About Us

 

The Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) is directed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).The Higher Education Commission has the authority to propose higher education policies and standards corresponding to the National Economic and Social Development Plan and the National Education Plan. It also sets criteria and identifies approaches for higher education resources support, and develops monitoring and evaluation system for higher education provision on the basis of academic freedom and excellence of each individual degree-granting institution. Moreover, the Commission considers issuing regulations, criteria, and official orders as deemed necessary.

The Commission is also empowered to provide recommendations and consultancy to the Minister of Education or the Council of Ministers. Furthermore, it has been given the power to propose block grant for degree granting institutions either public or autonomous universities.

Members of the Commission come from relevant agencies including a chairperson, nine representatives from government agencies, one from private sector, one from local administration, one from professional association, 14 experts, and a secretary of the Commission. The number of experts, nevertheless, must be no less than those from all other sectors. The Office of the Higher Education Commission serves as secretariat to the Commission having Secretary-General as Chief Executive Officer who serves as Secretary to the Commission.
The Higher Education Commission had appointed 6 sub-committees to examine subject matters before agenda surfacing to the Commission. These six sub-committees are sub-committees on law, policy and planning, resource mobilization, higher education standards, follow-up and evaluation, and information technology and communication.

The Ministry of Education Regulatory Act was promulgated on July 7, 2003 amalgamating education-related agencies, i.e. the Ministry of University Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of the National Education Commission. Article 10 of the act stipulates that the central administrative bodies of the new Ministry of Education consist of the following:

1. Office of the Minister,
2. Office of the Permanent Secretary,
3. Office of the Education Council,
4. Office of the Basic Education Commission,
5. Office of the Higher Education Commission, and
6. Office of the Vocational Education Commission.

Each of those agencies except (1) has a legal status as juristic person. Though administratively, each is equivalent to a departmental level, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) reports directly to the Minister of Education.

The Office of the Higher Education Commission has the authority to manage higher education provision and promote higher education development on the basis of academic freedom and excellence. Its mandates are as follows:

1. Formulate policy recommendations, higher education standards, higher education development plans, and handle international cooperation in higher education;
2. Devise criteria and guidelines for resources allocation, establishment of higher education institutions and community colleges, and provide financial support;
3. Coordinate and promote human resources development and student capabilities, including handicapped, disadvantaged, and talented students in higher education institutions, and coordinate and promote research activities for the generation of new knowledge to support the national development;
4. Provide recommendations on the establishment, dissolution, amalgamation, upgrading and closing down of higher education institutions and community colleges;
5. Monitor, inspect, and evaluate outcomes of higher education management as assigned by the Higher Education Commission, and compile data and information on higher education;
6. Serve as secretariat to the Higher Education Commission; and
7. Perform other functions as prescribed by and to carry out other tasks as assigned by the Minister of Education or the Council of Ministers.

The organization structure of the Office of the Higher Education Commission is as follows:

1. Bureau of General Administration
2. Bureau of Policy and Planning
3. Bureau of Community College Administration
4. Bureau of Cooperation and Promotion
5. Bureau of Standards and Evaluation
6. Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy
7. Bureau of Student Development
8. Bureau of Personnel Administration and Development

The Bureau of General Administration has the following responsibilities:

1. Provide support to senior administrators and serve as Secretariat to the Higher Education Commission;
2. Carry out personnel management for the Office of the Higher Education Commission;
3. Handle financial management, budget, accounting, procurement and asset of the Office of the Higher Education Commission;
4. Disseminate information and carry out public relations activities for the Office of the Higher Education Commission; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Policy and Planning has the following responsibilities:

1. Formulate policy recommendations for higher education development and higher education development plans;
2. Develop graduate production and manpower planning at the higher education level in line with the national needs;
3. Scrutinize higher education institutions’ plans and projects, and provide recommendations on the establishment, dissolution, amalgamation, upgrading and closing down of higher education institutions;
4. Devise criteria and guidelines for budget allocation; propose budget granting and mobilization of resources to support all types of higher education institutions; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Community College Administration has the following responsibilities:

1. Formulate policy recommendations and master plan for the community college system, and provide recommendations on the establishment and budget for community colleges;
2. Compile information and develop database for the supervision, inspection, follow-up and evaluation of the administration of community colleges;
3. Set standards for the administration of community colleges;
4. Develop and promote effective management of community colleges and cooperative networking both domestically and internationally;
5. Serve as secretariat to the Community College Committee; and
6. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Cooperation and Promotion has the following responsibilities:

