PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES ON RESEARCH SUPERVISION FOR THAI PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Conducting research is a major principle of postgraduate study in tertiary education. The purpose of this research was to investigate the professional practice on research supervision for Thai university staff. The objectives of this study were to develop professional practice indicators on research supervision by Critical Participatory Action Research and to study the results of professional practice on research supervision. This is followed by using Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) namely saying, doing and relating through the communicative action, communicative space, invitational education, collaborative action and public spheres. Finally researchers study the results of professional practice on research supervision. This study comprised four phases namely preparation phase, collaboration phase, action phase and relating phase. Preparation phase covered the goal setting and building the communication space. Collaboration phase refers to developing the indicators of working by searching for co-factors in working as well as model for new faculty staff in research supervision, effective working technique, and mechanism for monitoring. Action phase was to put the model and determination into practice, sharing, reflection, and evaluating the problems and obstacles during the action. Relating phase was to share and exchange the occurred innovation in each university, documents, best practice, and creation of new body of knowledge. Research results revealed that the communicative space should be provided in order to develop participatory working among the researchers. Four indicators of professional practice on research supervision were developed by the participants, namely the depth of content knowledge, competency for mentoring, creative leadership, and work performance. The findings show that professional development programs for university staff consisted of content or body of knowledge, approach for providing advice, and mechanism of mentoring. The best practice guidelines and by product in working as research supervisor were obtained in order to be applied for more effective role as research supervisor or mentor.