Cooperative school of engineering activities in support of business and industry in Thailand.

摘要

This study examined cooperative activities between engineering schools and business and industry in Thailand in the areas of current cooperative activities; organization and policies; and importance, benefits and obstacles of operating cooperative activities as perceived by engineering school deans.; A survey methodology was utilized for the study. Twenty-seven engineering school deans, or 84% of those surveyed, responded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and evaluate data.; The findings indicate that most cooperative engineering school activities were identified by school personnel and/or collaborating units that provide academic services to support business and industry. The collaboration mostly came from individual meeting or informal contact between faculty and companies as interest or opportunities arise. The majority of cooperative programs were for the integration of theory and practical for students and included internship programs, visits to work sites, and part-time instructions. In addition, industry-sponsored research projects, industrial extension services, faculty consulting, and industrial parks were cooperative programs that exist in engineering schools.; Only student internship programs were perceived by engineering school deans to have a very high level of importance as a collaborative activity. The existence of continuing education programs for industry personnel at industrial locations was the only activity with a very low level of importance.; The major benefits from cooperative activities were the benefits to the students, faculty, and the school: student can increase their opportunities for finding a job upon graduation, faculty can be up-to-date with workplace experiences, and the school can enhance its academic reputation in the community. Finally, the major obstacles that prevent successful cooperative program implementation were lack of financial support from University, lack of financial support from industry, heavy faculty teaching workloads, and no prior history of University strategic plan.