1. Promote networks of higher education institutions and national wisdoms;
2. Support research and development of education innovations including transfer of knowledge and technology;
3. Supervise, oversee and formulate measures on management of higher education in conformity with relevant laws, regulations, orders and announcements;
4. Coordinate, promote and supervise the operation of private higher education institutions according to the Private Higher Education Institution Act; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Standards and Evaluation has the following responsibilities:

1. Formulate policies and standards on higher education;
2. Set systems for academic accreditation and certification of higher education standards including suggested guidelines for equivalence of degrees and learning performance;
3. Promote and encourage higher education quality assurance implementation as well as research studies on teaching and learning development, new knowledge links while serving also as an information center for higher education curriculum and quality assurance;
4. Implement follow-up, inspection, and evaluation of higher education management; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy has the following responsibilities:

1. Formulate strategies and guided directions for international cooperation on academic development and higher education management;
2. Undertake international cooperation activities on higher education;
3. Provide guiding recommendations and formulate measures to enhance the competitiveness of higher education institutions in response to the liberalization of trade in education services;
4. Promote and encourage higher education institutions to maximize international resources for higher education development; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Student Development has the following responsibilities:

1. Propose policy recommendations and set standards for student development;
2. Enhance student development in terms of skills and competence, and promote student activities to enable the wholesome development of students physically, mentally, and intellectually;
3. Promote learning networks and enrich student life experiences by working with the community and enterprises;
4. Support development of student welfare and services to the disabled, disadvantaged and talented students; and
5. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Bureau of Personnel Administration and Development has the following responsibilities:

1. Propose policies as well as coordinate and promote human capacity building within networks of universities, users of services, and community and provincial entrepreneurs;
2. Design training courses and coordinate the organization of training for senior university executives and supportive staff for the enhancement of their efficiency and cooperative networks of public and private higher education institutions;
3. Develop biographical database, provide consultancy, follow-up on and evaluate personnel management of university civil servants and personnel;
4. Undertake matters regarding laws and regulations, legal enforcement, contracts, and handle juridical matters in the Civil, Criminal, Administrative Court and other judicial authority of the Office of the Higher Education Commission;
5. Serve as secretariat to the University Civil Service Committee; and
6. Cooperate with and provide support for the operation of other relevant organizations.

The Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) oversees altogether 166 higher education institutions. They are 13 limited admission public universities, two open admission universities, 13 autonomous universities; 69 private higher education institutions; 40 Rajabhat Universities; 9 Rajamangala Universities of Technology; Pathumwan Institute of Technology and 19 Community Colleges.

The Ninth Higher Education Development Plan had clearly identified the reform of university management as one of the main strategies. For public universities which have been under the bureaucratic system all along, the efforts of the government to encourage them to become autonomous could be traced back to the year 1964 when there was a concept to motivate Thai public universities to be more efficient. Though Suranaree University of Technology was founded in 1990 as the first of its kind to follow this ambition, an attempt to pass laws for the deregulation of 16 public universities into autonomous universities was proposed in March 1992. However, the sentiments have stayed on and the Office of the Higher Education Commission has gradually delegated authority to be responsible solely by the university council since, moving toward full autonomy of the universities as so desired.

The underlying principle of the autonomous university is to support each university to have heightened flexibility and administrative independence in its internal affairs, giving authority and responsibility to each university council who will be held accountable. The councils have to be responsible for formulating rules and regulations to administer respective universities on academic affairs, personnel administration, and budget and asset management. While enjoying the autonomy and academic freedom, each institution will have to comply with the governing policy of the Office of the Higher Education Commission on curriculum standards and quality assurance. External audits have been enforced to assure quality of university education.
Administration of personnel is another element that is taken care of by the university councils. Having the authority to equitably regulate university personnel administration, the university council will devise fair regulations and set the criteria for personnel administration covering recruitment process and appointment, evaluation, promotion, salary, benefits and compensation, including complaints and appeal, disciplinary action and punishment. With increased autonomy, it is hopeful that more qualified personnel will be recruited and retained to fulfill their institutional missions and contribute to both the academic excellence and the communities they belong to.

For university autonomy in budgeting and asset management, the university councils are able to make decisions on their own financial and accounting systems, and manage their own properties and assets. Universities are also able to mobilize, handle, maintain, generate and utilize incomes generated from various sources and devise their own financial audit system. Annual financial audit reports are required to submit to the government.