An Analysis of Situational Challenges and Opportunities in Educational Knowledge System

Abstract

This study examines Thailand’s educational knowledge system, analyzing its structural characteristics, challenges, and opportunities for development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research combined survey data from 195 faculty members, in-depth interviews with 30 experts, and analysis of institutional research outputs from 2016-2021. The findings reveal significant patterns in knowledge production, including a 5.2% annual growth in research outputs but with notable imbalances - thesis production dominates at 77.1%, while international publications remain limited at 12.3% of total output. Analysis identified key structural challenges: centralized research funding (reported by 80.0% of respondents), limited research support infrastructure (only 32.4% of institutions maintain dedicated research offices), and high teaching workloads (x̄=4.45). However, emerging opportunities include increasing domestic research collaboration (45.3%) and growing digital research adoption (68.4%). The study contributes to understanding educational knowledge systems in developing contexts, offering evidence-based recommendations for system enhancement through decentralization, capacity building, and infrastructure development. These findings provide a foundation for policy reforms aimed at strengthening Thailand’s educational research ecosystem while addressing both immediate challenges and long-term development needs. The research highlights the importance of balanced development approaches that consider both local contexts and global research standards.