Khon Kaen University (KKU), through its Human Resources Division and the Human Resources Office, hosted a KKU Town Hall to explain the new salary structure for university employees, which came into effect on 1 October 2026. University executives presented the policy in person and invited questions directly from staff. Held on 1–2 October 2026 in the second-floor meeting room of the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Professions for ASEAN, Khon Kaen University, the event was also broadcast via Zoom.
The policy was presented by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, MD, President of Khon Kaen University; Assoc. Prof. Pattarawit Polpinit, PhD, Vice President for Human Resources; Asst. Prof. Atipong Pathanasethpong, MD, Assistant to the President for Human Resources; Acting Sub Lt. Suphanat Siraisoonsetthaphongkorn, Chairperson of the University Employees’ Council; Ms Sunipha Sawaingoen, Director of the Office of the President; and Mr Sathit Kaewbudda, Director of the Human Resources Division.
The restructuring is based on the Khon Kaen University Regulations on Personnel Administration (No. 3), B.E. 2569 (2026), and related announcements. It covers three main areas: a new salary scale that divides each position level into Level B and Level A; criteria for annual salary increases; and criteria for advancement from Level B to Level A. Together, these changes shape staff members’ position levels, salaries, and career progression.
Assoc. Prof. Pattarawit said the event was organised to ensure that staff clearly understood the key points of the policy and its related criteria. University executives and human resources officers provided information and invited staff to ask questions and exchange views, with the aim of building a shared understanding and ensuring that the criteria are applied correctly.
He emphasised, “The new salary structure is not just an adjustment of numbers, but a change in the way the university takes care of its people. Previously, salary increases were based on length of service; now the system clearly values performance and self-development. Every staff member will see their own path of growth and know what they need to do to move forward.”
Separate sessions were held for each employee group. The session for academic and research university employees ran from 13:00 to 16:30 on Thursday, 1 October 2026, while the session for support-staff university employees ran from 08:30 to 12:00 on Friday, 2 October 2026. Both sessions covered the university’s policy on salary restructuring, the placement of staff into Level B and Level A, and the criteria for advancing from Level B to Level A.
During the Q&A session, staff raised a range of issues, including placement into Level B and Level A, the calculation of base salary, salary adjustments upon appointment to a higher position, and preparation for English proficiency and digital/AI skills requirements. On this last point, the university will offer the KKU-KEPT X test free of charge to staff at least once a month from January to April 2027, along with test-preparation materials and practice tests.
The Town Hall served as a further official channel for communicating the restructuring of salaries and position levels for university employees, while giving staff the opportunity to ask questions and exchange views so that everyone shares the same understanding of the criteria and their implementation. Staff with further questions may submit them through the online system at: https://hr-ai-assistant-demo.itskyuq.com/
Photos/News: Benjamaporn Mamook
