Administration of Khon Kaen University
SMART is the abbreviation for the University’s values and organization culture.
S refers to Social Devotion.
M refers to Management by Fact.
A refers to Adaptability for Global Perspective.
R refers to Respect & Openness.
T refers to Technology & Innovation Focus.
“Social Devotion, Management of Fact, Adaptability for Global Perspective, Openness, and Technology and Innovation Focus.”
“Value” is considered the key indicators of principles and behaviors. It conveys the expectations of Khon Kaen University and its staff and involves good practices towards the public and society, and self-development. It reflects and enhances the goals to blend with the required culture of the University. The set values support all personnel’s decision making, assist in achieving the missions and visions through appropriate approaches, and correlate with and support the key strategies of the University.
Mission
The Khon Kaen University Act of 2015 designates the university as a higher education institution with the purpose of providing education, promoting, applying, and advancing academic and professional knowledge. The university is dedicated to teaching, conducting research, developing and transferring technology, offering academic and professional services to society, and preserving arts and culture.
Administrative Policies of Khon Kaen University
With the vision set forth by the University Council, Khon Kaen University is committed to becoming a World-Leading Research and Development University while continuing to serve as an institution of enduring value to society. The university measures success through global recognition, particularly via international ranking systems, and has established four key goals, policies, and missions:
- Academic Excellence and Innovation
- Smart Campus and ESG Integration
- Optimization of University Resources for Growth and Sustainability
- Societal Contribution via Cultural Involvement and Community Integration
To achieve these goals and missions, Khon Kaen University must undertake a major transformation across multiple dimensions, including education, research, academic services, human resource management, and institutional governance. This transformation is necessary for the university to progress and develop sustainably amid the current challenges facing Thai higher education, including disruptive technologies, geopolitical shifts, and declining birth rates.
Accordingly, the university has defined its administrative direction for the next four years through a framework of 11 strategies, 46 approaches, and 127 programs, projects, and activities, as follows:
1.Academic Excellence and Innovation
Transformation will proceed as follows:
1.Education Transformation: The university will develop new S-curve curriculums within a learning paradigm that emphasizes student development and future readiness through AI integration. Teaching will focus on enabling students to learn how to learn and to engage in lifelong learning. Education will be made accessible to all age groups, shifting from a teaching-centered to a learning-centered paradigm, and from knowledge transfer to critical thinking. The goal is to produce graduates who are socially responsible leaders with distinctive identities and skills suited for international-level organizations.
2.Research Transformation: Research will shift from individual researcher-driven interests (supply side) to user- or problem-driven needs (demand side). Projects will move from single initiatives to collaborative team-based efforts with high social impact. A research ecosystem will be established to support both university-based and private-sector research. The university will move beyond publishing as the sole goal, emphasizing real-world applications, products, and innovations. An innovation ecosystem will also be created to support this objective.
3.Internationalization: The university will support the development of global learners, global alumni, and global staff, and promote global competencies among students. It will strengthen international-quality networks and ecosystems and expand collaborations with global partners. Regional cooperation with Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries will also be prioritized to support the “New Isan” strategy. These initiatives aim to improve the university’s position in world rankings and to internationalize faculty, staff, students, and the university environment, while enhancing the visibility of Khon Kaen University on the global stage.
4.Best Place to Work: The university will ensure that all work units are well equipped to perform their functions effectively. A safe and healthy working environment will be established, and professional networking and consultation systems will be strengthened both within and outside the university.
2.Smart Campus and ESG Integration
The following transformations will be implemented:
5. Great Place to Live: The university aims to become a green campus and achieve carbon neutrality. It will promote an aesthetic and harmonious environment, ensure sustainable environmental management and conservation, and develop Khon Kaen University into a smart university city (KKU Smart City).
6.Beyond Good Governance: The university emphasizes the importance of legal and ethical compliance, corruption prevention, and adherence to ethical standards. It will strengthen cooperation based on the principles of good governance, maintain the institution’s positive public image, and promote trustworthiness and credibility among stakeholders and surrounding communities. This will support the university’s role in social advocacy.
3.Optimization of University Resources for Growth and Sustainability
The following transformations will be implemented:
7.Human Resource Management Transformation: The university will establish a talent management system to support individuals with high potential. It will foster an achievement-oriented culture, enhance employee engagement, and strengthen personnel capacity. Agile and flexible HR systems will be adopted to meet changing needs.
8.High Performing University: The university will reimagine its work processes to enhance overall performance and efficiency. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) will be utilized across administrative functions including payroll, welfare, finance, procurement, and resource management. These developments will support the creation of an ecosystem for talented individuals in line with the Thailand Quality Award (TQA for all). Asset management will be optimized for sustainability, supported by large-scale investments (Mega Projects) and flagship projects that have undergone risk assessment (Intelligent Risk Projects). Revenue will be increased through research, academic services, and professional services. The university will also accelerate the commercialization of intellectual property, knowledge, technologies, and innovations.
9.Digital University: The university will strengthen digital infrastructure and workforce capacity to prepare for rapid technological change. AI literacy will be developed among personnel to improve teaching methods and streamline operational processes. A digital innovation ecosystem will be established, and the university will implement secure, modern digital systems to enhance work efficiency across all sectors.
4.Societal Contribution via Cultural Involvement and Community Integration
The following transformations will be implemented:
10.Societal Contribution: The university will support and empower communities and society by applying its knowledge, technologies, and innovations to create economic and social value. This includes promoting livelihoods, education, and healthcare, as well as forging partnerships to support sustainable community development in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will also promote economic value through creative economies and cultural conservation.
11.Collaboration and Coordination for Development: The university will foster collaborative projects that involve multiple departments (Creative Coordinating Projects). It will also focus on developing students to possess virtues, ethics, environmental awareness, and social responsibility.
To achieve these goals, policies, and missions, Khon Kaen University has undertaken a major shift through the development of its 4-Year Strategic Administrative Plan (2026–2029). This transformation plan reflects the university’s response to key challenges currently affecting Thai higher education. All strategies have been carefully crafted in response to multi-level external and internal factors that impact the university. The plan represents a continuation of the university’s prior transformation efforts over the past four years, ensuring sustained and progressive development. These strategic initiatives will be subject to close monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment as necessary to remain responsive to dynamic conditions.
