OHEC project targets 15,000 Thai PhDs
The Office of Higher Education Commission (Ohec) yesterday presented a Bt58.2 billion project to create 15,000 PhD holders in 15 years (20122026), at the Fourth Ohec academic conference hosted from September 1416 at Chon Buri's Pattaya City.
Associate Prof Wanchai DeEknamkul, deputy director of the Research University Project Office, said the project would support doctorate scholarships inside and outside Thailand as well as promoting postPhD research in Thailand.
Experienced lecturers would become advisers to newlygraduated PhDs so they had time to train and improve their skills as well as preparing to replace retired lecturers, he added.
Admitting that political change could affect scholarship granting, he said the creation of PhD holders needed consistency of at least four years. Wanchai said, based on previous studies, this project was a good solution to Thailand's shortage of PhD holders and the government could implement it right away.
It would help improve Rajabhat and Rajamangala universities and those upcountry. The project would also support the promotion of private university lecturers by providing partial scholarships.