Abstract:
This research aims to analyze current conditions and problems of regional university network, analyze the good practice of regional university network management and propose the model and strategies for the regional university network management. The research population and sample are categorized into 2 types: (1) documents concerning current conditions and problems of regional university network and data related to the good practice of regional university network management in Thailand, ASEAN region, Europe and Australia, and (2) data acquired from 3 groups of persons. The first one includes 30 persons (5 senior experts, 10 university network administrators and 15 university administrators). They are interviewed. Meanwhile, the second one consists of 50 persons: 15 operational personnel of university network in Thailand, 15 operational personnel of university network in ASEAN and 20 lecturers and personnel of universities in Thailand working for the university network, foreign relations division or foreign affairs division. All of them respond to the questionnaire. The third one comprises 10 senior experts who verify and give suggestions on the elements of network, while the connoisseurship discussion with all of them is arranged. The research tools are the content analysis form, questionnaire, interview form and evaluation form, while the data analysis is conducted through the content analysis, frequency, percentage, mean and standard derivation. According to the analysis of current conditions and good practice of university network in Thailand and ASEAN, 6 important elements of university network are found, namely, partnership and membership, objective and missions, working group, engagement and mutual benefit, regional management and stakeholders. These elements are then translated into the development of a model for ASEAN-level university network in a manner that suits the current context. This is for the benefit of regional development leading to the full ASEAN integration. With respect to the research results, the author has proposed the POWERS-M or the Model for the Regional University Network Management to empower the collaboration among all parties in ASEAN. It involves resource sharing between universities and stakeholders for the purpose of the collaboration for ASEAN development and has 4 parts: research and innovation for ASEAN, enterprise and business development, human capital development, and social and cultural development for the ASEAN identity. Such models create the multi-layered network of regional engagement between universities and other sectors in the regional and international level resulting in the dynamic of driven together. There are 5 aspects of network management mechanism: human resource, institution and network, objectives and missions, motivation and achievement of mutual benefits, management and stakeholders. This consists of 5 POWERS-M strategies: (1) to enhance the efficiency of teamwork of administrators, members, working group, partners and allies; (2) to develop clear objectives, missions and strategies of university network for regional co-development; (3) to create the motivation and engagement of all sectors for the achievement of mutual benefits; (4) to continually develop a mechanism for university network management for the effectiveness of universities, countries and region; and (5) to enhance the knowledge and advancement of innovations, development and dissemination for the regional and international level. There are 5 key success factors: leadership, motivation and goal, trust and dedication, level of network relation as well as resource and management.