Development of Community Skill Indicators for University of Phayao Students

Abstract

This research article aims to achieve three main objectives: 1) To study community skill indicators, 2) To assess the suitability of these community skill indicators, and 3) To analyze the confirmatory components of the community skill measurement model. The research was conducted in three phases: Phase 1 involved identifying community skill indicators by consulting three distinct groups: 227 undergraduate program course coordinators, 24 members from the general education administrative committee, and 31 from the operational committee. Data was collated through group discussions and subjected to content analysis. Phase 2 focused on evaluating the derived community skill indicators for suitability using seven expert opinions, with the data analyzed based on median scores and interquartile ranges. Phase 3 included analyzing the confirmatory factor of the community skill measurement model with a comprehensive sample of 860 students enrolled in the 2023 General Education courses, using a stratified random sampling. The primary tool employed for this phase was a community skill assessment questionnaire, the reliability was 0.978. Second order confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings of this research revealed: 1) four primary components of community skills for University of Phayao students: assessment of community needs, design thinking, project management, and community resource-based development; 2) out of the identified community skills for University of Phayao students, four overarching themes were crystallized, represented by 17 specific indicators, each of which was deemed highly suitable upon expert review; 3) the community skill indicators for University of Phayao students, align closely with empirical data (Chi-square = 105.845, df = 89, p-value = 0.1075, RMSEA = 0.015, CFI = 0.998, SRMR = 0.014), with all components holding statistical significance at the .01 level.