Cancellation Reasons of Applicants Accepted for MA Programs at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Abstract

            The purposes of this research were to study 1) cancellation reasons of applicants accepted for MA Programs at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) and; 2) preventive guidelines for cancellation issue of the applicants accepted for MA Programs at STOU.  This exploratory research was undertaken in two following phases.  Phase 1: an in-depth interview was done by stratified random sampling with the sample group of 64 or 5 % of applicants accepted for MA Programs at STOU but shortly cancelled to study in 2015 and 2016 academic year.  Phase 2: an in-depth interview with 13 administrators of the Office of Graduate Studies by purposive sampling which comprised the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Deans of 7 Schools and Schools’ secretaries of 5 Schools totally 13 persons.

               Research findings were as follows.  Phase 1: causes or cancellation reasons included; 1) personal problems i.e. problems at the workplace, families problems, financial problems whereas they were not sure to achieve self-study in an open and distance learning system and; 2) the registered curriculum was apparently not what they had previously expected, and the selected curriculum inconsistent with the work area.  Phase 2:  discovered preventive guidelines for 1) personal problems were; (1) offering more alternative choices for instructional management and organizing activities to support instructional environment i.e. study via E-Learning, seminar via Skype as well as real time communication; (2) establishing financial administration guidelines by installment payment and;  (3) setting a mentor or coaching system under care of academic instructor advisors and 2) in order to establish precautionary guidelines for the curriculums did not meet the applicants’ needs and curriculums inconsistent with their work areas, the University should have set a policy that each curriculum is required to analyze the needs of current curriculums, number or quantity of applicants enrollment each academic year and needs in  curriculum trends  in the future as well.