What progress has been made in Chulalongkorn University becoming an autonomous institute?

This idea was born in 1965 by senior figures such as Dr Puey Ungpakorn, Prof Sippanont Kethad and Dr Praves Wasi.

It became more visible during 1997 when the government made an agreement with the International Monetary Fund during the economic crisis. The autonomous universities bill was drafted.

However, the bill has miscarried three times. A group of lecturers petitioned His Majesty the King and the bill was sent back for a referendum. It was revised in 2003 and sent to the House of Representatives but the process stopped again when Parliament was dissolved.

Can Chulalongkorn continue to provide academic excellence without autonomy?

To create innovation, knowledge and even intellectuals with competition efficiency in the next age, money is needed. A university won't be excellent without income. Moreover, under the bureaucratic system, administration is slow and complicated.

Being an autonomous body will give the university flexibility in administration.

Are you worried autonomy may prevent academics freely expressing opinions?

Nobody can obstruct freedom of thought at Chula. As the rector, no one fears me. They can say anything they want to say. University employees have been evaluated based on their job descriptions and whoever feels any injustice can petition the Administrative Court. There have been no such complaints so far.

Can you promise Chulalongkorn will not sell property to raise cash?

Since King Rama VI gave this land to Chula, any ownership transfer requires an act of Parliament.

This is identified in the new Chulalongkorn bill. Plus, the people of Chula will never allow royally bestowed properties to be sold or change hands.

Today, 300 rai out of 1,000 owned by Chula are used for commercial purposes. It is impossible commercial areas will trespass into the education zone but we have plans to revoke some land in the commercial area for educational proposes.

Have you tried to convince opponents autonomy is a good thing?

We keep visiting students and staff to explain it but our explanations are not as exciting and interesting as opponents' colourful speeches. However, we are open to different opinions. Last November, we placed the Chulalongkorn bill on the website so that everyone can see it. We distributed 8,000 copies of the bill and surveyed the opinion of Chula staff and students about the organic laws and regulations under the bill. The questionnaires will be returned to us in mid-February.

A subcommittee set up by the National Legislative Assembly will organise public hearings among the Chula community as well as the university's former students in the provinces.

Who are the opponents of an autonomous Chulalongkorn?

First is a group of teachers who value their status as government officers and don't want to lose it. Second is a small group of conservative teachers who have had a bad impression of autonomous universities from the beginning, Their thoughts are hard to change.

Another is a group of thinkers who protest with good intentions. But they are too suspicious. They keep plotting worst-case scenarios thinking the executive will cheat and they do not believe in checks and balances.

I want to say if the people of Chula cannot prevent a worst-case scenario, we shouldn't expect anything in this world.

What do they consider the problems with the autonomy bill are?

We never thought people would oppose the bill because back in 2003 there was no move to oppose it.

But opponents are spotlighted by the news media thanks to their skill in choosing sharp words to explain their story. They draw attention by calling autonomous universities "privatisation". This is a distortion.

Turning universities into autonomous institutes is not privatisation because autonomous universities are still owned by the state. Actually, it's "de-bureaucratisation".

Opponents claim 82 per cent of Chulalongkorn staff and students opposed autonomy in a 2002 referendum. Is that true?

No. That's distorted information. Actually, the result was 82 per cent of 3,800 respondents wanted the university to be "government sector".

However, when asked about the appropriate status of the university, 62 per cent wanted it to be a "special" government sector with "independent" administration and its own act. Only 17 per cent wanted Chula to remain a state school under the Education Ministry.

You see ... questions and answers can be distorted. It's the reason we don't want another referendum at this time.

What is your standpoint?

We ask for flexibility in administration. If we could get it without becoming an autonomous body, I am willing. But if not, we need change.

I can say that my standpoint is to do whatever will help Chula become better.