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