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Background of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

The concept of Ministry Reform

Developing the nation's human capital to be capable and prepared for life in the 21st century is a key objective for driving sustainable national development and prosperity. This is a priority for the government in developing a workforce that meets national development needs and builds global competitiveness. The government therefore mandates the use of science, research, and innovation to drive national development, economic growth, community development, and social development. It also integrates science, research, and innovation for commercial application in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors to maximize efficiency. Furthermore, it prioritizes the development of social and regional innovations to solve problems and create opportunities, alongside the development of human capital in both academic and highly skilled professions. This prepares individuals for the digital age and the drive towards Industry 4.0, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is a new ministry formed by the merger of the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the Office of the Higher Education Commission, the National Research Council of Thailand, and the Thailand Research Fund. The government recognizes the importance of promoting and regulating higher education institutions and related agencies, thus developing human resources with skills aligned with national development, as well as overseeing and fostering innovation.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, as established, is not merely a short-term solution or a means to address current challenges. Rather, it plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for the country's future. It believes that policies and directions for developing citizens to be prepared for the 21st century, by providing equal opportunities for lifelong learning to reduce inequality and bridge social gaps, improving quality of life, and creating happiness for all Thais, are vital and challenging missions. These efforts will drive national development based on the philosophy of the Sufficiency Economy, leading to stability, prosperity, and sustainability. The goal is to strengthen the nation, stimulate the grassroots economy, move towards Thailand 4.0, and build confidence and competitiveness on the global stage, both in the short and long term.

Another challenge in developing the country's economy requires prioritizing the development of science, technology, and research to accelerate the creation of scientific, technological, and innovative knowledge. This must be coupled with the development of human resources in higher education institutions, which must work in coordination with research and development institutions to become future changers—key players in preparing Thais for the 21st century, driving economic structural reforms that emphasize values, and playing a crucial role in transforming the country into an innovation-based nation.

Therefore, it is necessary to adapt the roles and responsibilities, while simultaneously maximizing the potential of both higher education institutions and research and development institutions, in creating change that can address the needs of the country and its people. The policy framework is structured in four dimensions:

Dimension 1: Building and developing Thai people for the 21st century. 

Dimension 2: Creating and developing knowledge. 

The third dimension: Creating and developing innovation. 

Dimension 4: Higher Education Reform

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will be a ministry overflowing with opportunities, knowledge, and foundations for the future. It will be able to drive the economy and society towards prosperity and stability, benefiting the nation and the Thai people sustainably. Therefore, all sectors, especially the agencies under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, must work together to transform the ministry into a truly "Ministry of Wisdom, Ministry of Opportunity, and Ministry of the Future."

The establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation

The Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is a government agency that was created after the promulgation of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Act (No. 19) B.E. 2562 (2019) by the said Act, which re-established the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation on May 2, 2019.

The establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is a bureaucratic reform, with the reason for the announcement being that with higher education, science, research and innovation as an important mechanism for developing the country to grow in a stable, prosperous and sustainable way in order to support the changes in the world that will occur in the future. Teaching, research and innovation in science, technology and science together, and to ensure cooperation in the performance of duties between higher education institutions and research institutions in a direction consistent with the national strategy, plans and policies of national development, it is necessary to enact this Act, which is considered to be driving the government's national management policy. Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, as defined in the Constitution and various laws, in order to meet the country's mobility through the creation of an innovation-based economy and preparing the Thai people to support important challenges in the 21 century, also improves the authority and administration by organizing the interrelated government departments into one work group so that the system can be adjusted to work together. In accordance with the goals and directions of bureaucratic reforms in order to benefit the nation and the people as a whole.

However, in the context of the changing world, the concept of lifestyle has changed accordingly, so government agencies must develop the bureaucracy by focusing on research and development in order to create new knowledge in science and technology, along with the development of qualified people. It is a start-up that can continue to grow and reduce imports, become self-reliant, and be able to raise the country's income to increase.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation will be a model ministry of a new type of ministry with links to the mission of policymakers. Coordination and support in higher education, science, research development, innovation, and competition in business along with people development. It can move into the 21 century, respond to the 20-year national strategy and comply with the Thailand 4.0 policy.

The establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is a merger of 3 government departments, which have various legal functions and powers. First, the Ministry of Science and Technology (4 government agencies, 3 autonomous public agencies, 7 public organizations, and 2 state enterprises), second the Office of the Higher Education Commission (25 autonomous universities, 9 public universities, 38 Rajabhat universities, 9 Rajamangala universities of technology, and 1 community college), and 2 national research funding agencies, the National Research Council of Thailand and the Thailand Research Fund, joined to form a new ministry in line with the country's reform policy in accordance with the 20-year strategy and the reform of Thailand to Thailand 4.0.

The establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is a merger of government departments, which have various legal functions and powers. The Office of the Higher Education Commission (25 state universities, 9 public universities, 38 Rajabhat universities, 9 Rajamangala University of Technology, and 1 community college) and 2 national research funding agencies, the National Research Council and the Office of research support fund, joined to form a new ministry, not dissolving the Ministry of Science and Technology, but rather amalgamating the departments in line with the country's reform policy in accordance with the 20-year strategy and the reform of Thailand to Thailand 4.0.

later on On March 2, 2021, the Ministry of Higher Education Science, Research and Innovation announced the Regulations of the Ministry of Public Sector Division, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation by virtue of Article 6 paragraph one and Section 9 of the Public Administration Regulations Act, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation B.E. 2562 (2019), and announced the issuance of ministerial regulations as of January 25, 2021, signed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation.

The reason for the promulgation of this Ministerial Regulation is that it is expedient to divide the government department within the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in order to comply with the government departmental arrangements in the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation under the Act. The Public Administration Regulations of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation B.E. 2562 (2019) define the duties and powers of such government departments to suit the conditions of the work.