University heads agree to Undergraduates Ministry
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THE COUNCIL of University Presidents of Thailand has approved a plan to upgrade the Office of the Higher Education Commission, which regulates universities, to be a ministry independent of the Education Ministry, acting CUPT chairman Assoc Prof Pradit Wan
The tentative name of the new ministry, which would be the 21st if or when it is established, would be the Undergraduates’ Affairs Ministry, or Undergraduates and Research Affairs Ministry, he said.
The new ministry would be allowed to supervise the Thailand Research Fund and the National Research Council of Thailand, as research and development would be vital and parallel to university operations in Thailand.
The proposal has been floated by Education Minister ADM Narong Pipatanasai and supported by the CUPT, said Pradit, adding that a bill would be drafted soon to settle the proposal.
CUPT secretary-general Assoc Prof Dr Kamthorn Tatiyakawi said the new ministry was important to ensure greater flexibility and coordination, and subsequent development on the country’s undergraduate system.
He said the bill should be completed in two months’ time and forwarded later to the National Legislative Assembly.
Direct admission tests on 1 day
The Council yesterday decided that direct admission tests hosted by universities would be held, using the CUPT-designed central exam, on the same unscheduled day this year, and there would be two additional subjects in the exam on top of the original seven, Pradit announced.
Scheduling the exam on the same day across the country was aimed at preventing 12th graders from applying and sitting on the tests at various universities – which would inconvenience the universities’ selection process.
Two new subjects for this year’s tests are Mathematics II and General Science, which are intended as alternatives for 12th graders studying under non-science plans, Pradit said.
