DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION MODEL FOR CAREER-BASED APPROACH AT THE SECONDARY EDUCATION LEVEL, POTISARNPITTAYAKORN SCHOOL

Abstract

This research article aims to 1) Examine the conditions, problems, and needs of academic administration; 2) Develop a model for academic administration; 3) Evaluate and pilot the developed model; and 4) Study the effects of implementing the model in practice. The study population comprised 225 administrators and teachers from Potisarnpittayakorn School. Research instruments included a questionnaire and a document-analysis record form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages, means, and standard deviations) and content analysis. The findings revealed that 1) The school’s academic administration is strong in offering a diverse curriculum but faces operational problems in that it places greater emphasis on academic achievement and progression to higher education than on direct preparation for the labor market. This reflects a need for a new form of academic administration that systematically integrates curriculum planning, learning processes, guidance systems, collaborative networks, and assessment. 2) The developed model is an integrated, systems-based model of academic administration comprising three interconnected levels: the conceptual level, the administrative-process level, and the outcomes-and-success-conditions level. Eight administrative components operate in coordination under a unified conceptual framework. 3) Evaluation and pilot implementation indicate the model is appropriate, practicable, and produces positive outcomes for learners. 4) A key contribution of the research is the finding that preparing students for career pathways should be integrated into the overall structure of academic administration rather than treated as an adjunct activity, leading to structural and qualitative changes at the school level.