civil services.
THAMMASAT UNIVERSITYEstablished 1934 after the Revolution
with special Charteroutside 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.
1943 : 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.
2003 : 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.
1990 : 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 universitieswere 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
----11 Autonomous Universities
1989 : Private Higher Educational Institution ActPrivate universities and colleges allowed.
Autonomous in financial and personnel management.
Academic programs regulated by the Higher Education Commission.
2008 : 68 Private universities and colleges.
ACADEMIC FREEDOM
# Selection of research topics andmaking 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 UniversityCouncil Members and University Presidentby process inside the university with no interference from politicians.
(Appointment by Royal Proclamation submitted through the bureaucratic system)
Full responsibility rests on the university councilfor policy direction and oversight
Full responsibility rests on the university councilfor 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
UNIVERSITYAUTONOMY
1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
2. FROM BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY
3. FROMCENTRAL CONTROL
FOR EFFICIENCYAND IDENTITY
5 5. WORLD-CLASS (HEGEMONY)
LOCAL RELEVANCE
4. MANAGERIALISMAND MARKET FORCES
COLLEGIALISM
ACADEMIC
FREEDOM
GOVERNMENT & STATEvs
H E INSTITUTIONS & ACADEMICS
UNIVERSITYADMINISTRATORS
vsACADEMICS
EXTERNALFACTORS
vsACADEMICS
ACADEMICSvs
PEERS
C.S.: Academic Freedom in Countries of Asia, UNESCO APIED Paper # 5, 2005
1.
UNIVERSITY
AUTONOMY
1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
2. FROM BUREAUCRACY
FOR EFFICIENCYAND QUALITY
FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
FROM BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY3. FROM
CENTRAL CONTROL
FOR EFFICIENCYAND IDENTITY
AUTONOMYUNIVERSITYU
Management ofcommonality
Management ofcommonality
Management ofdiversity
Management ofdiversity
FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
FROM BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY3. FROM
CENTRAL CONTROL
FOR EFFICIENCYAND IDENTITY
AUTONOMYUNIVERSITYU
SELF-DETERMINATIONUNIQUENESS
COMPETITIVENESS
UNIVERSITYAUTONOMY
1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
2. FROM BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY
3. FROMCENTRAL CONTROL
FOR EFFICIENCYAND IDENTITY
4. MANAGERIALISMAND MARKET FORCES
COLLEGIALISM
UNIVERSITYAUTONOMY
1.FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM
2. FROM BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY
3. FROMCENTRAL CONTROL
FOR EFFICIENCYAND IDENTITY
5. WORLD-CLASS (HEGEMONY)
LOCAL RELEVANCE
4. MANAGERIALISMAND MARKET FORCES
COLLEGIALISM OPPORTUNITIES
SELF-DETERMINATION SELF-RELIANCE
INTERNAL ORGANS INTERNAL ORGANS
BY-LAW BY-LAW
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT& TEAM
FUNCTIONS:POLICY
REGULATIONDECISIONSSUPPORT
OVERSIGHT& AUDITING
INFORMATIONREPORTISSUES
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 !”
CAPABILITIES for RESOURCE MOBILIZATION = POSSIBILITIES OF SUCCESS
ENDOWMENTGOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES/SUPPORT
INVESTMENTSTUITION FEES
RESEARCH GRANTSINTELLECTUAL 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 BUREAUCRACYFOR EFFICIENCY
AND QUALITY
3. FROMCENTRAL CONTROLFOR EFFICIENCY
AND IDENTITY
UNIVERSITYAUTONOMY
4.MANAGERIALISM 5. GLOBALIZATION
SUCCESSFUL AUTONOMY