The initiative aims to improve understanding of updated regulations and support academic staff in advancing their careers. 

Khon Kaen University (KKU), through its Human Resources Division, is driving academic excellence forward by launching a comprehensive career advancement programme for academic staff. The first phase of this initiative, titled “HOW TO Correctly Enter the Academic Position Application Process”, focuses on clarifying the newly revised rules and regulations while helping teaching staff work towards higher academic ranks efficiently.

The professional development event for academic personnel was organised on 16 June 2026 at Convention Room 2, 2nd Floor, Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre. Assistant Professor Pattarawit Polpinit, Ph.D., Vice President for Human Resources, presided over the opening ceremony and served as a keynote speaker. The event was specifically designed to equip university personnel with up-to-date knowledge regarding the current procedures, guidelines, and criteria for academic rank submissions, alongside an overview of future evaluation trends, so that all submissions meet official approval standards. 

Assistant Professor Polpinit highlighted the critical importance of the programme in relation to the university’s strategic vision, noting that Khon Kaen Universityis working towards international academic excellence, with its academic and research staff as the primary engine for that effort.

“This programme has been established to create clear mechanisms and opportunities for staff development, the production of strong research, and the support of morale, enabling our personnel to achieve sustainable career growth,” the Vice President stated.

He added that the Human Resources Division aims to reduce technical errors in document preparation, speeding up the submission process and improving administrative efficiency.

The event featured a panel discussion on ‘Knowledge of Current Criteria, Regulations, and Methods for Submitting Academic Position Requests’, led by the executive team of the Human Resources Division. This was followed by a forum on ‘The Trajectory of Academic Position Evaluations: From Present to Future’, featuring Professor Somchart Soponronnarit, Professor Emeritus Dr Peerasak Srinives, and Professor Emeritus Dr Atchara Chandrachai. These scholars shared their experience and practical guidance on producing academic work that meets regulatory standards. In the afternoon, participants attended discipline-specific parallel sessions covering Health Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Humanities, and Specialised Academic Positions, focusing on peer learning and building networks for international research publication.

This career and research advancement initiative for academic personnel is structured into three consecutive phases to ensure sustainable professional growth and enable staff to contribute fully to organisational development:

• Phase 1 — 16 June 2026: Lectures on the trajectory of academic rank evaluations, briefings on current rules and submission procedures, and panel discussions on preparing strong applications. The phase also drew on success stories from faculty members with internationally published academic work.
• Phase 2 — 17 June 2026: Workshops on current regulatory frameworks and the preparation of application dossiers, helping participants understand how to submit applications accurately and in line with the standards of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation’s Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission (OTEPC) and the University.
• Phase 3 — 19 June 2026: Knowledge-sharing sessions held in conjunction with the International Affairs Division, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, and the International College. This phase focuses on developing international regulations, forms, and procedural guidelines to support international staff and reduce language barriers and errors during documentation.