PROBLEMS AUTHORITIES OF PRESIDENTS OF UNIVERSITIES ACCORDING TO NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This research focuses on the management system of public universities following Thailand’s higher education reform which has made higher educational institutions autonomous. The decentralization policy aims to encourage public universities to take more responsibility for their operations, empower themselves and facilitate management of their organizations, human resources and financial affairs. It also stimulates their innovative outputs and continuous adjustment to internal and external changes; as such their operational efficiency will be enhanced. This responds to the objectives of the new public sector management approach which underscores institutional modernization based on the good governance principle.

In the existing management systems of these public universities, their presidents are the paramount authorities according to the organizational structure but such authority remains limited. They do not have full power to make decisions on university affairs, in the changing context, independently. In effect, all affairs are determined and overseen by the university councils. This results in authority conflict between the presidents and the university councils, to which a solution has yet to be determined. Under the pressure of a materialistic world, public universities need to source more income to meet their expenses; the presidents, as the top executives, should thus be empowered with full management authority.