HIGHER EDUCATION IN THAILAND

Mrs.Varaporn Seehanath, Ph.D.Deputy Secretary-Generalfor Higher Education Commission, Thailand

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Presentation Outline

Thai Education System

Higher Education System

Quality Aspect

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Thai Education System3

Higher Education Providers Major provider: Ministry of Education Office of the Higher Education Commission, Office of Vocational

Education Commission e Other providers: i Ministry of Public Health - Praborommarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development, - Boromarajonani College of Nursing

i 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

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

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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

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Higher Education System

Office of the Higher Education Commission

(OHEC)

Public universities (80) Private HEIs (71)

Autonomous universities

(15)

Universities (65)

Community colleges(20)

Universities(40)

Colleges(22)

Institutions(9)

Ministry of Education

Higher Education Commission

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OHEC’s Functions and Responsibilities

Policies and Plans

Standards and Quality System

Resources Allocation

Personnel Management and Development

Monitoring and Evaluation of HEIs

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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

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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

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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.

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University Governance University Council

University Audit Committee

President

Vice Presidents AssistantPresident

Dean of Faculty Dean of College Director Center

AcademicCommittee

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University StructureOffice of the President

Campus Offices

Faculties/Schools

Institutes/Colleges

Centers

University Council

University Council’s Responsibilities

Responsibilities Public Universities

Public Autonomous Universities Private HEIs

Policy formulation

Quality & standards supervision

Regulations set up Authorized for personnel admin. to the extent approved by Higher Education Commission

Fully authorized for personnel & financial admin. & investment.

Fully authorized for personnel & financial admin. & investment.

Monitoring & evaluation

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University MissionsTeaching

Research

Rendering academic services

Preserving and promoting art & culture

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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

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Relationship: University Autonomy VS Government Regulations & OHEC Role

Type of Universities

Autonomy/Regulations OHEC RoleAcademic

admin.Personnel

admin.Financial admin. Policy HE

standardsFinancial support

Monitoring &

evaluation

Autonomous Universities Autonomy Autonomy Autonomy

Public Universities

Autonomy Partialautonomy

Gov. regulated

Private HEIs Autonomy Autonomy Autonomy

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Grouping of Universities

Research/

graduate university

Specialized/

comprehensive university

Community college

Liberal Arts university

University

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4 Groups of UniversitiesResearch/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

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4 Groups of UniversitiesLiberal 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

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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

National Plans

• National Economic and Social Dev. Plan

• National Education Plan

• Plan of other relevant agencies

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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.

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Quality AspectNational 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

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Quality Aspect• Thai Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (TQF)

• Launched in 2009

• 6 levels of Qualifications: Advanced Diploma, Bachelor, Graduate Diploma, Master, Higher Graduate Diploma, Doctorate

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Thai Qualifications Framework for HE

TQF Domains of

learning outcomes

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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

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Quality AspectInternal 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

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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

Feedback

External Quality AssuranceInternal Quality Assurance

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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 2013

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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

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Thank You

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