Universities 'need approval'

Letters have been sent to 20 universities, advising them to prepare for autonomy by seeking approval from their local community before proposing any change of status to the Cabinet, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an said yesterday.
The letter calls on the university to conduct a public hearing among related groups to get approval from "its community" before proposing that a transition bill be put to the Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). The outcome of public hearings should be attached to the bill proposing the change so the Cabinet and NLA can assess them, Wijit said. Each university was obliged to properly inform students and officials about the matter to reduce any misunderstanding or worry about the change, as well as those who had different opinions, Wijit said. This would foster a better understanding among related parties if the institute hoped to become autonomous. Wijit insisted that moves to become autonomous would not be pressured by the government or a set timeframe. It would depend on each university's administrators - if they are ready and willing to change. The ministry's letters aimed to stop complaints that the government had forced universities to become autonomous and would provide institutions a chance to explain and help the public understand such changes better, Wijit said.
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