A Model of Personnel Participation in Phuket Rajabhat University Management

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the current situation of personnel participation in administration at Phuket Rajabhat University, 2) to investigate the factors affecting personnel participation in administration at Phuket Rajabhat University, and 3) to examine the problems and obstacles that occurred which affected the personnel participation in management at Phuket Rajabhat University. This qualitative research used an in-depth interview technique to collect the data. The key informants consisted of 40 people from 3 groups: 1) policy makers 2) personnel who transferred the policy into implementation and 3) general personnel at Phuket Rajabhat University. The focus group discussion was also employed, with 12 people from 2 groups which consisted of 1) policy makers 2) policy implementation personnel.

                The results revealed that :

1. At Phuket Rajabhat University, the people who participated in management consisted of administrators, staff and line personnel, students and outsiders. The areas of educational participation included curriculum design, educational and academic services. The outsiders were invited to work as members of committees, heads of the programs, and lecturers. Moreover, the staff and faculty were encouraged to expand their network with the community. The university’s network included local schools whose teachers were sent to the University for Regular Professional Development. Most of the staff in the university organized activities with the local community by leading their students to study the local culture and tourist attractions. However, the problem of teaching load affected staff participation in research projects.


2. The factors affecting personnel participation in Phuket Rajabhat University in management were as follows: educational management : the administrators should have clear planning and inform the public; academic development: all staff should be given an opportunity to participate in brainstorming, decision-making, implementing, evaluating, and gaining an advantage; research and development: the personnel needs to conduct research in teams with experienced researchers; the university should create concrete research networks, teachers with research projects should have a reduced teaching load; the administrators should do research projects; personnel development: the university should assist the lecturers by providing sufficient allocation of human resources, finances, budget, materials and equipment, as well as empowering the faculty with transparent management. Cultural preservation: the university should build networks for conservation and restoration of the local culture by increasing the number of outsiders participating in the university activities. Management system: the public relations department should have various channels to inform the staff about projects; discussion groups and public hearings should be organized for the new policy implementation; the power should be decentralized to each faculty for work flexibility. Moreover, the leaders of the universities should be selected from the persons whose skills and knowledge are appropriate for tasks. They must have a wide vision, be modern, and believe in teamwork. The administrators should have ethics, morality, accountability and work for the public in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness in management.


3. Problems and obstacles affecting the personnel participation in Phuket Rajabhat University management were as follows: educational and academic development: The staff participated very little in educational management due to their work load; the objectives of university development were unclear; lack of channels to participate in planning,  implementation, sharing responsibility and sharing advantage; Student Recruitment: the university lacked a system to recruit and select new students with virtue, were hard working, and had university identity. Research: the steps in applying for the research projects funds were complicated; most research projects could not be applied for community usage; a research clinic was ineffective; Management: insufficient numbers of lecturers in some programs, inefficient network and team work, slow process in project approval, and purchasing; the university public relations department had insufficient community network; landscape: waste and water system, maintenance system - stadium, gymnasium, parking, security system and the utility of new buildings.


4. The personnel participation model in Phuket Rajabhat University management can be improved by using PHOMTHEP MODEL as follows : 1) P - Participation and Collaboration. 2) H - Human Resource Management, Planning and Implementation. 3) O - Opportunity and Channel of Participation. 4) M - Management System and Fiscal Management System. 5) T - Transparency, Morality and Performance Appraisal. 6) H - Human Relationship, Network Building. 7) E - Empowerment and Decentralization. 8) P - Public Relations and Communication.