283Conclusion
The current status of and trends in Higher Education research in Thailand must be
assessed in parallel with the trends of teaching and learning or programmes offered
in HEIs as well as the grant schemes funded by leading national research agencies.
In terms of the national policy, the OHEC is the key player in promoting Higher
Education research, but the emphasis has been more or less on the promotion of
research excellence in specific areas, especially in the Sciences and not in Higher
Education per se. The launching of the policies such as the establishment of the
CoEs or NRUs has also been attempted to elevate the profile of HEIs in acting as the
key engine for the country’s research and development promotion. Higher Education
research in and of itself has never been on the agenda at the national level. Despite
this, it gained attention from national research funding agencies.
Courses offered in HEIs include, but are limited to, Course and Curriculum
Instruction, Education Management, Education Technology and Subject-based
Education. Leading public universities usually offer courses covering almost all
areas including Higher Education at the postgraduate level. Therefore, research in
the form of theses and dissertations typically correspond to the programmes and
courses provided in each HEI.
Research funded by national agencies differs widely and includes Theory and
Policies of Higher Education, Governance and Management of Higher Education,
Comparative Higher Education Policy, Educational Personnel and Human Resource
Development, Higher Education Reform and Teaching and Curriculum Development.
These areas would still be the future trends of teaching, learning and research in
many HEIs, especially in the field of Instruction and Curriculum Development and
Educational Management. In terms of research in Higher Education, research in the
area of Higher Education Governance and Management as well as Instruction and
Curriculum Development will be the main areas of interest. Other areas, especially
in Special Education or Lifelong Learning, might be seen as less popular fields of
research and studies in Thailand.
References
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Chaichan, T. (2011). The Office of the Higher Education Commission’s method on efficient man-
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Chandrasuta, N. (2006). A proposal of higher education law to cope with free trade in educational
services. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
Chusit, P. (2012). A development of transfer of credit system in higher education institution.
Unpublished research report. Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, Bangkok.
Deeprasert, J. (2008). Factors contributing to the selection of HEIs among students. Unpublished
research report. NRCT, Bangkok.
15 Higher Education Research in Thailand: Current Trends and Development