The Office of Academic Service builds public sector accountability by equipping regional school executives and educational directors with statutory knowledge and procurement guidelines.
The Office of Academic Service at Khon Kaen University (KKU), with financial support from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Fund, has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency within public sector agencies by organising the second edition of the training programme titled ‘Network Creation and Knowledge Promotion for Preventing Procurement Corruption in Educational Institutions’. Held from 17 to 19 June 2026 at the Sima Thani Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, the initiative brought together over 108 school executives, directors of educational service area offices, and relevant personnel to exchange institutional insights and build regulatory frameworks.
On this occasion, Associate Professor Supasit Konkhai, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Strategic Drive and Digital at the KKU Office of Academic Service, delivered the welcoming address. He underscored the core purpose of the project, stating that procurement operations within educational institutions are critical tasks that demand the utmost diligence. He noted that administrators and operational officers must thoroughly understand regulatory procedures to eliminate errors arising from routine practices, such as delegating official inspection and acceptance duties to unauthorised personnel. Associate Professor Konkhai emphasised that where procedural flaws occur, the direct legal liability falls upon the procurement officers. The project was therefore established to reinforce statutory knowledge, define correct operational boundaries, and ensure procedural safety for educational personnel. Flying Officer Tinnakorn Phutotham, Ph.D., Director of the Secondary Educational Service Area Office Nakhon Ratchasima, was also in attendance to welcome the guest speakers and participants.
The three-day workshop delivered comprehensive knowledge from national oversight and regulatory authorities, featuring expert speakers from three primary state auditing bodies:
The State Audit Office (SAO): Mr Thanapol Komarakul Na Nakorn, Deputy Auditor General, delivered a lecture covering SAO inspection protocols, executive roles and liabilities, corruption risk case studies, and the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act 2018.
The Comptroller General’s Department: Mr Somsak Phusakul, former Deputy Director-General, provided detailed insights into public procurement processes under the Government Procurement and Supplies Management Act 2017. His session covered the drafting of Terms of Reference (TOR), the calculation of reference prices, the use of the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, contract management, and property inspection protocols.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC): Mr Noppawon Sitthisabai, Director of the Operations Group and Acting Director of the NACC Provincial Office in Nakhon Ratchasima, led a team of specialists in interactive workshops focused on extracting institutional lessons to design anti-corruption measures and formulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) tailored to educational contexts.
Participants expressed commitment to integrating this specialised knowledge into their respective administrative workflows. Mr Wisarut Thaeprasatsit, Director of the Thepharak District Centre for Promoting Lifelong Learning, remarked that receiving direct clarity on regulations from the three supervisory bodies was particularly beneficial for improving and securing internal workflows. Miss Supaluk Bandasak, Director of Phimai Damrong Witthayakom School, stated that the clear guidelines would enable her to supervise procurement staff in strict accordance with statutory requirements. Meanwhile, Mr Ruangrith Hitapitanant, Director of Laemthong Phadungwit School, indicated plans to use the workshop insights to establish Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) with school personnel, ensuring that budgetary and supply practices align with current legislation.
This training project directly supports Khon Kaen University’s Creating Shared Value (CSV) strategy and its commitment to Good Governance. It also advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), which prioritises the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions and the reduction of corruption.
The KKU Office of Academic Service expects this training series to build the capacity of educational personnel to manage state budgets efficiently and transparently. The forum marks a step towards establishing a sustainable ‘Transparent and Corruption-Free Educational Network’ across the region.
