The model for strategic drive of Thai higher education institutions toward world-class universities

Abstract

The objective of this research was to propose a model to drive Thai higher education to a world-class level. The purposive sampling technique was applied to obtain 116 key informants from eight universities located in Bangkok and its vicinity for an in-depth interview. Based on five strategies conceptual framework by Fred R. David and the findings from an in-depth interview, the Delphi technique was carried out with a panel of 17 experts to discover an appropriated model to drive Thai universities to be world-class universities. The results revealed that the model consisted of five fundamental guidelines. Firstly, the guideline for the University administrator recruitment, succession strategy and action plans are suggested to include a board with world-class university specialists and the university executive board should have a global vision, high integrity, administrative competencies, world-class-university-oriented goals, and global academic leadership. In addition, their operation plans should satisfy valuable changes. Secondly, the resource allocation guideline is to create high-quality of interdisciplinary research, innovations for global benefits, communication systems, networks, new business models, and resource management. Thirdly, the work system determination guideline recommended creating the student potential development system, innovative research process, social benefits, administrative technological systems, communication and knowledge management, and high-quality human resource. Fourthly, the organizational structure design guideline pursued to indue the efficiency, flexibility, and streamline systems that can collaborate all relating sectors. Lastly, the organizational culture development guideline suggested to promote integrity, international mindset, work with diversity, with a focus on excellence and social benefits.

University Rankings: Proposal for a Future Research Agenda through a Systematic Literature Review

“…The articles that focused research specifically on a single country were Russia [7,24,52], China [2,4,14,22,53,54], Canada [8], India [30,32], Japan [26], Thailand [27], Indonesia [29], the United States [25], Yemen [17], Taiwan [6], and Armenia [3]. Some studies focus on two or more specific countries: Denmark and India [19]; Belgium and Italy [23]; Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden [21]; Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea [50]; the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium; and Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia [48].…”

“…Some studies focus on two or more specific countries: Denmark and India [19]; Belgium and Italy [23]; Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden [21]; Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea [50]; the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium; and Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia [48]. The articles that focused research specifically on a single country were Russia [7,24,52], China [2,4,14,22,53,54], Canada [8], India [30,32], Japan [26], Thailand [27], Indonesia [29], the United States [25], Yemen [17], Taiwan [6], and Armenia [3]. Some studies focus on two or more specific countries: Denmark and India [19]; Belgium and Italy [23]; Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden [21]; Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea [50]; the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, and Belgium; and Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia [48].…”

“…Times Higher Education (THE) and QS World University Rankings [18,27,28,33,44,47] Academic UI Green Metric World University Ranking (WUR) and Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE-WUR). [13] ISC World University Ranking (ISC WUR) Leiden Ranking Nature Index, Times Higher Education (THE), and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).…”

“…[20] Fundamental guidelines could be considered qualitative indicators to boost universities to world-class level. [27] Relationship between the specific characteristics of technical universities and their performance in global rankings, with a special focus on industry income as an indicator. [28] Relationship between university rankings and the preferences of students at private universities.…”

“…The objectives of studying university rankings also involve the proposal of new models and methodological approaches: the Delphi technique, an approach focused on Sustainability 2024, 16, 3043 2 of 35 industry income; Temporal Topic Model (TTM) method; and the I-distance method and multicollinearity approach [27][28][29][30][31].…”