THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR PREPARATION OF TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN LOEI PROVINCE TO SUPPORT THE ASEAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

The aims of this research were to investigate the current situations and preparedness to support ASEAN Community of the 5 tertiary educational institutions in Loei Province, and to develop a model for those institutions to prepare themselves accessing ASEAN Community. The subjects were a person in Loei Rajabhat University, Mahamakut Buddhist University Sri Lanchang Campus, Mahachula-longkornrajavidyalaya University Loei Sangha College, Loei Vocational Collage and Loei Technical Collage. The instruments were five different questionnaires completed by five different groups of 322 informants. The Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 40 participants. The findings revealed that: among three criteria (high accepted, improvement needed, being critical) for preparedness to access ASEAN Community, there were 4 aspects of preparedness that most institutions identified them as of high accepted. They were the administrative and academic affairs; self-capacity of institution; pride, popularity and good image of institution; and promoting and conserving identities of their local community. The aspects of preparedness that most institutions placed them at the improvement needed level were: networking; and budget management. The aspects that most institutions considered being critical were regionalism and internationalism; and supporting by outsiders, local politicians, and business sectors. With respect to the developed model for preparation to access ASEAN Community, it comprises 3 preparedness aspects, 15 strategic plans. They are administrative and academic affairs, which consists of 6 strategic plans, self-capacity, which comprises 5 strategic plans and, networking, which comprises 4 strategic plans. The model can be implemented in particular contexts of the 5 institutions.