From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Suranaree U of Technology
Keywords: Thailand
Date: 5 Nov 92 08:06:45 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Khun Wittaya writes:

|>Sawasdee Krub,

|>I'm looking for the information about Suranaree University of Technology.
|>If anyone has the information about this please write me at the address
|>below;
|>"b7iw@musicb.mcgill.ca"

|>Thank you,
|>Wittaya.

I've come across the ThaiRath newspaper, issue of August 25, 1992, whose 
education section informs about this Suranaree University of Technology. 
The section contains information which could answer the question posted 
above by Khun Wittaya. Since the text is written in Thai, I would only have
to summarize and make it into English. Anyone who can read Thai and wants 
more exact information could consult the newspaper him/herself.

The article is written by "Education Team" of ThaiRath. The authors mention
the attempt of Dr.Kasem Suwannakul, then the Minister of University Affairs, 
to propose the Bill to reorganize Thai universities by allowing them to
operate independently from the government bureaucracy. As everyone knows, the
bill could not get consideration by the National Legislative Assembly, the
legislative body appointed under Anan 1 government. In short it failed to
pass the into a law. The authors blame on resistence by some groups within 
the university that opposed the bill for the fear that such new rrganization
might damage their interest. 

Inspite of such set back, the authors say, a new university has been chartered
under this new concept. It is Suranaree University of Technology which has
been located at Korat, a medium town about 250 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.
Most of its buildings have been completed and ready to acommodate the new
students for this B.E. 2536 (A.D.1993) class. Dr. Vijit Srisa-an is acting
as its first rector and Dr. Kasem Suvannakul is acting the president of
the Board of Regents. 

Suranaree U of Technology aims at producing graduates in science and techno-
logy who would join the nation's manpower in years to come. The University
(hereafter referred to as SUT) will divided in Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha (instead of
Kha"Na" as in other conventional universities). I don't know the English 
term used to represent this concept but the purpose is to encourage coordi-
nation in curriculum development, teaching, research, and academic service
in a more interdiplinary fashion so that resources both human and physical
could be effectively used. 

There are 5 Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha. They are:

	1. Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha Wit"Ta"YaSaad' (Institute of Science?)
	2. Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha TechnologySang+Kom (Institute of Social Technology)
	3. Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha TechnologyKarnKa'Sed (Institute of Agricultural 
						Technology)
	4. Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha TechnologyUt'Sa+Ha'Kam (Institute of Industrial
						  Technology)
	5. Sam+Nak"Wi"Cha TechnologySap"Pa"YaKorn (Institute of Resource
						  Technology)

ThaiRath education section's authors report that these academic units are
overlooked by Sa'PhaaWi"ChaKarn which is different from Sa'PaaMa"Ha+Wit"
Ta"YaLai (university council similar to that of board of regents/trustees).
The Sa'PhaaWi"ChaKarn (Academic Council) will buffer those academic units
from the administration so that academic promotion will be more flexible. 

SUT has clear goal of providing academic services hand in hand with the
country's industrial development. The University will set up a center to
coordinate public and private sectors in the elaborative activities in
conducting research and inventing. The center is to be called "TechnoThaNee"
(Techno-town). 

The campus will be built as MuangMa"Ha+Wit"Ta"YaLai (university town). Parts
of it will be for teaching and research doing (both pure and applied) which
will be done through the cooperation from the private sectors (business &
industry). The residence part will serve the students, faculty members,
and staffs.

The personnel administration will be operated on Kaw"Yaak"Oog'Ngai" 
(hard-to-get-in/easy-to-get-out) basis. SUT's personnel will have to
sign work contract with the University as their employer and will have to
pass evaluation the first two year job performance after which a 3 year
tenure might be granted. After this, a new contract for 5 year will be
considered. During this period, the personnel will be regularly evaluated.
Those who fail the evaluation will not be renewed the contract. 

SUT's Sa'PaMa"Ha+Wit"Ta"YaLai (University Council) has determined the
salary schedule which is as follows:

	1. Chairperson of Saa+Khaa+Wi"ChaKarn (program): 12,300-84,220 Baht
per month depending on their experience and compentence plus 9,000 per month
for administrative top up benefit.

	2. Ajarn(teacher): 10,320-84,220 Baht per month depending on experience,academic contribution, and demand/supply of the field he/she is in. Each
ajarn's salary will be topped up if he/she is granted assistant professorship,
associate professorship, and full professorship with 5,000, 6,200, and 7,700
Baht per month respectively. 

At the present (as of October 23, 1992), SUT is recruiting 107 personnel:
21 Chairpersons, 42 ajarns, 44 academic supporting and administrative staffs.

On student side, the University will admit 500 students for the academic year
of 2536 (B.E.) in 8 fields: 
	
	1. Electrical Engineering
	2. Mechanical Engineering
	3. Telecommunication Engineering
	4. Chemical Engineering
	5. Enviromental Engineering
	6. Plant Production Technology
	7. Animal Production Technology
	8. Transportation Engineering


How students are admitted?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	Half of the students will be admitted via the National University 
Entrance system. The other half will be admitted through the qouta system
which will give priority to the whole Esarn (Northeastern region) and
students in the immediate service areas of SUT (Nakornrajsima, Surin, Buriram,
and Chaiyaphoom)

University Budget
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	SUT's budget is granted by the Thai government in lum sum. It also
expects financial assistance from international donor agencies which will
be used mostly for personnel development. SUT hopes also to collect fee
from its service provided to the private sectors. Its revenue from tuition
and fee has yet to be determined but will be less than those of private
institutions but more than those of the existing public institutions. 

	The University has planned to provide financial assistance to those
students who are from poor families in term of scholarship, loan, and 
assistantship. 

In the near by columns, there is an offset framing expression quoted from
both the acting University Council President and the University Rector.

Dr.Kasem Suvannakul, SUT's acting President of the University Council, says
that....

"...Through this new structure, I am positive that within ten years SUT
will progress and grow faster than those conventional universities if they
are still operated under the present system. I would attribute such 
progress to this new system which has employed the concept of Ma"Haa+
Wit"Ta"YaLaiNaiKamKap'Rat"Ta"Baan (independent university). Besides, SUT
has complete planning from the beginning with clear goals. Since this 
University is newly established, it is easier to actualize such principle.
Its hard-in/easy-out principle is highly feasible which will effectively 
prevent brain-drain problem."

Dr. Vijit Srisa-arn, the acting rector, says that...

"...SUT is the prototype for Ma"Haa+Wit"Ta"YaLaiNaiKamKap'Rat"Ta"Baan
(independent government university) has a unique form of administration
to produce engineering, science and technology graduates. We focus on
the efficient utilities of human resources, building and equipments. 
We will work hand in hand with private sectors. We have specified this
principle of cooperation between the University and the private sector
in its charter. Outsiders will help direct the University operation--
expected characteristics of the graduates, direction of research which
can satisfy the demands of industrial sector, as well as alternatives
for university development."

Final note, I have read some where in a column appeared in Naew Naa Newspaper 
that an Engineering dean begins to feel the problem of internal brain drain.
He cites the case of Suranaree U of Technology and the newly approved univer-
sity, Walailak University which will be set up in the South, have drawn 
many professors from the existing engineering schools.