Perspectives on University Adaptation under the Reform of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation: Implications for the Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology

Abstract

In early 2019 the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation was established in an attempt to reform Thai higher education, research, science, technology and innovation. This is a part of Thailand major reform processes. Higher education is expected to significantly be more effective and to play a significant role in building national competitiveness and reducing the many societal gaps; in order to foster Thailand towards the expected sustainable growth.

For a university, one model is as an Entrepreneurial University, one which believes that Liberal Arts education fuels innovation, which thrives on big problems, which values execution and innovation, which places mission ahead of structure, and which believes in building partnerships platform between academics, entrepreneurs and society. With the model the Thai Entrepreneurial STI university will be expected to play an important part in manpower development utilizing outcome based lifelong learning process, with mission on the re-skill, up-skill and new-skill of Thai workforce as well as building up skill and talent pools for future needs. In the process of this man/brain power development, which will be very much based on work integrated learning, strengthening of small, medium enterprises (SMEs) and communities will be incorporated in as an integral part of the processes.

With the Entrepreneurial University mindset, the Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology will fit naturally not only in producing high quality trainers, skilled and talented manpower, researchers, educators but also in working with private, public and community partners. Thus FIET will play a significant role in building Thai innovative and entrepreneurial productive sectors and communities.