An Analysis of Research Grant Allocation Trends and Disbursement Status of the Mahasarakham Business School, Mahasarakham University

Abstract

This research aimed to (1) analyze trends in research grant allocation, (2) examine the disbursement status of research grants, and (3) propose guidelines for improving research grant management within the Mahasarakham Business School, Mahasarakham University, during fiscal years 2018–2024. A descriptive research design was employed, utilizing secondary data obtained from institutional research grant summary documents. The research instrument was a structured data recording form, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and trend comparison. The findings revealed that research grant allocation exhibited considerable fluctuations in both the number of grants and total funding. The highest allocation was recorded in fiscal year 2020, while the lowest occurred in fiscal year 2023. In recent years, the allocation pattern shifted toward distributing grants more broadly while decreasing the average funding per project. Regarding disbursement status, overall efficiency was relatively high, with actual disbursement rates exceeding 80% in all years. Fiscal year 2021 demonstrated the highest disbursement performance, with an actual disbursement rate of 100% and no delayed payments in any installment. Nevertheless, issues such as remaining funds, returned grants, and delayed disbursements were identified in certain years, reflecting limitations in administrative processes and project management capacity. When categorized by grant type, funding allocated to academic staff development and academic promotion received the largest share in both number and budget, while graduate student research grants accounted for a high number of projects but relatively low funding per project, reflecting a policy emphasis on enhancing academic staff capacity. Furthermore, findings related to grants for generating new knowledge among faculty members indicated that effective research grant management depends not solely on the amount of funding but on the balance among allocation strategies, administrative processes, and the capacity of grant recipients. Therefore, it is recommended that institutions improve grant management systems by ensuring balanced allocation, streamlining disbursement procedures, and strengthening project monitoring mechanisms to enhance long-term budgetary efficiency and sustainability.