The Development Of The Autonomous Universities Of Thailand

The contemporary Thailand higher education started from the Chulalongkorn Period at the beginning of the last century.Among Southeast Asian countries,Thailand enjoys a relatively higher level of higher education.Thailand autonomy universities have experienced the preliminary development in the 1960s,the shelving phase between the 1970s and 1980s,the development phase between the late 1980s and the late 1990s and the prosperity following the 21st century.Since Suranaree University of Technology,the first autonomy university in Thailand,was founded in 1990,there have been 24 autonomy universities.Thailand autonomy universities are divided into two categories:Firstly,brand new autonomy universities,namely those that have been autonomy universities since their establishment;secondly,universities that have developed and transited from original public universities towards autonomy universities.The development of Thailand autonomy universities is not only influenced by internal factors,including the academic organization natures of universities and the improvement of university management efficiency,but also by external factors,including political factors,economic factors and the demand factors of social development.As a highlight in the reform of Thailand higher education management mechanism,the autonomy university is the model of how universities develop and transit from the management mode of "national monopoly" to the mode of "state supervision".Thailand autonomy universities are still owned by the government and accept expenditures from governmental allocations.However,these universities are separated from the governmental system and are independent legal persons.Teachers are employees hired by universities and should apply for a permanent teaching position or sign a working contract with universities.Moreover,teachers no longer enjoy the treatment related to the civil servants of traditional public universities.Autonomy universities enjoy full autonomy in management according to their regulations and provisions.Regarding the internal governance structure,autonomy universities are similar to American public universities.In the constant development of Thailand autonomy universities,the thesis researches the development of the Thailand autonomy universities and analyzes from various aspects,including the historical origin,development and current status quo.Eventually,it obtains the direction which Thailand autonomy universities develop towards in the future.