APPLICATION OF LEAN PRINCIPLES AND ECRS METHODOLOGY IN DESIGNING PROCESS INNOVATION FOR CREDIT TRANSFER: A CASE STUDY OF THE FACULTY OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, RAJAMANGALA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THANYABURI

Abstract

The credit transfer mechanism is a valuable tool for promoting lifelong learning and flexibility in Thai higher education, as required by the Ministry of Higher Education's 2022 policy. In practice, implementation is hindered by inefficiencies such as long delays, unclear assessment guidelines, and redundant paperwork. These inefficiencies reduce student mobility and lower overall operational efficiency. Although lean management principles have been successful in various industries, their application within Thai academic administration – especially in complex bureaucratic environments – has been less explored. This is a critical area for improving education accessibility. This study aims to: (1) examine the current situation and problems of the credit transfer process, (2) identify the needs of stakeholders, and (3) redesign the process according to ECRS (Eliminate, Combine, Rearrange, Simplify) principles and national standards. A qualitative design guided by the 32-item COREQ checklist was used. Purposive sampling enrolled transfer students (pre-2024 and 2024 cohorts), faculty members, and administrative staff from the Office of the Registrar across five majors. Data were collected through document review and semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis to identify operational bottlenecks.

The study identified three main problems: complex documentation systems and unclear assessment criteria, inefficiencies in cross-departmental coordination, and inadequate communication and status tracking. After applying ECRS, process steps were reduced from 11 to 7 (36%), and overall processing time decreased from 116 to 8 days (93%). The new process also improved transparency and user satisfaction. This research provides empirical evidence of the benefits of lean principles in an academic credit transfer context, offering a student-centered approach that other institutions can replicate to improve service delivery and access to learning.