Academic ranks
Academic rank (also scientific rank) is the rank of a scientist or teacher in a college, high school, university or research establishment. The academic ranks indicate relative importance and power of individuals in academia.
The academic rank ...
are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers and administrative personnel held in
academia
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
.
At higher education institutions in
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, teaching officers are generally called "lecturers" (อาจารย์ ''achan'') and are collectively called "teaching staff" (คณาจารย์ ''khanachan''), whilst administrative officers are generally called "administrators" (ผู้บริหาร ''phuborihan'') and are collectively called "administrative staff" (คณะผู้บริหาร ''khana phuborihan'').
Careers of teaching staff at Thai universities generally start at the level of "lecturer". At this level, contracts may be permanent or temporary, or may impose a time-limit for progression to a higher rank (similarly to a US
tenure-track position). In order to achieve higher academic ranks, staff must submit to evaluation both internally (at the level of their institution) and externally (by academics from other institutions). Criteria for promotion are regulated centrally by the body which regulates universities (
Office of the Higher Education Commission
The Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC, th, สำนักงานคณะกรรมการการอุดมศึกษา, ) is a department-level agency of the Thai government. It is the operating body of the Higher E ...
), meaning that there is little variation in promotion standards across institutions, irrespective of their status or orientation (e.g. research-intensive international universities vs. teaching-oriented local universities).
Progression of staff through academic ranks follows a similar dynamic to that in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, with the highest rank of Professor awarded selectively to leading scholars. Thus, compared to higher education institutions in countries such as the
US, where
Associate Professor
Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''.
Overview
In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a ...
is regarded as a mid-career rank and an intermediate step before Professorship, holders of Associate Professorships are regarded as senior members of academic staff at Thai universities, comparable to
Readers at many Commonwealth institutions.
Academic ranks
Professors
Others
Administrative ranks
References
{{Academic ranks overview
Academic ranks
Academia in Thailand