Proposed Policy Toward the Academic Excellence According to Buddhist Principles of Mahamakut Buddhist University, Srilanchang Campus

Abstract

          The objectives of the research were (1) to develop the proposed policies towards the academic excellence based on the Buddhist principles for Mahamakut Buddhist University, Srilanchang Campus in Loei Province, Thailand, and (2) to examine appropriateness, possibility, and advantages of the proposed policies towards the academic excellence based on the Buddhist principles for Mahamakut Buddhist University, Srilanchang Campus. The research was conducted into two steps; the first was to develop the draft of the proposed policy, including the document analysis, the survey research, and the interview of involved persons, and the second was the analysis of the proposed policy draft, comprising the expert interview, the focus group discussion, and the examination of the proposed policy draft through the public hearing from the campus’ personnel. The research finding revealed that the proposed policy towards the Buddhism-based academic excellence of Mahamakut Buddhist University, Srilanchang Campus consisted of two components: the organizational dimension and the policy implementation. 1.The organizational dimensions consisted of vision, missions, and objectives. In terms of vision, MBUSLC was aimed at an educational institution with the academic excellence based on Buddhism in order to develop wisdom and morality for local people. For the missions, MBUSLC produced the graduates with the worldly and religious knowledge and specific qualifications based on the campus’ philosophy, and provided monks, novices and common people with more educational opportunities. It created the Buddhist researches to generate new knowledge and to implement the research findings to develop and solve some problems in the society, including the Sangha council. It also provided the locality – people, communities, and societies - with the Buddhist academic services, especially the Buddhist-oriented solution of social problems, including the daily living life. In addition, it was targeted as the art and culture center through promotion, conservation, and maintaining the local traditions and customs, and standardization of the local art and cultures, including the standard of communities and localities. MBUSLC was oriented to the digital university upon the effective management in accordance with morality and transparency. In terms of its objectives, the first was to produce a good graduate with Buddhism-based academic excellence at the national and international levels, and leadership, and to develop the nation as “the society of wisdom, learning, and the center of Theravada Buddhism.” The other was to develop the knowledge base, to produce the research and academic works, to create the innovations, and to integrate the nation’s art and culture to lead the society with knowledge bases, oriented to rightness upon their own sciences that would be beneficial for the global society at the end. The another was to propagate, carry on, and hand on the global citizens the true knowledge and wisdom of Buddhism as the precious treasure of the world by excellent Buddhist followers at the Buddha’s teachings. The fourth was to offer academic and social services with all the powers and mechanisms of Buddhism to achieve the success that could be empirical for Thai and global societies. As well, the fifth was to construct the dynamics for development the campus and its Buddhist networks with the qualitative structures, systems and processes of administration, and to focus on the control of significant processes towards the outcome and achievement, which were effective, efficient, worthwhile and beneficial. 2. The policy implementation composed of five strategies, eighteen ways, nine aspects, twenty-seven goals and thirty-eight procedures of development.