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Published on December 2, 2007

Chulalongkorn University president Khunying Suchada Kiranandana yesterday called on legislators to push through contentious legislation on the school's autonomy.

"It's necessary for Chula to become an autonomous state university. All should come to terms with this, and help amend the draft legislation [now before the National Legislative Assembly] to eliminate any remaining disadvantage to the university," Suchada said. She completes her term as president in February.

Speaking at a seminar on the future of the country's oldest university, she said plans for its autonomy were conceived in 1968.

However, they have run into opposition in the recent past, with the proposed legislation put on hold for nearly a year.

According to Suchada, some lecturers and students opposed the bill on the grounds it would lead to privatisation. She said it would remain a state school with government funding, but it will have autonomy and will not be run as a bureaucracy.

At present, the university has two kinds of employees - one classed as state "bureacrats" and the other not.

Over the next 15 years, two-thirds of its staff will become university employees. No new recruit will be employed as a state worker, she said.

Opponents suggest the bill will lead to higher tuition fees. Suchada asserted any future adjustment of fees would have nothing to do with the proposed legislation.

"Whether Chula becomes autonomous or not, tuition fees will continue to go up, so those who can afford to pay will have to pay more, while those who cannot will be helped with scholarships," she said.

There is concern the school's future management could sell its royally given land, or list it on the stock exchange.

Suchada said extant land laws and related laws did not allow its sale. It is impossible to do so, now or in the future, she said.

"Now is a good opportunity to pass this bill. Those who oppose it should help to amend it. We have a team to examine details of the bill so to ensure that the university is not disadvantaged," said Suchada.