An Evaluation of Learning Management and Development of Bachelor of Public Administration (Revised Curriculum Academic Year 2017), School of Management Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to analyze and evaluate Bachelor of Public Administration Course (Revised Curriculum Academic Year 2017), Department of Public Administration, School of Management Science by analytical concepts of context, input, process and result. 2) to propose guidelines for the development of the Bachelor of Public Administration Course which the results gained was going to be developing Bachelor of Public Administration Course, Academic Year 2022

          This research was a mixed methods research.  Quantitative research tool was a questionnaire collected the data from present students. Number of samples were totally 363 samples. Statistics employed for data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, analysis of variance and content analysis. Qualitative research collected the data from lecturers of Public Administration Department of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and university’s officers. Number of key informant were 13 lecturers and 15 university’s officers. Qualitative research was performed using the focus group technique to collect and verify the obtained data. For data analysis, content analysis and inductive reasoning were used.   

          The results of course evaluation showed that (1) all components of evaluation were appropriate and qualified. Those were 1) context aspect : students and lecturers of Public Administration Department found objectives of the course were clear, meet to the needs of students, graduates, labor market and society  as well as aligned with the university’s mission  and professional organization at the highest level. For required subjects, students and lecturers also agreed that they were conformed with the objectives and suitable to put in curriculum structure. 2) Input factors: students and university’s officers found that materials, learning sources and quality of learning media were appropriate and qualified at the highest. Meanwhile, lecturers agreed that the potential and readiness of the lecturers were at the highest level.   3) Process aspect: which leaded to course administration, learning management, measurement and evaluation, lecturers, student and university’s officers agreed that service appropriateness and quality was at high level. 4) Output aspect: both lecturers and employers agreed that desirable qualifications of graduated student were at the highest.  (2) The curriculum development approach is focusing on building administrative experts in 3 majors. There were 1) Public and Private Management, 2) Human Resource Management and 3) Local Administration and Urban Management.   Course structure comprises of 5 general knowledge subjects (30 credits), 9 required subjects (54 credits) 5 major subjects (30 credits) and 1 collective subject (6 credits). The overall subjects were 20 subjects with 120 credits. Duration of study is 4 years. The content of course syllabus should reflect body of knowledge of Public Administration in 5 fields of study namely, organization and management, public policy, human resources management, theories of public administration and public finance and budget which still preserve unchanging desirable qualifications of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.