Rectors face conflicts of interest inquiry

Feb 21, 2011

The Education Ministry is calling for an investigation into possible conflicts of interest with rectors who sit as heads of multiple university courses simultaneously - hundreds in some cases.

The ministry is also questioning quality standards as more and more universities are opening in Thailand.

Education Ministry vice minister Chaiyos Jiramethakorn said the growing number of universities could dilute the standard of higher education, while having rectors as the heads of hundreds of courses could represent a conflict of interest.

Citing information from the Office of the Auditor General, Mr Chaiyos said estimates suggest a rector receives up to 50,000 baht for each course they oversee, meaning some could be earning tens of millions of baht per month.

He said the state auditor has called on the ministry to investigate possible conflicts of interest.

Mr Chaiyos also questioned the rectors' and universities' capabilities to provide a good quality of education, since he could not imagine how the heads of multiple courses could find the time to develop or even maintain their standards.

The ministry has raised the issue with the Council of University Presidents of Thailand, he said.

The Office of the Higher Education Commission recently sent questionnaires to all 148 government universities to confirm statistics.

So far, 85 universities have responded. A deadline of Feb 25 has been set for the other universities to submit their answers. If they fail to do so, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat would be asked to issue an order. If this is ignored, the universities will be deemed to have violated the discipline regulation.

"I think 148 universities countrywide is more than enough to provide higher education," said Mr Chaiyos.

"I am fine with the number of campuses but the problem is with substandard education.

"Is it time to set some regulations or rules to handle the problem?"

 

Thanks to news from Bangkok Post

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