Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Thailand's Education System

Quality Assurance Framework: Foundation for Thai quality assurance framework lies in formulation of standard criteria and requirements established by MUA for degree courses in the nation. All degree courses provided at public and private higher educational institutions, especially transitional ones will have to attain standard criteria before they are approved for starting operations. Over years, approval authorisation has been transferred by MUA to public higher educational institutions. Governing councils as well as academic boards are responsible for quality of educational provision and this includes academic standard control. External persons with expertise are invited by some of the universities for review of developing curricula and reviewing internal activities. Accreditation system is associated with professional degrees such as architecture, nursing and medicine. For private higher educational institutes, MUA takes care of approval of degree programmes and accreditation. MUA is currently known as Commission on Higher Education under the Ministry of Education. Three aspects of quality control are under its aegis namely quality control, audit and assessment. 

Framework provides autonomy to institutions to adapt their traditions. Quality framework proposed by the commission has 9 components:

• Objectives, commitment and philosophies
• Research and academic services
• Preserving culture and art
• Management and administration
• Budgeting and finance
• Internal systems and mechanisms of quality assurance 
• Learning plus teaching 
• Student development activities

However, each institution is also given the freedom to establish a quality assurance system relevant to its context. Each institution develops its own system. Implementation, audit and review is based on policy makers within the institution. 

• Graduates quality: Four indicators
• Support for learning resources: Five indicators
• Innovating and research: Four Indicators
• Academic support service: Two indicators
• Preserving culture and art: Two indicators
• Management as well as administrational operations: Five indicators
• System for internal quality assurance: Two indicators

Indicators: Only five of the 28 indicators are descriptive in nature. There are differences between institutions in the use of these statistical indicators for assessing performance of institutions. Once certain standards are marked, the first review cycle is carried out by ONESQA to assess the external quality assurance system. Review cycle lasts for 5 years and comprises the following principles:

Standards of Assessment: International standards  against which higher education is measured and assessed:

• Quality of academic standards upheld in educational institutions for higher education
• Upholding academic standard quality in universities and institutions
• National Education Act’s objectives, principles as well as directives to guide the process
• Review and confirmation of current system of the institute for assessment of quality and functions keeping in mind their objectives, visions, missions, uniqueness and academic autonomy
• Support for the implementation of internal system of quality assurance in an institution
• Transparency and accountability while carrying out the assessment

Dimensions of Development: 3 dimensions of development are considered namely achievement, attempt and awareness. The self review report and data of each university is submitted to ONESQA before external assessing is carried out. Extra documents and reports on internal system of quality assurance complements the external assurance system. Experts and academic authorities from various sectors constitute the team for review and assessment.

• Ministry for Education, Thailand
• Bureau for International Cooperation Strategy, Office of Higher Education Commission,
• Office of the Higher Education Commission
• Office for National Education Standards and Quality/ONESQA