A Study of the Needs and Guidelines to Enhance the Research Competencies of Academic Support Personnel at Distance Education Universities in Thailand
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Abstract
Most academic support personnel at distance education universities lack research opportunities and competencies. Therefore, this research aimed to 1) study the need to enhance the research competencies of personnel, and 2) offer guidelines for enhancing their research competencies. This research used mixed methods that combined quantitative research with a sampling of 311 academic support personnel and qualitative research with six personnel and two experts who were the eight key informants.
The results showed that: 1) The need to enhance research competencies was high (NI = 56.33). The first need for competencies was research publications (NI = 59.56), and the first need for positions was for general positions (NI = 68.04).
2) Guidelines for developing research competencies that are suitable for academic support personnel were the “Research, Measurement, and Evaluation Clinic.” The service processes of the clinic were as follows: access to services, assessment, screening,sorting, consulting services, appointments and follow-up, and constructing the personnel’s profile at distance education universities. The results of this research can apply the guidelines to develop capabilities for research proposal writing, report writing, publication, and other competencies of academic support personnel at distance education universities.
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