Public universities were formerly called "government universities" and were fully supported by the government. Currently they are independent as government-supported public universities. However, their staff are no longer civil servants. Application is by annual nationwide competitive admission examination or occasionally by special direct application.
Autonomous universities have their own administrative structure and budgeting system for self-governance and full autonomy, allowing decision making on administrative and management matters to be handled by the university itself.[5]
There are 40 universities in the Rajabhat Universities system.[1] The universities are designed to provide higher education in provinces. They were formerly called Rajabhat Institutes and originally emerged as colleges of education. Admission is by competitive direct application. Some Rajabhat Universities have several campuses such as Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University.
The Rajamangala University of Technology system includes nine schools. It was formerly a polytechnic institute system and then was renamed "Rajamangala Institute of Technology" before being granted university status. Admission is by direct application.
Office of the Vocational Education Commission supervised 416 institutions all over the country for producing and developing professional manpower of the vocational certificate, diploma in technical education and Bachelor’s degree in various fields of technology and operation. There are 9 programs comprising more than 350 subject areas. The Management Centers have been established in 5 regions to promote academic work and develop vocational education in 77 provinces. The management of vocational education colleges at provincial level is linked together. Types of colleges can be found as follows:
In 2017, the government issued a decree to promote the establishment of renowned foreign higher education institute in the country.[128] The decree allowed foreign institutes to set up entities in EEC or collaborate with local public universities to set up entities that can award their own degrees.[129]
^ abMala, Dumrongkiat (12 August 2018). "University Challenge". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 August 2018. Tertiary institutes are founded by organizations and provide a narrower range of specialist courses