Risk Management Innovation of Premises Department in Public Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) describe the roles and responsibilities of the Premises Department within public higher education institutions, (2) analyze the risk factors associated with this department, and (3) propose          an innovative risk management model tailored to the Premises Department. The research employed a mixed-method approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The qualitative aspect involved in-depth interviews from a sample group according to the position of building management at executive and supervisory levels, totaling 14 people from 7 public higher education institutions in Nakhon Pathom Province, by selecting a specific sample group., structured around the COSO ERM (2017) framework, which comprises five components and 20 principles. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret the qualitative data. The quantitative aspect involved administering a questionnaire survey to a sample group by accidental sampling method, 150 people from the population of 160 people, aimed at identifying and assessing operational risk factors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected from the survey.

            The findings demonstrated that the Premises Department holds a pivotal role in risk management within public higher education institutions. The application of the COSO ERM (2017) framework, with its five core components Governance and Culture, Strategy and Objective-Setting, Performance, Review and Revision, and Information, Communication, and Reporting proved relevant to the department's operations. The analysis of operational risks revealed that they were generally at a low, acceptable level, although additional mitigation measures were recommended. The study proposed an innovative risk management model, comprising three key components: Policy, Knowledge, and Technology, which aims to sustain operational risks at a low, manageable level.