The Critical Factors of Research and Innovation Creation in Public Universities in Thailand

Abstract

A university, which is the main form of higher education institution (HEI), aims to develop and promote education, generate academic excellence and transfer academic knowledge to solve social problems. To enhance the innovation creation in universities, the relevant factors that affect such creation should be investigated. Hence, this study aims to investigate the critical factors that affect research and innovation creation in public universities in Thailand. The relevant literature was reviewed and research was conducted using a qualitative research approach. Data were collected from in-depth interviews of 11 executives purposely selected from 8 frontier public universities in Thailand. The data were analysed using NVivo qualitative research software. Results revealed 15 critical factors in the following descending order: resource, goal, database and information technology, working environment, managerial process, policy, network, organisational structure, human resource management, government support, strategy, compensation, organisation culture, vision and leader factor. Moreover, results identified the issues that should be addressed.