Governance of the University Administrators in Southern Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to compare the level of good governance, factors that  influenced good governance and the theories applied in practice contributing to good governance of university administrators of public universities, autonomous public universities and private universities In southern Thailand. The quantitative method approach was employed in this research. Staff s of     five universities in southern Thailand were selected as analysis units. The population and the sample subject consisted of academicians and supporting staff. Data were collected from 244 subjects by using of questionnaires. Statistics for data analysis included percentage, frequency, standard deviation, median, mean, chi-square, correlation and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS program.

       The research findings revealed that 1) the good governance of the university administrators, as a whole, was at the high level except transparency variable at moderate level. 2) The independent variables were highly and positively correlated with the good governance of the university administrators at the .01 level of significance. 3) The good governance of private university administrators was significantly higher than that of public university administrators and autonomous public university administrators at the .05 level. 4) Five independent variables arranged in priority; ability in policy making and its implementation, effectiveness of performance, leadership of university administrators, communication in work and ability and readiness to work together, could predict or influenced the good governance of the university administrators for about 54.0 percent and the prediction error of 9.119 was statistically significant at the .01 level. And 5) Theoretical factor that was applied in practice and affected the good governance of the university administrators were arranged in different priorities in every university. The theory of good governance was first introduced in almost every university, followed by administrative theories concerning leadership development and organization behavior, public policy theory particularly in public service delivery aspects and participatory theory.