THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEM TO DECREASE THE RATE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DROPOUTS OF SOUTHERN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OF THAILAND

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to; 1) study factors affecting the dropout rate of undergraduate students at public universities in Southern Thailand, 2) study the current measures in the student support system for undergraduate students regarding dropout problems at public universities in Southern Thailand, 3) develop a student support system to reduce the dropout rate of undergraduate students at public universities in Southern Thailand, and 4) evaluate the student support system to reduce the dropout rate of undergraduate students at public universities in Southern Thailand. Both quantitative and qualitative research was used in this study. A questionnaire was used in to survey factors affecting the dropout rate in undergraduate students. The sample group consisted of 60 students who dropped out in the academic year 2020. The qualitative research was conducted using documentary research, and in-depth interviews with the sample group, consisting of vice presidents, the division directors, heads of departments responsible for both student, and academic affairs, advisors, university counselors, and 54 students in their 3rd and- 4th year of study. Furthermore, a discussion group with twelve university representatives and six qualified experts in student affairs for undergraduate students was created to evaluate the system. 
         The results showed that the factors most affecting the dropout rate of students were student affairs ( = 2.80), followed by academic affairs ( = 2.79). The highest expectation of students was to graduate according to the criteria set by the university, at 31.67% 
         A student support system to reduce the dropout rate of undergraduate students at public universities in Southern Thailand, is dependent upon mutual cooperation according to roles and duties of personnel in the system, which consists of; 1) the university aspect; the administrators push forward the system to become  university policy, and enforce it to be implemented, assign executives to be directly responsible for the system, and set up the criteria for evaluation and scoring, in order to successfully implement the student support system, and reduce the dropout rate of the university, 2) departments aspect; the departments of student, and academic affairs, should offer students who are at risk of dropping-out, opportunities to improve themselves according to the requirements of each departments, create a network between departments to help students who are at risk of dropping out or facing a dropout problem, and establish a center to coordinates with all relevant departments to reduce the dropout rate of the university, 3) faculty aspect; implement university policies using support mechanisms to develop advisors ability to assist students who are at risk of dropping-out, following measures of the student support system, 4) advisors aspect; develop a code of ethics for teachers, including approachability mentoring skills, and education planning, and build networks both inside and outside the university to support students, 5) Family aspect; follow - up,  positively support, and communicate with students. 6) friends help friends ; attend training workshops to build competency in self-care and peers support in both academic learning, and life skills, and develop communicative competence in order to better interact with advisors, faculties, and various departments.